Coffee With The Lord

Sometime in our lives we will all face something that is terrifying to us – a situation that produces dread in our hearts. In Isaiah 33 God’s prophet raised that issue for God’s people Israel… The “destroyer” in this passage was probably “Assyria.”  Assyria, in the ancient world, was the early purveyor of “shock and awe” when it came to warfare. Their methods were notoriously cruel and violent. They raped, pillaged, and tortured their victims. God allowed them to be the agent of judgment upon His people for their sin…

In the face of that terrifying situation Isaiah voiced a prayer on behalf of the righteous minority in the nation… He cried out, “O LORD, be gracious to us!  We wait for you!  Be our strong arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble!” (From Isaiah 33:2)

Those words give voice to a prayer that I will need to pray someday when I face a terrifying situation. Perhaps you’re facing one right now! Perhaps it is a dreadful situation of your own making … Perhaps it isn’t.  It doesn’t matter… PRAY THAT PRAYER!!  God will help you!  He will sustain you!!  He will be “your strong arm each day and your salvation in times of trouble!”  Don’t wait any longer… Pray it!!!

Read these words this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Why do you judge your brother or sister? Why do you treat them with contempt? … Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (from Romans 14.10-12)…

Then decided to check out how the Message paraphrase puts it…

“So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly — or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit… SO TEND TO YOUR OWN KNITTING. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.”

“Nuff said!” Goin’ to “tend to my own knitting” (or as I heard it growing up… “MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!) 😉

We’ve grown accustomed to seeing “Help needed!” and “Hiring now” signs everywhere as a consequence of “Covid Lockdowns.”  Employers are facing incredible challenges!  But it’s not limited to just the consequences of Covid!  Several years ago we entered a restaurant to get a bite to eat for lunch.  There were only two individuals waiting tables and the tables were full of hungry people!! (A busload of individuals had stopped for lunch just before we arrived.)  The waitress in charge was doing her best, but the size of the task was overwhelming.  She did her best to get us seated, but it was not long before I saw her over at the phone, frantically calling people with an urgent voice saying, “I’ve got a restaurant full of hungry guests, you’ve got to come!  I need help… NOW!!”

Thought of that scene as I read Matthew 9.35-38 this morning in the Bible!

Jesus had done all He could to personally minister to the needs of the multitudes in the towns and villages around Him… The Bible puts it this way… “Jesus went through all the villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

The needs of the crowds and the size of the task, however, were overwhelming… “When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

Nothing has changed!  We, as “the body of Christ” have been called (mandated, if you please … commissioned) to share in His task… to teach and proclaim the “good news” – the Gospel.  We’ve been called to share His ministry as “the body of Christ” – a ministry that also includes healing the hurts of humanity through His incredible power.  The size of the challenge, though, is overwhelming – there is so much to be done.”

The solution to this problem?  What did Jesus prescribe?  “Then Jesus (I believe with urgency) said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into His harvest!” 

The way I see it, we who are followers of Jesus are to do everything we can personally to fulfill and further His ministry – no slackers, no one can be simply sitting on the sidelines as self-satisfied spectators!  The task is great and the needs are pressing! …  When we’re doing all we can personally and feel absolutely overwhelmed, we need to pick up the phone (the “heavenly phone”) on a regular basis and ask (pray!) for “the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers into His harvest!”  He is faithful!  I believe He will!