Scripture:   John 6:44

Scripture Reading:   “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Thought:   Not everyone is here at the Colonial today. This is an invitational. Yet as awesome as it is to be among the chosen to compete in Fort Worth, it pales in comparison to the invitation offered to ALL men to be complete in Christ. Your hard work and athletic talent contributed to your invitation to these 4 days, but only God’s grace and the Father’s kindness opened your eyes to the beauty of Christ’s invitation to forever. (Matthew 11:25-30) If you respond to His invitation, the Father looks at you and says, “these guys are good,” not on the basis of deeds which you have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5) This should take away your breath. Your status should humble you. Gratitude should come easily. Grace and joy should mark your way. If you are not overwhelmed at where you are, then you have forgotten why you have come.

Reflection 1:   When we “earn” something we are not grateful; we are often smug in our expectation that we will get what we deserve. Do you remember what you DESERVE (see Romans 6:23a for a reminder)?

Reflection 2:   When you are given a gift, especially a rare and priceless one, it ought to affect you forever. Can you think of a better gift than the one mentioned in Romans 6:23b? If you have not been profoundly affected by Christ’s gift, what might that suggest to you?

Prayer:   “Father, forgive me for feeling entitled or deserving of your invitation. Help me to live humbly, full of gratitude, soaking in every step through this “loop” called life till I am home with you. Thank you for your kindness. May it have its full effect on me.” OR “Father, I want your gift of righteousness. Will you heal me? Will you grant me forgiveness for my sin through the provision of your son Jesus Christ?” (Read Revelation 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 12:1-2)

Contributor:   Todd Wagner; @wordsfromwags; www.watermark.org

Scripture:   Colossians 1:13–14

Scripture Reading:   “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Thought:   Talk about a bad lie. We have all had moments where a “loose” swing got us into a tough spot. But the “shank” called sin doesn’t just give us a bad lie or leave us in a tough spot. It leaves us DEAD. Not the proverbial I’m “dead,” I got nothing but the option to take a drop and work my way back. No, the spot our sin gets us into is DEAD DEAD. It doesn’t darken our chances at advancing in the tournament; it pulls us so far off course that the only fitting description of our condition is “the domain of darkness.” Without Christ your “game” has you in the habitat of hopelessness, the dwelling place of despair. Cut from LIFE. A “Seve” can’t save you here. No creativity, no caddie can help. Just humble admission you need a Wonderful, Merciful Savior. Do you know Him? Have you thanked Him today? Are you playing for Him? Is He carrying your BAGgage?

Reflection 1:   Some of us are still trying to get out of the hazard caused by our own sin. Others of us have forgotten the joy of our Salvation. Read Titus 3:3-5 and be reminded of where we were before Christ and what He alone can do for us.

Reflection 2:   Play/live with joy today. Let every bad lie, every time you are in “jail,” serve you by making it a reminder of all you have been saved from through Christ.

Prayer:   “Father, thank you for the gift of your Son and the faith you have given me in His perfect rescue. Enlarge my faith in you and faithful response to you.”

Contributor:   Todd Wagner; @wordsfromwags; www.watermark.org

Scripture:   Philippians 3:13–14

Scripture Reading:   “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Thought:   It’s moving day here at the Colonial Invitational. I hope you go low. I hope it results in you receiving fleeting praise on the leader board. I hope it leads to an exciting tomorrow. But even more, I hope you lower yourself to serve as Christ served and subsequently move up as leader in God’s eyes. (Mark 10:42-45) I hope you discipline yourself to move toward reading and understanding God’s word. I hope you increase in faithfulness so it leads to an exciting tomorrow, a tomorrow where you will hear “well done good and faithful servant” from the forever non-fleeting King. I hope you move toward Christ-likeness so your wife and family comment on your movement toward Holiness the way Jim Nantz comments on your moving toward Hogan. It’s moving day…get moving.

Reflection 1:   What are you going to do today off the course so you can move up as a leader in God’s eyes? Write it down right here, right now and review your “round” later.

Reflection 2:   You have to practice and play well to move up the leader board on Saturday. What do you need to practice and how do you need to play if you are going to move up the “leader board” where it really matters?

Prayer:   “Father, thank you for the chance to make a move today. Grant me the wisdom to be even more passionate about moving toward the eternal than I am toward temporal things. Help me to match my effort and passion for the forever that I bring to the fleeting.

Contributor:   Todd Wagner; @wordsfromwags; www.watermark.org

Scripture:   1 Timothy 6:9–11

Scripture Reading:   “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

Thought:    Want to know a guaranteed way to mess up your round? Start focusing on what you will win if you play well. Worry about what you won’t have if you don’t win. Focus on what you will have instead of what you are doing. Covet. Want to know a guaranteed way to mess up your life? Keep focusing on what you don’t have and run after cash the way you should be running after Christ. Covet things. There’s nothing wrong with money or winning, but there is a lot of ruin waiting for those who are obsessed with either. Money and winning are often outcomes of playing and living well, but make sure you let them be outcomes and not the overwhelming focus of your desire. (Matthew 6:33)

Reflection 1:   Read 1 Timothy 6:9 again and remind yourself of a time when you “wanted” something more than faithfulness in the moment. How did that work out for you?

Reflection 2:   Flee from focusing on outcomes today and purpose to focus on the next shot, the next word, and the next chance to speak of the Glory of your King.

Prayer:   “Father, help me to come up with, write down and execute one way to pursue each of the following today.” Righteousness____________ Godliness____________ Faith_______________ Love____________ Perseverance_______________ Gentleness____________

Contributor:   Todd Wagner; @wordsfromwags; www.watermark.org