Coffee With The Lord

EVER LEARN A LESSON THE HARD WAY? Like, it pays to change the oil in your car once in awhile and not ignore the little warnings that pop up in the display on your dash. Or how about the lesson that embarrassing tattoos go on your body a lot easier than they come off. Or maybe, it might be a good idea to think twice about that post on Facebook or the content of that e-mail before you click “send”. Don’t worry, I’ve got my own list of “lessons learned the hard way!” 

David learned an important lesson “the hard way” … The lesson? SINCERITY IS NOT ENOUGH… It pays to do things God’s way – it pays to obey!

David had a noble and admirable desire… to bring the Ark (the sacred box that epitomized God’s presence among His people) back to its resting place in Israel. David said, “‘Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’ The whole assembly agreed to do this because it seemed right to all the people.’”

This is what the Bible says, “So David assembled all Israel… David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets. When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.”

David’s response? “Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of God that day and asked, ‘How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?’” (From 1 Chronicles 13 NIV)

David had not followed God’s command – he was sincere, but disobedient – he ignored Divine directions. The Ark was to be moved only by the Levites, who were to carry it with poles inserted through rings in the side of the ark (Exodus 25.12-15). None of the holy things were to be touched, on penalty of death (Numbers 4.15).

Later however David “Prepared a place for the Ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, ‘No one but the Levites may carry the Ark of the Lord and to minister before Him forever’ … Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. He said to them, ‘You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. WE DID NOT INQUIRE OF HIM ABOUT HOW TO DO IT IN THE PRESCRIBED WAY.’ So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.” (From 1 Chronicles 15.1-15 NIV)

Lesson learned! (But the hard way) … Sincerity alone, is not adequate! Religious enthusiasm minus obedience “won’t cut it!” My prayer today? Lord help me to learn this important lesson of life and worship… obedience matters – in fact, “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22)! May I learn the import lessons of life and worship “the easy way”! MAY I PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD’S WORD TEACHES AND NOT SIMPLY DO WHAT “SEEMS RIGHT IN MY OWN EYES.”

Today I’m sharing a wonderful promise and word of assurance I’ve depended upon over the years.  Can’t remember the first time I discovered it, claimed it, and found it true, but the times since then that I’ve relied upon it have been numerous.  Just take it from me – it works!  I read it again this morning in my Bible reading and just paused and offered thanks for the wonderful truth it expresses.

I’m going to share it from the old Living Bible paraphrase: 

“IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO, ASK HIM, AND HE WILL GLADLY TELL YOU, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him; He will not resent it.  But when you ask Him be sure that you really expect Him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that.  If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” (James 1:5-8 Living Bible)

We all need wisdom.  Those who “fear (or reverence) the Lord desire to know and do His will.  This wonderful passage lifts discovering God’s will out of the arena of stress and anxiety and transfers it into the domain of confident assurance and faith.  WE CAN ASK GOD FOR WISDOM AND HE HAS PROMISED TO SUPPLY IT!  We are not told precisely how He will supply it – simply that He will.  He has an innumerable number of ways at his disposal… clear direction from His word, counsel from Godly leaders and friends, circumstances, a prophetic word, researching your options bathed in an atmosphere of prayer, or just simply “faith walking” through the issue every day with the Lord… and that’s just a handful of possibilities.  But the truth is, God WILL supply the wisdom you need!  ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRUISMS IS… “THE WILL OF GOD GROWS ON YOU!” 

Trust Him!  Ask for His wisdom!  Believe that He’ll do what He said and supply it!  Then expectantly watch, wait, listen, visit with Him about your options and His leading… and obey!  It works!

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I was intrigued by the topic “The Art of Influence.” Big topic!! Believe me I don’t have all the answers!! (If anyone has a great bibliography of good books on the topic, I’m interested!)

When it comes to influencing others, the only thing some people have going for them is money. Here’s a challenge… Put away your money and see what you can accomplish without it… “stash the cash – boycott the bribe” and see how influential you really are! Me thinks, for many people, it’s about all they’ve got going for them and their ideas.

This is what I read in the Bible about “influence” this morning…

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” (Proverbs 25.15 NIV)

My interpretation of the advice? Lower your voice (don’t sound so strident and pushy). Think process, exercise patience, and hang in there when you’re trying to influence a decision or a key leader… (might not be a bad idea to bathe things in prayer either 😉 … ask God for “Divine favor!”)

Good stuff from the book of Proverbs this morning, eh?