the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Daily Devotionals
Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
While living in Bellville, Ohio, in 1991 we rented a place on Main Street that had a side porch that was screened in. I asked my landlord if he would mind if I converted it into a golf shop. He said that he had no problem with that so I did. Christian Custom Golf opened to very little fanfare but several customers. After a few weeks the shop was doing reasonably well. People were enamored with the concept of custom fitted golf clubs.
Each week someone would come in and ask that mundane question, "How much will a set of clubs cost me?" I remember looking at one particular customer when he asked that question and responding with, "About $1200." As he gave me a blank stare of shocked disbelief I added, "Or maybe $325." He warmed to that idea and we talked about what $325 would buy and what $1200 would buy.
"But, they're all custom fitted to me and my game?" he asked. "Yes," I answered, "custom fitted to you and your game." Over the years I have fitted clubs for men and women, teens and Seniors, tall and short people and all have said that the clubs fit. Very few people are exactly alike in their needs for golf clubs and what worked for one person doesn't necessarily work for another who may look the same.
Oddly, what works in golf seems to also apply in the spiritual realm as well. Some of us have a different "game" than others. While we all have the same Spirit, He is fitted to us in different ways, magnifying different abilities and outlooks within us. Some golfers have incredible short games, some are amazingly long off the tee and others have uncanny accuracy with the long irons. It is the same in the kingdom of God.
"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11, 12 With golfers, the bottom line is, whatever their strength, the ball going into the hole. The bottom line with Christians is, "till we all come...to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:13
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' Copyright 2010 © Tom Kelley. 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with their complete bio and a link to https://www.studylight.org/ 2) 'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.
