Keep your Eye on the Ball

“Who’s Your Caddy?”

“Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ — whether to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21, New Living Translation).

Tommy Bolt, winner of the 1958 US Open, tells the story of an incident he had with a caddy during one of his tournaments. This was before professional golfers had their own caddies as they do today. Bolt arrived at the venue for the tournament and was approached by a youngster, “Mr. Bolt, you need a caddy, sir?”

The lad seemed unseasoned, so Bolt replied, “I’ll let you know, kid.” He then went to the caddy master and asked about the youngster. “He’s a real good caddy,” the man said, “knows the course, the greens, and the rules of the game. But he talks a lot.” So Bolt went back to the youngster and said, “You can caddy for me on one condition: Don’t say a word.”

The kid accepted and carried the bag for the Open champion. The first round went well, as did the second, and third. Bolt was in contention in the fourth round, when an errant tee shot landed in the woods. The ball was sitting down in the rough, with a risky shot to the green, which was guarded by water on the right.

Bolt asked the kid, “You think a five iron will do the trick?” The kid shook his head no, but never said a word. “What, you want me to hit a six iron?” Again, the kid shook his head no, but did not speak. Bolt grabbed a six iron a lashed the ball out of the rough and landed on the green, rolling to about three feet for a birdie. As they walked to the green, Bolt said, “Aren’t you going to say something now, after seeing a shot like that?”

The kid then replied, “Mr. Bolt, that wasn’t your ball.”

Many of us go through life with a Caddy we never let speak. He is the Holy Spirit, and we would listen to Him, engaged in an ongoing conversation, He would save us many penalty strokes on the Links of Life.

Is that a five iron in your hand?   Ryle

Isaiah 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

 

Trust God for your day, ….Today

Lessons from Hannah and Samuel

In the Wednesday night Bible Study we started reading in 1 Samuel. We can learn a lot from Hannah and Samuel.

I was first impressed at Hannah’s attitude after Eli spoke to her in the temple.

1 Samuel 1:17-18 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

At the beginning of the feast Hannah wasn’t able to eat or take part in any way so great was her burden. As soon as Eli spoke to her, granting her the petition of her heart through God, her countenance was not more sad. She was content and happy even, trusting that God would give her the child of her heart. You could not have known the burden that she carried as the left for home.

I was encouraged by Hannah’s song of praise at the beginning of chapter 2. She speaks of the Lord that giveth and taketh away, the one that provides and grants blessings, the rock through all times, the all knowing one that knows just what his people need. Through her trial of wanting a child, the grief of not having one, and the joy of receiving the blessing, she never once believed that God would fail her.

The next even that stood out to me was when the Lord spoke to Samuel. At this time Samuel didn’t know the Lord personally and Eli wasn’t the best example. When the Lord began to speak to Samuel, we can tell that he was listening. He might not know what or who he heard, but he was listening and quick to respond to the call. When Eli told Samuel to answer the Lord, he wasn’t skeptical but just obeyed. In those two simple things, listening and obeying the strength of Samuel’s service to God was built.

1 Samuel 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

As I was reading this I thought, am I always listening, waiting for the call? Are my ears open for the call of God? Do I respond right away to his call? Do I obey quickly or does he have to call several times before he gets my attention?

 

Let us learn from Hannah and Samuel:
-When we bring a petition to God, we can leave it with him and trust that he will provide for the need or desire. We don’t need to continue to be sad or bothered about the burden; we can be content and trust God.
-Listen for God’s voice and quickly follow his instructions. If we have a listening ear and an obedient heart God will strengthen us in him and our relationship will grow.

A Collection of thoughts

Last week in the Bible discussion group on Wednesday we spoke about silver and how it is used in the Bible.

1. In the days of Christ, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave. That was the value that was put on Jesus. He was worth no more than a slave to Judas and the Pharisees that bought him. However it was that “worthless human”, Jesus Christ that paid for our sins. He alone was the acceptable sacrifice. 1 Peter 1:18 and 19 reads “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” We were bought by the priceless sacrifice of Jesus whom the world deemed worthless.

2. Silver a costly and precious metal is used as a representation for the value of wisdom and understanding through out the Old Testament. We read this in: Proverbs 2:3-5 “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” 3:13-14 “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.” 8:10-11 “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.“ 16:16 “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” Let us value those things that need to be valued. Wisdom and understanding are not just for those that are older and have followed God for years, it is something that all saints need to strive to increase.

A Collection of Thoughts

Last week at the Wednesday Night Bible discussion we discussed the 8th Commandment listed in Exodus 20, continuing our discussion on what is sin.

1. Exodus 20:15-Thou shalt not steal. God has a very specific outline of what he considers stealing; and it isn’t just taking something that doesn’t belong to you.

2. The Bible includes the buying and selling of human life in the discussion of stealing. Human trafficking is a serious offense to God. In the old testament the punishment for this is death. Exodus 21:16 and Deuteronomy 24:7

3. Leviticus 6:1-7 is very specific in dealing with having something that isn’t yours and the restitution that is required to pay for the sin. Stealing isn’t just taking something that isn’t yours, but also finding something that is lost and not giving it back to the rightful owner. The thief was charged the principle plus one fifth of what they took to repay the debt.

4. The Bible discusses fair business practice in order to keep from stealing on both sides. Just weights or measurements of goods and services and adhering to contracts are listed out in the word. Leviticus 19:35-36, Deuteronomy 25:13-15, and Luke 3:13

5. Stealing isn’t just an act of the body but a result of a heart condition. Matthew 15:19-20 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”

6. All of the above helps to define the sin of stealing. It isn’t just taking something that isn’t yours, but with holding something that belongs to someone. It can be tangible items, ones life, or reputation, if you deprive someone of what belongs to them, you are guilty of stealing. But there is a remedy. First repentance than restitution, returning or paying back that which is owed. Ephesians 4:28-Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

A Collection of Thoughts

In continuing with our discussion on sin last Wednesday, we explored 2 more of the 10 commandments listed in Exodus 20.

1. Thou shalt not kill, Exodus 20:13. There is a difference between killing and murder. In this statement, the Hebrew word for kill specifically means to murder. In Exodus 21:12-15, the people of God are instructed to handle premeditated murder differently than an accidental killing. We are commanded not to take someone’s life or testimony through hate. If we hate our brother, we are just as accountable as a murderer. 1 John 3:15

2. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14. In Matthew 5:27-28 defines the concern of adultery in the New Testament, it isn’t just the act of a relationship of a married person and someone other than their spouse, but it is the act of lusting after another person. Lust is adultery in the heart. God is not just concerned with adultery among people, but also between his church, the Bride, and Christ. God commands us to refrain from lusting after another god.