Coffee With The Lord

Do you enjoy a good “mystery” – a story that grips you attention, keeps you “on edge,” and suspends its climax to the very end? It’s the kind of plot that begs for your best problem-solving skills and abilities in order to work past diversionary techniques. In fact, some “mystery stories,” even let you work out and suggest your own “solutions.” That’s the way our culture tends to understand “mystery?”

That, however, is NOT, the way the Bible uses the term “mystery!” I was reminded of that this morning during my Bible reading! Ephesians 3:1-6 was the passage I read during my time of “coffee with the Lord” – it uses “mystery” in the Biblical way… Here is what the passage says:

“The MYSTERY was made known to me by REVELATION!… When you read this, you can perceive my insight into ‘THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST,’ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been REVEALED to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This MYSTERY is that the GENTILES [those who were not thought of as God’s ‘chosen people’ – people from other nations] are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel!”

That marvelous truth that the Bible calls a MYSTERY – in fact, ‘THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST’ – you’d never figure out on your own… it was not figured out for centuries! God REVEALED it prophetically through His apostles and prophets through what Jesus did on our behalf! … “God so loved the WORLD that He sent His only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but has eternal life!” (John 3:16) … It’s not a plot or story you’ve got to figure out… It’s a grand message and truth GOD REVEALED! That’s “MYSTERY” the way the Bible uses it! And it uses it that way consistently… A truth or reality once hidden, but divinely revealed!

I’m so glad! Because of that MYSTERY, I’m included in God’s plan, I’m accepted in Christ Jesus, I, a Gentile, am a “child of God” – a part of God’s family!

“Just a Sip” today from my Bible reading during “Coffee with the Lord” … Let the whole world know!!!

“Oh give thanks to the Lord!  Call upon His name! make known His deeds among the peoples!  Sing to Him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!  Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!  Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!  Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered!  (Psalm 105:1–5 ESV)

Imagine trying to place a personal call to the President of our country.  They probably wouldn’t put your call through.  Or visualize going up to the White House gates, shaking them and ordering the guards to let you in.  They would probably put you in a little white van and make you wear a funny looking jacket as they haul you away.  But One who is greater than the President will accept you and make you a part of His family.  You can call upon the Lord anytime and He will answer.  You can go to His house and you’ll be invited in.  You’ll not be an outcast; He’ll make you a citizen!  You won’t be a stranger; you’ll be a member of His family!

Those thoughts came to mind today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” as I read Ephesians 2:11-22 in the Bible… Here’s a taste of what it says…

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders… In those days you were living apart from Christ… You lived in this world without God and without hope.  But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ… Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.  So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family! … Through Him you are being made part of the dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”  (From Ephesians 2:11–22 NLT)