PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006
| Weekly Bible Studies |
| Study 13: 25th September - 1st October Reading – John Chapter Ch 2:18-25. “Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not trust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in man.”(John Chapter 2 verse 23 to25 (New International Version). The accepted ethic of playing golf is the integrity of ourselves to apply the rules when we play. Being an individual game there are times when we are the only one aware that we have breached the rules of the game. The most common breach I do is to cause the ball to move slightly when I address the ball or in moving sticks that are close to the ball. I wish I could tell you that I have applied the rules without reservation all my life, but that would be a lie. Though accidental, it is a 1stroke penalty and the ball has to be replaced. To not apply the rules it is to be guilty of playing the game outside the rules. We do this because we consider it a slight error, but in our hearts our desire to win becomes more important than playing the game with integrity. In our reading today Jesus is in Jerusalem for a festival and many people have come to the city for this occasion. They see some of his miracles and believe in him. But then Jesus says that “he would not trust himself to them, because he knew what people were like”. Jesus is saying that people are untrustworthy. This sounds quiet harsh, but God looks beyond the surface of our words to our hearts. It’s not long until Jesus will have the crowds cheering for him one day as he enters Jerusalem and calling for him to be crucified the next day. People can change their opinions very quickly to suit their advantage. The
truth is that we all most likely have compromised the rules of golf
and certainly in God’s way of life when it is to our own advantage.
The bible calls this sin and it affects us all. Those who pretend
otherwise are just in denial. Once we are willing to admit our sin before God and realise the consequences that sin causes separation and judgment from God, then we can receive the help that God gives us through Jesus. In chapter 1 we read that Jesus came among us full of grace and truth. What I love about God is that the truth is never compromised. Jesus tells us like it is. He will not trust himself to people because he knows we are corrupt. However
because of his grace, which is undeserved kindness in dying for
our sins, then we can be forgiven and receive new life. There is never any excuse for us not applying the rules of golf, unless we wish the game to become governed by our own desires. The rules are designed to give everyone an even playing field so that the one who plays the best game according to the rules wins. The result of not reporting a breach of the rules when found out is usually disqualification. In life we God, our breach is assumed by God and we are disqualified from life. But Jesus comes to give us a second chance at life through his dying for us and rising from the grave. This
comes about because of God’s character of giving us a second
chance. Prayer.
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