The Banquet Table
April 24, 2024
Heart golf
June 11, 2018
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. - PHILIPPIANS 3:8-11
I enjoy golf, though I consider myself a duffer. One day, however, I learned a simple secret that can help even a runt drive a ball a long way. That afternoon I was erratic and inconsistent in my shots. I felt the power was in me to hit the ball well, but it just wasn’t happening. A friend of my golfing partner offered a tip. I tried his idea and slammed the ball. Somehow the approach the man proposed added power to my swing.
Golfing instructors will sometime say, “Let the club do the work.” Many try to use their own muscle-power to make the difference, but body position and golf club are vital.
Trying to make a fleshly heart do spiritual work and bear spiritual fruit is like attempting golf under your own power. Salvation in Jesus Christ means the heart now has resurrection power. In our own strength, we are limited, but, as Paul put it, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” (PHILIPPIANS 4:13)
TODAY’S FOCUS
Confess to God the sin of attempting to produce spiritual fruit through the power of your own flesh. Ask Him to use you as an instrument empowered by Christ’s resurrection life.
