Coffee With The Lord

A passage of Scripture I read this morning brought a grand old hymn of the Church to mind and prompted the comment I wrote in the margin of my Bible…

First the Scripture… Hebrews 2:14-18

Since we share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery… Therefore He had to be made like us in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for our sins.  For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help us when we are tempted.”

Then the grand old hymn…

“Christ has for sin atonement made,
What a wonderful Saviour!
We are redeemed! the price is paid!
What a wonderful Saviour!

Refrain:
“What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Jesus!
What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus, my Lord!

“I praise Him for the cleansing blood,
What a wonderful Saviour!
That reconciled my soul to God;
What a wonderful Saviour! (Refrain)

“He cleansed my heart from all its sin,
What a wonderful Saviour!
And now He reigns and rules therein;
What a wonderful Saviour! (Refrain)

“He gives me overcoming pow’r,
What a wonderful Saviour!
And triumph in each trying hour;
What a wonderful Saviour! (Refrain)

“To Him I’ve given all my heart,
What a wonderful Saviour!
The world shall never share a part;
What a wonderful Saviour! (Refrain)”

• E. A. Hoffman, 1891

And finally my personal reflection this morning…

“Jesus went through it all on our behalf – to save us from our sin and help us in the temptations and trials we face!  Oh, praise the Lord!  What a wonderful Savior!!!”

I’ve seen it happen too many times – spiritual drift!

God rescues a person from bondage, from sin, from danger, from a dilemma… They are grateful and promise to serve Him with all their heart…

Then prosperity comes… blessing proliferates… comforts increase… – all blessings from the Lord!

Tragically the rescued and saved – now blessed – begin to presume on God’s blessing, spiritual drift sets in, “first love” is forgotten, pagan culture and gods are embraced, and backsliding becomes a reality!

This morning I read the sad prophetic diagnosis of the nation Israel in Hosea 13…

“I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me – besides Me there is no Savior!  It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.  But when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot Me!” (From Hosea 13:4-6 ESV)

So I wrote this in the margin of my Bible… Oh Lord, I never want this to happen to me!  May I remember what you have done in my life – Your salvation, your grace, your goodness, your provision, your protection, and your steadfast love!  May I NEVER forget you!  May I never drift away!  May I serve you faithfully, with all my heart!

A reflection on worship today from my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

Now I want to say this as kindly… but directly, as possible…  My years of experience in the Lord’s work have taught me that some of those who protest and criticize others most loudly about sincere, exuberant, and even extravagant worship are often those whose hearts are not right toward God (and some even seek to cover hidden sins with their loud protestations)!  Enough said…

Here is just one passage that illustrates my point…

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  So they gave a dinner for him there.  Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.  Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii [about a year’s wages!]  and given to the poor?’  He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.  Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.’” (from John 12:1–8 ESV)

A number of years ago, when I was involved in pastoral ministry, I preached a message I entitled “Are You Offended by Extravagant Worship?” based upon this passage.  After having preached the message, a wonderful Christian lady gave me a gift to remember that message by that I will always treasure… an “alabaster bottle of sweet perfume.” (See the pic… I still have it and treasure it!)  Listen… I never want to be in the camp of those who would use worship as a way of self-promotion or attention-getting personal display… On the other hand, I NEVER WANT TO BE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE CRITICAL OF AUTHENTIC, SINCERE WORSHIP!  In fact, I want passages like Psalm 150 to guide the worship I embrace (you just might want to read it)!