Daily Devotionals

Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life

Devotional: February 20th

One of the rules of golf that is often overlooked is the rule of the club limit. Each golfer is allowed to carry as many as fourteen clubs in his/her bag. This limit allows for some interesting combinations of clubs for many golfers. Most "sets of clubs" are comprised of three woods, eight irons and a putter. Today's standard is for the three woods to be a driver accompanied by a three wood and a five wood. The irons are usually the three through nine irons along with a pitching wedge. And, of course, a putter.

If you've done the math, that's twelve clubs. That means two more may be added. Most golfers add at least one more wedge, usually a sand wedge, and a utility club such as a high lofted fairway wood or even a chipper. However, what golfers are carrying has changed dramatically due to clubs that are called hybrids. Hybrids combine characteristics from both woods and irons to allow a golfer a little latitude in what he/she hits.

Then there's all the extra stuff that is added to the bag; balls, tees, towels, pitch forks, gloves, first aid kits and, believe it or not, toilet paper. Still other items include brushes, extra spikes for golf shoes, an umbrella, chewing gum, headache/pain medicine, antacids and even beef jerky. While the fourteen clubs are what are needed to play the game, the other stuff is what makes it personal.

So, what's in your bag? Do you take advantage of the fourteen club limit or do you have just what you think you need? I am not talking about golf. I am talking about life in Christ. The Holy Spirit is who travels with us in the course of life. Do we have a bag full of the needed items to live that life to the fullest or are we running on a short supply? Have we selected one "club" from our "bag" and use that club more than others or are we making use of the entire set that we have of God?

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22, 23 No Christian should ever complain that they are lacking anything they need to be the person God needs them to be in Christ Jesus. Everything we need to play the round of life successfully is in our bag. It is up to us to use them.