PGA Chaplain Bible Studies
Study 38 October 13th to 19th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter 20:21-23.
“Where our Confidence Comes From”
“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, I am sending you.”And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”(John Chapter 20: verses 21 to 23 New International Version).
It is an interesting topic about what we need to do to improve our golf. I often hear golfers say; I need to go to the driving range and practice more. Or I don’t play often enough, if I only could play more I would improve. Or I need to go and get a lesson. In my opinion getting a lesson is the best place to start. Then, trusting what you learn and giving it time (I think about 3 months) for the benefits to come. Our bad habits are so ingrained that even when we learn something new and can see the benefit, our bad habits resist going; and often we revert back to what we know for comfort.
For everyone it is different. Going to the driving range may help and playing more also. But for me the more I play, or going to the driving range, doesn’t mean me play better,
What helps me to play better is to be working on some part of my game and to find a swing that works (I get this from the professional). Then I need patience and the confidence to trust it when I play. For me it’s all about confidence in what I am doing. Without confidence and having a swing that is working I find it hard to play well, no matter how much I practice or how often I play.
I can relate this to what Jesus is saying in our passage above. When it comes to spreading the message of Jesus and sharing Christ with others as Jesus calls us to; it’s also about having confidence in Jesus and knowing the truth of Jesus for yourself. We are all reluctant to speak about things we know little off, unless we are foolish.
Last week we noted how private many view their faith and how hard we find to talk about Jesus, even among our friends, let alone to one who is yet to follow Christ. But we have to ask ourselves; what is it that we really value in life; what are things worth sharing? If God is not at the top of the list, then we really need to think again about where God should be?
It is clear from our reading that the love God has for everyone in Jesus is to be shared with the world. This is our calling as followers of Jesus; to share the greatest gift in life with others.
The real source of help to do this comes from God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathing on them is the sign that in sharing they will be helped by God. God is our teacher. When we trust in the help God gives, we can develop confidence to know God is with us and to go about speaking the words of eternal life that alone is found in Jesus.
Prayer.
Lord, alone I am weak, but with the help of the Holy Spirit you give, I can speak with confidence about what I value most in my life – you. For this I ask. Amen. |
