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Writer's pictureBryce Johnson

The Winning Formula

In Tom Van Haaren's article on ESPN.com, he writes about Bryson DeChambeau's big win yesterday at Detroit Golf Club. Finishing 23 under and shooting his best score (65) in the final round, he held off Matthew Wolff and Kevin Kisner.

DeChambeau had five PGA Tour wins entering this season and has already gotten off to a strong start - especially playing well since returning from a three-month layoff during the pandemic.

He used that time to add 20 pounds (now up to 40) and increase his muscle so he can hit the ball even further. The changes clicked with his swing and he found himself at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.

Van Haaren explains in his article that “After six top-10 finishes in a row, Bryson DeChambeau has found the winning formula. After all the experiments, tinkering with equipment, angles, and math, bulking up and adding distance, DeChambeau put everything together and won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

"He did it while many on the outside questioned if his strategy made any sense, if it were sustainable and if it would ever pay off.”

In order for golfers to win, they have to implement the right strategy and execute the formula that utilizes the proper qualities of a successful golf game. When everything flows together, the effort and practice pay off.

Today I want to unpack a “formula” for followers of Jesus found in 2 Peter 5-7. Peter encourages us to “...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

As we read these verses, we hopefully desire for our lives to be marked by those characteristics because we know this is the strategy for a winning life.

Peter goes on to tell us in verses 8-11, "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

"For in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Sticking to the formula he believed in, DeChambeau bulked up and increased his distance off the tee even when “many on the outside questioned if his strategy made any sense, if it were sustainable and if it would ever pay off.”

Today as followers of Jesus, are we increasing and practicing qualities like self-control, steadfastness, and godliness? Are we “bulking up” in love and brotherly affection?

Even when people question us for pursuing Jesus’ character and His ways, let’s remember He’s the One who sustains us and prevents us from falling.

Ultimately, every step with Him is worthwhile and fruitful because His strategy is always the best and always pays off...either now or in eternity.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for molding me and shaping me to be more like Jesus. Please help me to increase in knowledge, self-control, and love. I know that Your ways are best and I pray You’d help me live a fruitful life marked by godliness and steadfastness. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:


What quality above do you think you lack the most?


How do those qualities connect and formulate a fruitful life?

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