Coffee With The Lord

I had a “mean” cross-country coach in high school! I mean he could really deliver a motivational speech before a meet! He’d tell us how hard it was going to be – how we’d face runners from the other team and their “evil devices” to box us out, keep us back, and what we’d have to do individually and as a team if we expected to win!  Then he’d tell us what confidence he had in us and how he expected us to do our best to win!! He was tough, challenging, realistic, yet uplifting, motivating and expressed confidence in us.

Reading the passage I encountered today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I am convinced that Apostle Paul was a lot like my cross-country coach when it comes to how I need to serve the Lord!

In 2 Timothy 2:1-7 “Coach Paul” presents 3 analogies that characterize a “servant of the Lord” who is effective in Christian service.  Here are the analogies (almost a sermon starter, but I want them to be more than that – I want them to guide and motivate my life personally!) Here they are – as I heard them this morning… I’ve got to be…

1.  Like a devoted soldier – willing to suffer and do whatever is necessary to fulfill the mission!

2.  Like a disciplined athlete – who trains hard to win, completes according to the rules and lay it all on the line to “overcome!”

3.  Be like a diligent farmer – who works long and hard to maximize the harvest!

And here it is right out of the mount of “Apostle [coach] Paul…

“You then, my son [Timothy], be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men [or women] who will be able to teach others also.  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  The hard-working farmer ought to have the first share of the crops.  Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”  (2 Timothy 2:1-7 ESV)

Are you “ALL IN” to gain godly wisdom? 

You know, don’t you, that it begins with “the fear of the Lord!” (i.e. reverencing Him, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10)?!

This morning, during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that emphasizes just how “ALL IN” we should be in the pursuit of godly wisdom (pay particular attention to what I have highlighted in what follows)…

“My son [or daughter], be attentive to my words; INCLINE YOUR EAR to my sayings. Let them not escape from YOUR SIGHT; keep them within YOUR HEART. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep YOUR HEART with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked SPEECH, and put devious TALK far from you. Let YOUR EYES look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder THE PATH OF YOUR FEET; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn YOUR FOOT away from evil.” (From Proverbs 4:20–27 (ESV)

“ALL IN” for godly wisdom! Knowing Jesus personally is the source of our wisdom (check out 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30)! His word nurtures and guides our wisdom! The Holy Spirit functions as an inner “check” of what is wise and true! Let me tell you, with God’s help, I’m “ALL IN” for wisdom!

JUST A BIT OF IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE FROM MY BIBLE READING THIS MORNING…

“Do not enter the path of the wicked! Do not walk in the way of evil! Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on! … BUT the path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day! The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble!” (From Proverbs 4:14-15 and 18-19 NKJV)