Coffee With The Lord

When Jesus confronts you and calls you – and you respond to Him your entire life changes dramatically… His call is “follow me!” – cease your own pursuits, desires and wishes and become a devoted, obedient Christ-follower.

I was reminded of that this morning during my Bible reading… Here’s Mark’s record of what happened to Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John… “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’  AT ONCE THEY LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM.  When he had gone a little farther, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.  Without delay he called them, and THEY LEFT THEIR FATHER ZEBEDEE IN THE BOAT WITH THE HIRED MEN AND FOLLOWED HIM.” (Mark 1.16-20 NIV)

Now it’s entirely possible that the call of Jesus may include a vocational change … for many people it has.  But it doesn’t necessarily have to.  In fact this is what Paul, the apostle said in 1 Corinthians 7.17-24:  “EACH PERSON SHOULD LIVE AS A BELIEVER IN WHATEVER SITUATION THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED TO THEM, JUST AS GOD HAS CALLED THEM… Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you – although if you can gain your freedom, do so.  For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave… Brothers and sisters, EACH PERSON, AS RESPONSIBLE TO GOD, SHOULD REMAIN IN THE SITUATION THEY WERE IN WHEN GOD CALLED THEM.” 

In other words your vocation may not change… BUT FOR SURE, IT WILL CHANGE AVOCATIONALLY!  In other words, some may continue to “support their habit” by fishing (or some other legitimate vocation) but their life pursuit – their mission, purpose and calling in life will become “fishing for people” (casting the net to bring lost people to Christ).

Hey, He’s calling now… Follow Me!!  (And, believe me NOTHING is more important than doing that!)

I don’t know what the Lord has done for you – what He has accomplished on your behalf.  It may be an incredible story of His power and grace.

But, you may be one of those people who does not find it easy to talk publicly about what has happened to you.  On the other hand, sharing personal experiences with others may not be difficult for you at all.  In either case there is great value in “giving the Lord credit for what He has done!”  It honors Him, it encourages others, it gives them hope, and it acknowledges WHO ought to receive the credit for the victories in your life…

David, the psalmist said, “I proclaim Your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips… I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly…”

In the same Psalm he testified and said… “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new son in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him… Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done – the things you planned for us!  None can compare with You!  Were I to speak and tell of your deeds they would be too many to declare!”  (From Psalm 40)

So here’s a word of encouragement…  If you are timid or reticent, please speak up anyway!… We need to hear what God has done for you!  If you’re not inhibited at all… please give God the credit for what He has done.  Where?  “In the great assembly” (and to anyone God gives you the opportunity to share it with today).  Here’s one person who will be listening…

Now here is an awe-inspiring and sobering thought from my Bible reading today…

“Now you (“ya’all” in Texas 🙂 are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12.27 NIV)

Here’s my definition/description of the Church –what Apostle Paul called “the Body of Christ”…

“We are His hands!  We are His feet!  We are His voice!  We are to be His healing presence!  And our task is to re-present/represent Him in our communities and around the world without distortion in the power of the Holy Spirit both personally and collectively.”

Tall order isn’t it?!!  (We can only do this through His enablement!)  I mean, think about it… Paul called the CORINTHIAN CHURCH (an imperfect – even dysfunctional – church in many ways) “the body of Christ”!!