Staying Out of the Rough Starts on the Tee

Staying Out of the Rough Starts on the Tee

A slight change in trajectory brings a major change down range.

I’ve spent some time in Romans 1 lately and the last half of the chapter is sobering. You might know that section as the homosexuality passage, but that’s not its true focus. Romans 1:18-32 tracks what happens when a shift from true center occurs.

Romans 1:18-32 gives a snapshot of our culture. Many things in the rough are par for the course in our society.

But this course is skewed.

Paul describes the rough and sets up a series of causes and effects:

Verses

Off the Tee Hooks and Slices In the Rough
Romans 1:18-20 Clear knowledge of God revealed by creation: God’s eternal power and divine nature Godlessness, wickedness, suppression of the truth God’s wrath; men are without excuse
Romans 1:21-23 Knowledge of God They neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him; they exchanged God’s glory for images of man, birds, animals, and reptiles Their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened; they claimed to be wise but became fools
Romans 1:24-25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie; they worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator God gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts: sexual impurity, the degrading of their bodies
Romans 1:26-27 God gave them over to shameful lusts: homosexuality/lesbianism
Romans 1:28-32 God’s decree that those who do such things deserve death They did not retain the knowledge of God because it wasn’t worthwhile to do so; they continued to do wrong and approved those who did likewise

God gave them over to a depraved mind; they became filled with: wickedness, evil, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, God-hating, insolence, arrogance, boasting, invention of new evils, disobedience to parents. They lost the ability to understand, to love, to offer mercy, and to give loyalty.

These guys are not just in the rough—they’re in the water hazard. The one with the alligators.

But it started by not acknowledging God, His truth, and His glory.

So, where are your shots landing? Is your spiritual thinking muddled? Let’s get back to the fundamentals:

Training Tip 1: See Him. Ask God to help you see clearly—to see His eternal power, His divine nature, His work in the world around you.

Training Tip 2: Worship Him. Sing it. Speak it. Read it from His word. Give Him the glory He deserves.

Training Tip 3: Thank Him. We’re surrounded by terrific things. Hot showers. Air conditioning. Sweet tea. Pick a few of your favorites, stop, and say thanks.

Point to the true flag and show the world how to make the putt.

Nail your spiritual workouts this week and change your corner of the gym.

Workout of the Week: Be True Off the Tee

Memory Verse: Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Meditation Passage: Romans 1:18-32

Just Do It: Line up your shot.

Tweetables:

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