Coffee With The Lord

I’m rejoicing to be a “child of God” today.  I had no right to that title or relationship but because of what Jesus did on my behalf (and yours) I have both title and relationship.  Consequently I enjoy “adoption” and everything it entails!

Three of our children are “adopted” (see the pic – Shari, our birth daughter was not able to be there the day this pic was taken).  They are from a Native American background and culture, but they have become a part of the Bartel clan (and I happen to be German and my wife Sharon, Norwegian).  They didn’t cease to be Native American but they became “Bartels.”  My desire always has been that their relationship would be more than simply a legal reality (on paper) – it would also become an existential reality (they would “feel” like sons and daughters – and finally, one day they would become “heirs” of what I have…  I want them to experience all three things… I want them to be our children on paper – legally our children; I want them to feel the relationship; and finally I want them to profit from it as heirs.

Well, when I read Galatians 4:1-7 today, that is what happened to me through Christ – a “child of the Devil” (born in sin) became a “child of God”!  Here is how Apostle Paul puts it… “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son… to redeem us… that we might receive adoption as sons (i.e. His children).  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba! Father!’  So… you are no longer a slave, but a son!  And if a son then an heir through God!”

Through Christ, I’m legally a “child of God”!  But more than that, His Spirit is at work within me producing the sense – the “Abba Father,” the inner witness, the feeling – of being God’s child! 

And ultimately?  Well I’m also an ‘heir’ and enjoy the benefits and blessing of being God’s child in every way.  As I said earlier, today I’m rejoicing to be a “child of God!”

Read Psalm 92 again this morning and thought of a dear friend and former member of a church I pastored years ago… Dorothy Perrine!  Dorothy volunteered to clean the church.  I’d go over to the church to study or care for church business, enter a side door to go to the office and I’d hear a beautiful contralto voice wafting through the church singing praise and worship to God at the top of her voice.  She didn’t know I was there, but I’d pause and enjoy the private praise concert for a moment or two.  That was a regular occurrence for Dorothy… She was a worshipping Christian!

Now I’ve heard others as well … not as talented, with voices that were a bit off key, but just as in love with the Lord, with hearts filled with thanksgiving and praise!  They didn’t know anyone was listening (would have been mortified if they thought anyone was) but suddenly were captured by a heart of gratitude and worship and lifted a song to the Lord!  I paused, listened to them, grinned a bit and enjoyed the “concert.”  I know God was pleased… His word says, “make a joyful noise to the Lord!” (Psalm 95:1 and 100:1)

Here’s some tidbits from the passage that prompted this reflection today…

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your Name, O Most High!  To declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night… For you, O Lord, have made be glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy!  How great are your works, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep!”

So I’ll be singing somewhere today… be listening for me (I’m not going to tell you which group of singers I’m most like… you’re not my audience anyway, He is!).  And I’ll be listening for you… perhaps grinning.  Dorothy, however, if you’re out there somewhere this morning… Sing girl! Sing! 

Just read Psalm 91 again this morning.  It’s message?  It pays to trust and serve the Lord in dangerous and difficult times.  Running to Him with your problems is a wise course of action!  And on this weekend when we celebrate “Memorial Day” in the United States the message of Psalm 91 seems especially appropriate… many a soldier in the middle of intense warfare has depended on its message – and many parents, spouses of soldiers in harms way have claimed it for “their soldier!”

In a time when a strong walled city, a secret cave, or a high, defensible rocky cliff were your only defense from a persistent and determined enemy, the Psalmist recommended… “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord – HE ALONE is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God AND I TRUST HIM… His faithful promises are your armor and protection… If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.  For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go…” And as if that wasn’t enough, then the Lord, Himself speaks…

“The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me!  I will protect those who trust in my Name!  When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble!  I will rescue and honor them! I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation!” (From Psalm 91NLT)

 One more time… It pays to trust and serve the Lord in dangerous and difficult times!!  And should death come our way, those who trust the Lord are “safe in the arms of God!”