Coffee With The Lord

“No one is going to push me around!” … “Let ‘em try! They’ll pay for that!” … “They won’t know what hit ‘em!” … “I’ll tell you what I’ll do if they try!” And a host of other comments like that (… and from “Christians” yet)!

And then today I read this “convicting” passage in the Bible during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV)

We’ve been called to be “REDEMPTIVE” NOT “RETALITORY!”– To follow the example set by our Savior! And because of what He did under duress, provocation, and injustice we have salvation – His unjust “wounds” brought us eternal healing (ie. salvation)! He said, “Father forgive them – they do not know what they do! (Luke 23:34) Doing it could change lives and provide an entre’e and living example of the gospel!

Oh Lord, may Your example be what I emulate – may I follow in your steps!” Perhaps I need to dig out that little bracelet from the bedside table and not simply wear it, but follow it… WWJD!

“But you [spoken to largely gentile Christians] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (from 1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV)

Do you believe in the power of collective prayer – when a group of Christians gather together, focus on a need and pray fervently for God to act or meet it?

I do! And I read a story this morning in the Bible during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” that powerfully illustrates it! It’s found in Acts 12.1-19. So here is my challenge for you today… Get a Bible, put on your “imagination” (so you can visualize what you’re reading – Hey, this story is filled with drama!), enter into the story and SEE IF IT DOESN’T ENCOURAGE YOUR FAITH TO PRAY!

Then I urge you to get a group of Christians together, identify a need, focus in faith and PRAY!! Then see what God will do!! BE EXPECTANT… GOD CAN WOW YOU!! (And even if you’re faith falters He can even SURPRISE you!) Go ahead… read the story! … and DO IT!

As a side note: I’d just LOVE to see a group of capable actors turn this story into a dramatic presentation!! It would make a POWERFUL sermon on the power of prayer preached through the vehicle of drama!! Com’on someone, DO IT!! (And send me a copy of the video!)