Coffee With The Lord

This morning I read one powerful passage in the Bible during my time of “Coffee with the Lord – Romans 3:9-20!

In it Apostle Paul, a Pharisee and Old Testament scholar, pulls together a large quantity of Old Testament texts (Psalm 51:4; 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isaiah 59:7-8; and Psalm 36:1) to make an important and irrefutable point… “Both Jews and Greeks” (if you please, ALL OF US – ALL HUMANKIND) ARE SINNERS in need of a Savior!  Here’s what he said, inspired by the Holy Spirit… “That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God!”  Not encouraging… quite an indictment – but absolutely true and accurate!  Creates a huge dilemma!  What can be done?  We can’t save ourselves – we can’t make ourselves “righteous” (self-righteousness is a sin of terrible pride)!

But praise God for the very next passage!!!  Since “There is no difference; and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (…ALL CAN BE) JUSTIFIED [MADE RIGHT WITH GOD] FREELY BY GOD’S GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS!” (3:23-24) Praise the Lord!

My reflection and response to Matthew 4:1-11

I used to tell every student of mine at SAGU where I taught for over 35 years… “Write this in the flyleaf of every Bible you own: “THIS BOOK IS MY ALL-SUFFICIENT GUIDE FOR FAITH AND DAILY LIVING!’”

In this passage that addresses Satan’s temptation of our Savior (on 3 different occasions – typical situations) Jesus modeled how to overcome the temptations by utilizing and applying the truth of God’s Word!

May I always follow His example!

There is an old worship song that goes, “After all He’s done for me, after all He’s done for me – How could I do less than give Him my best, and live for Him completely; after all He’s done for me?”

Isaiah 5 speaks of a “love song concerning God’s vineyard” (Jerusalem and Judah – God’s people). The Lord had redeemed His people from bondage, rescued them and provided for them on multiple occasions. He sustained them through the wilderness, defended them and prospered them!

Their response? … Complaint, disobedience, rebellion and idolatry! So He asks, “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done for it? I looked for it to yield grapes – why did it yield wild grapes? I will remove its hedge (its protection)! I will break down its wall! I looked for justice, but behold bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!”

What ungratefulness! As a redeemed child of God I never want to be guilty of that! “AFTER ALL HE’S DONE FOR ME…”