Coffee With The Lord

We just finished celebrating “Father’s Day”… I tell you, the person who has had a strong, godly, loving father is incredibly blessed!…  One who loves unconditionally, forgives generously, parents wisely, disciples continually and worships authentically!!  I had a dad like that and I am grateful to this day for His example and investment in my life!

My Bible reading today – the day after “Father’s Day” – emphasized the example of my “Heavenly Father” and His incredible self-giving, sacrificial love!  It’s a brief passage but oh so profound…

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children!  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Here is what immediately came to mind today when I read those verses…

“God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only son…” (John 3:16)

Oh, I want to emulate the self-giving, self-sacrificing, overflowing love of my Heavenly Father!  As a parent it will impact and influence my children, grandchildren (and others) more than all the strong-armed, threatening techniques in the world!  Discipline is necessary but it even works best when it oozes love!  Truth and convictions must be shared and taught but they communicate most powerfully when they are motivated by the love of God, love for God, and love for others.

God did not hold back… He sent heaven’s best – our Savior – on our behalf!  Jesus loved us and gave Himself up for us!  What an example!

Oh, let me tell you… I want to “imitate God” on this score!  I want every day of my life to “walk in love!”  Do I have help in this regard… You bet I do, His Spirit is at work within me producing godly love… In fact, “The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE…” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Hey, it’s the day after “Father’s Day” and I’m working on imitating my Heavenly Father!

A powerful (and godly) “sip” today from my Bible reading…

“In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”  (Psalm 109:4–5 ESV)

“ENOUGH ALREADY!!”

I don’t know if anyone else’s parents used this figure of speech, but mine did.  I’ve heard it enough to know it’s been around awhile.  Put plainly, it simply communicates to children, “Stop whatever you’re doing that is wrong… IMMEDIATELY!  …And do what is right!”

In my Bible reading this morning the Apostle Paul almost used those exact words…

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles [i.e. the unconverted] do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.  That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus!  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Ephesians 4:17–24)

Several things stood out to me as I read this passage this morning…

1. We are saved FROM our sinful past … our “freedom” should never be distorted to mean we can go on sinning! (check out Galatians 5.1, 13; Romans 6.1-2 and 1 Peter 2.16)

• Christianity is counter-cultural:  Our lives as Christians should stand out in stark contrast to the sinful values and practices of the prevailing culture… Not in a “holier-than-thou” way but in a loving, humble, redemptive way (but with conviction!).

• Verses 20-22 emphasize the importance of discipleship!  The Church (its spiritual leaders and fellow Christians) have a responsibility to help new Christians learn how to live the Christian life (it’s values, principles and practices).  In these verses Paul reminds the Christians in the area of Ephesus, “You were not discipled to go on living like those who do not know the Lord … put off the old self – put on the new!!”

“ENOUGH ALREADY!!”