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Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006 |
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PGA Chaplain Bible StudiesStudy 7 – February 25th to March 2nd
2008. Mateship!Jesus said to the disciples, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another? Simon Peter asked Jesus, “Lord where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Then Jesus answered Peter, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” John Chapter 13: verses 34 to 38. (New International Version) Australians are very strong on the idea of mateship. We call our friends mates. Mates stick together through thick and thin, we are told. While there is a lot of truth to this, I know of many cases where mates have had a disagreement and now they no longer talk to each other. We are funny creatures like this; our hearts are big, but limited in what we can accept. In my experience it is a loss of trust, money and girlfriends that are at the heart of many mates breaking up. I have many golfers I now call mates, however I try very hard not to get into small groups of people I play with all the time. In the type of employment I have in the church and in golf, it is hard to have mates without developing favouritism. Once I leave a church I tend to develop a closer friendship with those I keep in touch with. I once heard what I thought was a wise comment from a golf Pro giving a talk about his relationship to the members of the Golf Club where he worked; saying that where he worked he had no mates, preferring to think of everyone as his clients. In our last study we noted the betrayal of Judas. Judas left the meal table to set up the place where Jesus will be arrested. The other 11 disciples remained with Jesus as the meal continues. As Jesus speaks of his departure, Peter wishes to demonstrate his mateship with Jesus by saying he would give his life for Jesus. Jesus tells Peter that before morning he will disown Jesus three times. When Jesus is arrested during the night, Peter follows, and is noticed by the crowds. In the heat of the moment he denies knowing Jesus 3 times. Peter is a betrayer as well, but unlike Judas will seek restoration after Jesus rises from the dead. This is a good example of the way God forgives and that we all let our friends down at times. As Jesus anticipates his arrest in the near future, he tells his disciples
to love each other in the same way he has loved them. Or; to put it in
Australian language; to be a fair-dinkum mate to each other. We don’t
have favourites among our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called
to love each other in the same way Christ loved us. Prayer. |
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