Coffee With The Lord

Sometimes we’re pretty satisfied if we simply avoid a sinful act or don’t say something displeasing to the Lord or hurtful to others… In other words we didn’t commit adultery or cuss (or something else just as sinful)… We pride ourselves that we avoided temptation and came out of a situation pretty “righteous” – God must be pleased.

Well this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that “convicted” me and left me pleading with the Lord for forgiveness, cleansing and “true righteousness” – a “pure heart” if you please!

“And he called the people to him and said to them, ‘Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him… What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’”  (From Mark 7:14–23 ESV)

I don’t know about you, but I read that list and thought about the principle Jesus shared and felt pretty guilty!  True righteousness starts within – what comes out is simply a reflection and expression of what is within!  I want (and need) to be right with the Lord “inside – out!”

Here’s how Jesus put it in the beatitudes… “Blessed are the PURE IN HEART, for they shall see God!” (Matthew 5:8)  I want to be “Pure in heart!”  The good news is the Lord forgives, cleanses and transforms if we ask Him to!  My responsibility?  “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow all the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

“Inside – out” – that’s what I want to be, righteous “inside – out!”

When serving as a professor at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and I would always urge my students to identify the “situation clues” in a passage of Scripture in order to interpret the passage accurately.  I would tell them, what the passage teaches MUST be viewed in light of the “situation” it addresses!

Well Psalm 55 is filled with “situation clues!”  It describes a situation that David went through that was extremely difficult – that tested him to the very core of his being – that gave him great emotional and spiritual pain… And I believe it is a situation many of you would identify with!  You’ve experienced some aspect of it!

In fact, I’m going to use a modern language version of the Bible to quote some of what David had to say about the situation he faced – that he struggled with to make it real and vivid to you… Then at the end I’m going to give you the summary of how he dealt with it.

Here goes… first the situation:

“I am overwhelmed by my troubles.  My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down.  My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me.  Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.  Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!  I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness… I would escape— far from this wild storm of hatred… Everything is falling apart; threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.  

“It is not an enemy who taunts me— I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me— I could have hidden from them.  Instead, it is my equal, my companion and close friend.  What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God… My companion – he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises.  His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!” (From Psalm 55:1–21 NLT)

Ever feel like that?  When you do, what is the solution to a situation like that – what is the right response?  Well, here goes – David’s response – (which I recommend!)… Three verses: 1, 16 and 22:

“Listen to my prayer, O God!  Do not ignore my cry for help!  Please listen and answer me!… I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me!  Give your burdens to the Lord!  He will take care of you!  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall!”

What are you going to believe about what might happen to you?  Some people encourage you and say everything is going to be ok – things are going to turn out good!  Others warn you to watch out because things are bad and you might have to deal with disaster, trouble, and adversaries.  You got friends – and you got enemies… Who to believe?  What to believe?

I just read a Psalm in the Bible this morning that is connected to just such an issue… Psalm 54 that is associated with a story found in 1 Samuel 23:15-29.

King Saul had it in for David and was pursuing him to capture and kill him.  Although he had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king David was running for his life – he had become a fugitive.  Jonathan, King Saul’s son, was David’s dear friend.  He came to David and encouraged him saying, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul, my father shall not find you!  You will be king over Israel!”  But the Zephites, among whom David was hiding, went to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh,” and offered to turn David over to them.

So the issue was… who was right?  Which side would win out?  What was going to happen to David?  How would it actually turn out?

Who should David believe?  What should David do?  Psalm 54 tells us what David actually did…

First of all, he poured out his heart to the Lord in prayer: He said, “Oh God, save me, by your name, and vindicate me by your might!  Oh God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth!”

Then he affirmed and confessed His trust in the Lord:  “Behold, God is my helper – the Lord is the upholder of my life!

Then in faith, he vowed to praise God when deliverance actually came!  He said “I will give thanks  to your name,  O Lord, for it is good!  For You have delivered me from EVERY trouble, and my eye will look in triumph on my enemies!” (From Psalm 54, a Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave)

Hey, I think that’s a pretty good strategy when you’re not quite sure what is going to happen or how circumstances in your life will turn out!  Don’t you?