If it were not for mulligans, do-overs, free strokes, and bunch a throws, I never would have learned to play golf. I started playing golf after college only because I was invited on a golf trip with 15 of my friends.

At that point in my life, I rarely played golf and could barely hit the ball, but this sounded like the best way to hang out with the greatest amount of friends for the longest amount of time. So, I started to practice and I slowly got a little better.

On the first trip, I think they gave me 36 strokes per round. Even with the strokes, I did not win a single hole that trip, but I did have a couple meaningful putts that gave me a chance. I was not good, but I was invited and I was in the game. Three days and 90 winless holes of golf later, I was hooked because the game was handicapped in a way that let me have a chance — all while enjoying my friends. Since then, I’ve been on more golf trips than I can count. Now my favorite golf trips involve my sons.

New Starts Lead To New Life

Golf starts over every round, and every hole within the round is a fresh opportunity to start over. The game of golf’s handicap system provides a way for people of all performance levels to participate and enjoy the game. Once you enjoy the game, you do not stay satisfied with your poor performance, you work to get better and find more and more purpose and enjoyment in the game.

The parallels between golf and faith are limited, but God is certainly a God of do-overs and fresh starts. You see, I used to think I had to earn God’s approval, now I know that God does not count my mistakes against me. Instead, I get new chances every day, all day. Jesus paid it all, to wipe every sin — past, current, and future — off of my record to give me an all access lifetime pass to God.

Faith is Not Perfection — Not Yet

Jesus did not come to save those who believe they can save themselves. Jesus came to save the poor and lowly, the sick, the desperate, those who need a new life. Faith does not mean we become perfect — or even close to perfect. In fact, true faith in Jesus is about surrendering our performance efforts and counting on the perfection of Jesus. Faith in Jesus is about starting over and continuing to start over in faith and reliance on Jesus every day.

The Week Do-Overs Got a New Name

The week leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus is a fascinating and clear case of how Jesus uses our imperfection and inconsistency to draw us closer and closer to Himself. Consider the ups and downs of the most celebrated week in history.

We Recognize We Have A Savior

At the start of the week before Jesus’ death and resurrection, His followers worshiped and praised His name with all sincerity. They recognized Jesus as King and gave glory to His presence. The crowd gathered to draw closer to Him, and they were so overcome by His humble entrance into the city that they fell down and worshiped Him. “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord !" – John 12:13

This is what we do when we understand Jesus is Lord. Our knowledge of Jesus may be limited, but when we first begin to understand He is the Savior we so desperately need, our faith journey has just begun.  

At work we need a Savior too. The One who is the King of our lives, is the King of all of our life. Praising God at work means we give thanks to Him for our time, our relationships, and all of the resources we have been given for our work. Recognizing God is King at work means we see our biggest opportunities and largest struggles as gifts from Him. Giving glory to God means we surrender the fact that we are in control and work in a way that honors Him first.

We Are Invited To Commune With Jesus

Jesus invites those who have surrendered their lives to have intimate fellowship with Him. The night before Jesus was betrayed, Jesus shared Himself like never before. We are invited to commune with Him. Communion with Jesus starts with cleansing and ends with the promise of a perfect future.

• Jesus cleanses His followers – “He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” – John 13:4-5

• Jesus assures His followers – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – John 14:1-3

• Jesus feeds His followers – “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” - Matthew 26:26-28

• Jesus shares the secret to success with His followers – “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” – John 15:7-14

• Jesus prays for His followers to be one with Him – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one —  I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:20-23

Jesus is constantly inviting us to commune with Him now — in all of our life, including our work. He is with us in every meeting and gives us full access to God as we go about creating goods and services, making decisions, and caring for customers and teammates. He has cleansed us to prepare us for our work. He has assured us with His promises to empower our work. He gives us constant access to empower our work. He prays to make us one with Him during our work.

Jesus Pays The Full Price For Our Access

Jesus came to earth to lay down His life for those He loves. He came to fulfill the prayer to make us one with God. He says multiple times “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” (John 10:18).  This sacrifice pays for all of our mistakes, all our sins, and all of the impact of all sin on our lives. This is why He says,“It is finished” (John 19:30).

Jesus paid the full price for our mistakes at work just as He paid for them in all parts of our lives. This includes every time we disrespect another person, every time we are greedy, every time we believe we are in control and think we don’t need God. All major and minor mistakes are completely redeemed.

We Deny, Deflect and Desert Jesus

Peter and the other followers all declared their loyalty to Jesus in the upper room as they feasted, and Jesus shared wisdom and prayed for them. But, they would quickly be tested. First, in the garden where they all fell asleep and then deserted Jesus as He was arrested. After such boldness, not even Peter could admit he knew Jesus — just as Jesus prophesied.  “You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not”…So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not .” One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn't I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it,” (John 18:17; 25-27).

Even though history has taught us everything we need to know about God, we still deny, deflect, and desert Jesus. We praise Him with our lips in the sanctuary, but we choose to not stand up for what is right in the boardroom, the waiting room, and customer service department. We seek glory for ourselves when we are given the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus in our words or actions.

Resurrection Brings New Life To Work — 4 Ways

Jesus' resurrection means new life, new chances, do-overs, and mulligans for every minute of our life. Though we’ve never had a perfect day at work, the resurrection brings new life, opportunity, and hope to every minute of our work. Tim Keller explains four gifts Jesus gives His followers in a sermon titled Resurrection Gifts using John 20:1-23. Keller points out that Jesus, instead of scolding them after their desertions, brings them peace and gifts. All four resurrection gifts are in these verses.

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” – John 20:19-23

Keller also points out that faith in Christ is the supreme gift and Jesus gives them four other gifts in order to exercise and strengthen their faith.

Intimacy – “If you have met the risen Christ, you know what it is to grab Him and take hold of Him.” Jesus reminds his followers He is with them as He brings peace and shows His wounds. He is perfectly vulnerable with them. Intimacy with Jesus is available for us to utilize at work.  

Purpose – “If you have met the risen Christ you will find there is a sentness about you. He never heals us without sending us out to heal others.” Knowing Jesus means we know our work is for the glory of God and benefit of others. Working for and with God enriches the meaning of every conversation and every action. We are blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:3).

Identity – “You find yourself by finding the risen Christ. You must lose yourself to find yourself.” When we know Jesus we start to see ourselves as He sees us. We start to act like Jesus, giving our life and preferences at work up for others. He who wants to save their life will lose their life for Jesus (Matthew 16:25).

Power – “Jesus gives you His power as the channel. Do you know this risen Christ?” The power of Jesus allows us to have confidence and boldness with humility for every decision and every interaction. This power of his resurrections help us become like Him, even in sufferings (Philippians 3:10).

Let’s take hold of Jesus. He offers us new hearts and fresh starts. He offers us gifts that strengthen our faith and glorify His name. Jesus, the name that is above every name!