PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 5– February 11th to 17th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter Ch13: verses 1 to 18 Part 2.

Have you been washed clean?

“Jesus came to Simon Peter to wash his feet. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet”? Jesus replied, “You do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand”. “No” said Peter, “you will never wash my feet”. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you will have no part with me.” John Chapter 13: verses 6 to 8. (New International Version)

It was only when I got involved on the PGA Tour that I realised that Tour players use as many as 3 new balls per round. The balls they play with are softer than the ones most use and they scuff, get dirty and go out of shape easily. Once damaged or dirty they are discarded for a new one.
For many of us we may use one ball for a number of rounds or it may not last long anyway being lost in the trees, out of bounds or ending up in a water hazard. But even so, most of us have a bag of unwanted used dirty golf balls.
Tours players only use the best, because their performance is of utmost importance to them.

With God, only the best will do when it comes to his standards, because of the nature of who God is. God is holy, just, perfect and true, without fault. Those who wish to be friends with God or share in his life must be of the same heart. There is never a compromise of who God is.

I find the holy, just and perfect aspect of God’s character continually compromised today when people talk about finding favour with God. I used to do this myself until I learnt of God’s character in the bible. This compromise suggests our character and goodness is good enough for God, even though we are stained with defects. We often talk about a loving God, but rarely a Holy God. How wrong we can be!
The washing of the disciple’s feet by Jesus as shown in the last study was showing an example of how we are to associate with others. We are to be servants of one another. Our life is best lived when we treat others in this way. This is the way for all who follow Jesus.

But as Jesus shows, the washing of the disciples is also a sign of our need to be washed and cleansed. Like the golf ball that is discarded for a new one, our present status as imperfect people disqualifies us from God who is holy and perfect. Jesus came into the world as our servant for the express purpose of making us clean and acceptable to God. It’s like we need to be put through the ball washer and made clean and new again. We believe the blood of Jesus cleanses us from our sins, as we trust in him. In this way we are cleansed, forgiven and perfect in every way.

Jesus says in this reading that unless he washes us we can have no part in him or the life he came to bring. This washing is of our need to be cleansed, to be forgiven in order to be acceptable to God and to have life that is eternal.
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, rising from the dead and exalted to be our King, makes this cleansing possible. In return for our sins, Jesus gives us his righteousness.

I really encourage you to discard any hope of finding acceptance with God through our own goodness since this is a lost cause. However asking Jesus to cleanse us and to put our trust in him is not.

Prayer. Holy and just God, we thank you for Jesus who washing us clean. Thank you that I can celebrate this washing with the joy of knowing I am acceptable in your sight.

Upcoming Events

Click event for more details.

Wyong Trainee Pro-Am.

Venue: Wyong Golf Cub
Date: Monday 17th November.
Cost: $50
Tee Time: 7:30am and
12 noon shotgun start.
Contact: Graham on 02 9740 9069
or email.

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