By Staff Writer, Matt Osborne Both Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele accomplished a historic feat during Thursday’s first round at the Los Angeles Country Club, becoming the first two players to ever shoot 62 at the US Open. For Fowler, in particular, his performance seems to prove that he's experiencing a turnaround after going through some struggles over the past couple of years. Perhaps the biggest factor in his recent resurgence has been the new Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter he added to his bag after trying out his caddie, Rickie Romano’s, during a practice round earlier this year. According to Romano, the simple change in equipment has improved Fowler’s confidence and mindset, which has led him to experience greater success at recent tournaments. Romano explained, "On the putting green, I rolled in a couple and he kind of looked over and was like, 'Hey, can I see that?' We went out on the course and played, and he grabbed it on every green. And then he used it on every green. And then on the fourth green, he said, 'This putter's like cheating.' ...It freed him up." Fowler understood his equipment wasn't working for him, so when he saw a better option, he made a switch that enabled him to play with freedom. As followers of Jesus, we've experienced something similar in our own lives. Before being born again by the Holy Spirit, each of us lived life in the power of the flesh, which was completely incapable of helping us keep God’s law. We had fallen short of God’s perfect standard and were ill-equipped to fight our way to victory over sin. Trusting in the righteousness of Christ alone has “freed us up” to no longer attempt to earn our righteousness through the power of our flesh. Instead, we get to live with peace, knowing that salvation has been accomplished by Jesus and not by our adherence to God’s law. In response to the religious leaders who placed heavy burdens on people by telling them they must earn their salvation by keeping the law, Jesus stated in Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV), “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” I sincerely hope that each one of you reading this devotional has traded in your self-righteous efforts to earn your way to heaven in favor of trusting in the finished work of Christ alone. But even if you have done so, it's important to recognize that the battle against self-righteousness doesn't end there. Because we continue to live in the flesh, even after we're born again, we can still find ourselves failing to walk in the freedom given to us by Christ if we return to thinking that our standing before God is based on our works. This is the exact problem that the Apostle Paul encountered with the church of Galatia. In Galatians 3:1-3 (NIV), Paul wrote, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” Paul couldn't be more clear in his point: the Galatian believers were saved and received the Holy Spirit not because they followed the law, but because they believed in the finished work of Christ. His letter was written to remind them of the fact that they will always and only be saved by Christ, and not by their keeping of the law. We know that Christ has “freed us” not so we can sin, but, rather, to live righteously. But even so, it's easy for us to “forget” that our salvation is completely dependent on Jesus’ obedience, and not our own. Yet, the amazing thing is, that when we truly comprehend the freedom we've been given in Christ, it actually equips and enables us to live a life of obedience as we respond with gratitude for all He's done for us. Romans 7:4 (ESV) says, “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” Today, let’s remember that our righteous standing before God was received by faith, and not earned by merit. By recognizing that Christ has “freed us up” from feeling the need to earn our salvation, let's live lives of thankfulness and obedience to the One who has set us free. I’m Matt Osborne and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son to accomplish what I never could on my own. Please help me to live life with a constant awareness that my righteous standing is a gift You have given me by faith. In response, show me how to live a life of freedom that results in my obedience to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. Do you ever struggle with feeling like you need to earn your salvation or God's approval? If so, why do you feel that way? 2. How would your daily life be impacted if you constantly lived with the awareness that all of your salvation is dependent on the work of Christ?
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