Coffee With The Lord

Part of my Bible reading today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” – Psalm 121.  Here’s a few thoughts from it I wrote in my journal…

Psalm 121 is labeled “A song of ascents,” sung by pilgrims on their way to worship in Jerusalem.

On that long journey the pilgrim’s “help” and protection did not come “from the hills” – the location of “high places” (of idol worship and temptation) and dangerous locations!  Instead It came from the Lord – the Creator of heaven and earth!  He was (and is) the “KEEPER” of His people (and all that term “Keeper” implies!  He preserves them from all evil – their life – and their “going out and coming in” – forever!!! 

Trust Him moment-by-moment – trust Him daily – trust him for a lifetime!!!  The “Creator of heaven and earth” can be your  “KEEPER!”

Here’s a bit of advice for those seeking to live the Christian life successfully… “K–I–S–S” – “Keep It Spiritually Simple” focus on following Christ alone! He’s enough!

That bit of advice is based upon Apostle Paul’s message to the congregation of the church in Colossae (Colossians 2:16-23 – part of my Bible reading today and a worthy read for all Christians!)

In the passage Apostle Paul urges these believers not to be distracted and led astray, and cheated of their eternal reward by things that don’t matter – human regulations that have an appearance of religious wisdom, false expressions of humility, and religious ascetism or self-denial … He instead emphasizes that THE SUBSTANCE (what really DOES matter) IS CHRIST!

Hey, nothing has changed – the same issues distract and rob believers of reality in Christ today (human traditions and religious snobbery)!

My advice (and Paul’s)? “K–I–S–S” – “Keep It Spiritually Simple” focus on following Christ alone! He’s enough!

STEWARDSHIP IS A BIG DEAL! Ultimately, above all others, we are responsible to God, the one who gives us everything to enjoy!

There’s a parable in the Bible that addresses our stewardship – especially in monetary matters! I read it this morning and spent some serious time evaluating my personal stewardship! It’s found in your Bible in Luke 16:1-13 – It’s called “The Parable of the Unjust Steward.”

A rich guy – the owner of a lot of property and a huge bank account – had a “steward” (an individual he had hired to manage his money). He kept getting rumors (and even some hard evidence) that the guy was “wasting his master goods” – the “auditors” (and others) apparently were not happy with what they were seeing. The “steward” finally was called to account and fired!

What to do? In the words of the Biblical text the “steward” said “what shall I do? So he called in some of his masters debtors and adjusted their indebtedness. His master was impressed with his shrewd industriousness… The story ends – but not the lesson…

Here it is in the words of Jesus… “I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth (“mammon”) so that when it fails they may receive you into eternal dwellings! One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth who will entrust to you true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s [especially God’s] who will give you that which is your own?” (vss. 9-12)

The point? As “stewards” who are ultimately responsible to God, we must be wise in how we manage what the Lord has entrusted to us (especially “mammon” – material things/money) in a way that is honoring and pleasing to Him! We do not serve “mammon” – we ultimately serve our Lord and Master – God! To Him we are ultimately responsible and will give account! Believe me, I want the “Righteous Master” – God – to be pleased!

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one despise the other – YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON (material things – especially money)!” (Luke 16:13 ESV)

My advice? Be sure God is pleased with you as a “steward!” Serve Him – not money or possessions!