Coffee With The Lord

I was reminded of two big theological words often used to describe God this morning during my Bible reading … “Transcendent” and “Immanent”!

Transcendent means that God is very big and great – beyond anything we can imagine… Webster defines the word as “exceeding the usual limits: surpassing.  Extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience, beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge, beyond comprehension, transcending the universe or material existence.”  My response? WOW!!!

Immanent, however, means that God is very near – very close – very approachable… Again Webster defines it like this: “Being within the limits of possible experience or knowledge (even indwelling!).”  My response? I’m so glad I have a God like that!  WOW!!!  I mean, WOW!!!

That’s right!  According to the Bible GOD IS BOTH OF THESE AT THE SAME TIME!  You doubt it’s possible?  Well here’s what Isaiah 57:15 declares…

“Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is ‘Holy’: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place (i.e. I’m ‘transcendent’), AND ALSO with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit (i.e. I’m immanent), to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Believe me, we need a God who is BOTH!  (And He is both!!)  Bigger and more powerful than ANYTHING you could imagine … Bigger and greater than the universe He created… “transcendent!”  Yet  He is “immanent” – close – near to help those who are in need!  One word… WOW!!!

I’m blown away this morning by the marvelous grace of God!  I read what Paul wrote to former pagans in Corinth (a city notorious for its immorality) who had been transformed by the wonderful grace of God, during “coffee with the Lord” this morning…

First a warning against deception… then a testimony about what God’s marvelous grace in Christ Jesus had accomplished in their lives!  Here’s what Paul had to say…

 ^“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God!?  Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God!  Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!!  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT)

That brought to mind the words of this wonderful old gospel song…

“Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches even me!

“Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches even me!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches even me!

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!

I know some of you are humming the tune… And you, like me, are doing it because that’s what God’s grace has accomplished in your life!

One of the passages I read today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” contains a wonderful invitation and promise for those who are truly hungry for what ultimately satisfies.  An invitation to leave the “junk food” that we sometimes fill our minds and hearts  with and instead eat and drink the spiritually delicious, nutritious feast spread out on God’s table.

The passage urged us to listen closely to God’s voice – to seek Him with all our heart.  The result?  Life!  The promise of experiencing God’s incredible love fulfilled in our lives. 

God’s plans for us are so much higher than ours – they’re in a totally different dimension – higher and better than we can even imagine.  And the good news?  If we’ll cooperate with what He’s trying to do in our lives He’ll surely fulfill His purpose and promise – just as surely as the spring rains water the earth and seeds that are sown there spring up and produce a bountiful harvest. 

And the outcome of living this way… Joy, celebration, rejoicing… an incredible party “here on earth, just as it is in heaven!”

Just let me say, you REALLY should read Isaiah 55 for yourself today!  It’s all in there!!!  Aw, com’on DO IT!!!