Coffee With The Lord

I read a passage this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” that’s a pretty tall order…

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (NIV)

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Wow!!  “Sanctified through-and-through!!  Holy!  Completely set apart to the Lord, His will, His purposes, His cause!!  Spirit, soul, and body – inside and out – every attitude, inclination, molecule and atom, blameless and without fault when the Lord returns!!  Can you imagine!  How is that possible?!  Well Paul, the apostle put it this way…

Then this statement:  “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it!”  What a relief eh?  It will be God’s provision, initiative, activity and power at work in our lives that makes it possible!

But there’s our part as well.  And I can tell you that’s when I began to have serious reservations… I know my weakness, I’m aware of the power of temptation, I’m all to aware of the times I’ve fallen short!!  I was praying about that this morning when the words of this old gospel song came to mind.  From my experience and perspective it helps provide an answer to “my side of it”…

1.  Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
   Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
   Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
   Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Refrain:
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

2. Never a trial that He is not there,
   Never a burden that He doth not bear,
   Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
   Moment by moment, I’m under His care.

3. Never a heartache, and never a groan,
   Never a teardrop, and never a moan;
   Never a danger but there on the throne,
   Moment by moment He thinks of His own.

4. Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
   Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
   Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
   Jesus my Savior abides with me still.

Daniel W. Whittle – 1893

Give this wonderful old hymn a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7b0cf_kM8c

Just in case you’ve ever doubted it or wondered… The covenant-love – the “steadfast love” – the love of God that is anchored in His very nature and character continues to be expressed today and on into eternity!… It was expressed here on earth: first of all in creation… then in what God did for His people in the Old Testament, it was epitomized when Jesus died for our sins on the Cross, and continues to be expressed every day in a myriad of ways, experiences, and circumstances!  Nothing.. No one!… No situation!… No circumstance!… can separate us from His love!!! 

I read a wonderful Psalm devoted to that kind of love today… Psalm 136.  It is like two choirs antiphonally responding to one another:  One choir sings of a historical instance of God’s steadfast love, the other responds with a repeated affirmation of it (believe me, you should read it!)  Here is the repeated refrain…

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

“…His steadfast love endures forever!

Get it?… It’s repeated 26 times in one psalm!!  That’s why I’m ready today to lay claim to Romans 8:37-39 as a foundational, unshakable, dependable, truth in the Bible…

“No!  In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

Connected with your “name” is your reputation… Have you thought about that? A probing thought isn’t it – perhaps even a bit frightening! …Your reputation! Of course your name stands for who you are… but it’s more than that to others… It’s based upon what people know of you personally – it’s based upon what you have done (or not done).

Recently I read an article (I can’t even remember the author now or the title of the article) – but the author argued that “the Name” of the Lord stood for more than God Himself, or even God’s character – it also included His reputation. The article was well done from a Biblical studies perspective, was persuasively argued, and I would have to say deepened my appreciation for the phrase “the Name of the Lord.”

Think about it – “the Name of the Lord” in terms of “His reputation!” I did today as I read Psalm 135 during my time of “Coffee with the Lord.” Here are a few reflections based upon my journaling today…

The Psalmist begins by urging his readers to “Praise the Lord” – to “Praise the NAME of the Lord!” – especially those who are to be found in “the house – the courts – of the Lord!” (OK now… engage your thinking not only regarding Who He is, His character, but only think about the Lord’s reputation!”

Then in verses 3-6 of the Psalm, the Psalmist highlights praising Him for His character… His is good, He is great (or supreme), He is sovereign (He does as He pleases)!

Then the Lord’s acts in creation (He is not only Creator, but also sustainer of everything) – vss. 6-7.

In verses 8-12 and 14 the Lord’s “reputation” (His “Name”) especially comes into play on behalf of His people – He is their Deliverer/Savior, their Defender, He is Victor and Provider! “YOUR NAME O LORD, ENDURES FOREVER, YOUR RENOWN (reputation), THROUGHOUT ALL AGES!” (vs. 13)

Contrast that reality – that reputation – with idols – other false gods (vss. 15-18)!

And Psalm 135 ends as it began… With a challenge – a call – to “Bless the Lord – to “Praise Him!” (vss.19-21)

Hear me… I’m going to praise the Lord for Who He is! I’m going to praise Him for His character! I’m going to praise Him for His mighty acts! I’m going to “PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD!” What a “reputation” the Lord has!!!