Coffee With The Lord

I looked at PJ, my son… something was wrong, I could tell it… it was written all over his face!  I asked him, “What’s wrong PJ?  Tell me what’s wrong!” 

Nothing’s wrong Daddy!  Nothing’s wrong!” as he held his hand with his other hand.

“Let me look at your hand PJ!” I insisted, “Let me look at your hand!”  And finally… reluctantly he let me look at his hand… A sliver and a deep one as well!  “PJ, let Daddy take out that sliver!”

“No! No! No!” he cried as he yanked his hand away!  There was no way he was going to let me touch that hand!

I warned him, “Son, if I don’t take out that sliver, it will become infected and very painful!  Now is the time to take out the sliver… it will be better if I do!”  But He wouldn’t let me touch it…

His dad was right…

Thought of that episode in the experience of parenting (an episode many parents – and children – remember vividly and identify with) as I read this verse as part of my Bible reading today…

“Whoever conceals his (or her) transgressions WILL NOT PROSPER!  But he who confesses (i.e. acknowledges) and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

It’s painful to acknowledge your failure and sin!  It’s embarrassing!  Feeling shame is no fun… but neither is what happens when you fail to deal with sin in your life!  Take it from me… It doesn’t get any better… In fact, things get worse!  You try to hide it, you refuse to acknowledge it… and guilt piles up… deceptive techniques become a way of life… and instead of going away, sinful practices multiply and spin out of control!

Why not acknowledge it to the Heavenly Father, accept his forgiveness, and seek the help of fellow “recovering sinners” who will accept you, love you, support you and hold you accountable?

Here’s a wonderful promise… “If we confess (i.e. acknowledge) our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!” (1 John 1:9)  How do I know?  I’ve had to do that on more than one occasion!

As I reflected on Acts 4.32-34 today it prompted this prayer in my heart…

“Oh Lord, help the Church return to its pristine and primitive roots!  May its original practice and dynamic be restored through the dynamic, life-transforming power of the Holy Spirit!  May the community of faith depend less on government and more on grace-filled generosity!  May the truth that we “love one another” and others be so distinctive that it opens doors for the gospel and hearts to its truth so that multitudes are attracted to you!  Through the power of the Holy Spirit may we overcome timidity and fear so that regardless of the cultural climate we “testify powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”  May we live in such a way that “God’s great blessing is upon us all”!!

You ask, “Now what prompted all of that!?  These words from Scripture…

^“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them…”  (Acts 4:32-34 NLT)

Habakkuk 3 in the Bible begins like this… “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.”  The meaning of that ancient word is uncertain and most believe it describes a musical style.  Some have described it as wild, passionate, and loud.  Some would love it (perhaps others would dislike it).  If the meaning is accurate though, it fits the content of Habakkuk 3… the passionate, prayerful expression of a prophet deeply concerned about the welfare of his nation and God’s wrathful judgment upon the wicked!

The point is this… There is a time to pray like that!  A time to sing like that!  And a time to pour out your heart to God like that!

Here’s a taste of Habakkuk’s prayer…

“I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by!  In your anger, remember your mercy!  I see You moving across the deserts from Edom, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.  Your brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with Your praise.  Your coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.  Rays of light flash from Your hands, where Your awesome power is hidden… You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your fury.  You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe…

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” (From Habakkuk 3 NLT)

Just let me say… There is a time to pray like that!  And a time to praise the Lord like that!  Perhaps that time is NOW!