Just a few weeks ago the world of professional golf crowned its newest major champion as Jordan Speith won the 2015 Masters Tournament in record fashion. At 21 years of age he became the second youngest to ever win the Masters, Tiger Woods having bested him by a few months in his first victory there. Jordan became the first wire to wire winner in 39 years when Raymond Floyd did that in 1976. He set the record for the lowest total after 36 holes at an amazing 14 under par and then became the only player in Masters history to ever reach 19 under par at any point during the tournament. He finished at 18 under par tying Tiger’s record low score from 1997 on a course that was almost 400 yards shorter than the current version.
I could go on and on about other records and amazing things that he did during the tournament but what impresses me the most about this young man is that at 21 years of age he has a level of maturity that too many twice his age don’t have. There is no question that his parents can be credited with a lot of his maturity and ability to stay grounded. A Sports Illustrated article I read said that he still drives a 2007 Yukon with over 100,000 miles on it, perhaps that has changed since his win but it wouldn’t surprise me if it hasn’t. Jordan has a sister that he credits most for keeping him grounded you see she has a form of autism and his love and concern for her helps him keep life in perspective and doesn’t allow him to get caught up in the hype or the glamour that can come with all that he has accomplished. Maturity is something that truly marks this young man.
In your Christian walk can others see the marks of maturity? Do people around you see a maturity that belies your years that is incomprehensible to those that don’t know Jesus? I am talking about a spiritual maturity that displays joy and peace in hard times. I am talking about a maturity that leads a person to live their lives by the principles of God’s Word rather than caving the man’s whims. I am talking about a maturity that causes us to show love to the unlovely and grace to the least deserving. Maturity ought to mark our lives but it won’t if we are not intentional about our relationship with Christ.
What are you doing to grow in Christ? What are you doing to mature in your faith? Jordan Speith listens to those who have been around the game and has been mentored by seasoned professionals. God places people in our lives to help us grow and mature but we must be pliable and moldable and let God mature us so that others can see his marks upon our lives. I pray that we would let God so indelibly imprint Himself upon us that others can’t help but to see Him and not us.
In His Amazing Grace,
Dan