Coffee With The Lord

You don’t want to miss this! A special “Digging Deeper” Bible study of Job 1-2 online with Dr. LeRoy Bartel. Tune in Tuesday, February 16, 3 p.m. CST (or anytime that is convenient – it is taped!) Use the following link to register and participate via Zoom webinar: https://bit.ly/3mt58w4

After being postponed last Tuesday because of the serious weather related issues in Texas and elsewhere… we’ll resume “Digging Deeper” this Tuesday, February 23, 3 p.m. CST… Don’t miss it!! See details below. 😢 Dr. Bartel

Not long ago and heard someone give a young lady a wonderful compliment… They said, “She is a very wise shopper!  She knows quality when she sees it (AND she knows when someone is trying to deceive her).  She is able to consistently get a good deal!”  (Just gotta say, that sounds like my daughter Shari … and her mother Sharon!!  “Like mother, like daughter” I guess … you should hear them “cross examine” a sales rep 😉) 

I wish Christians were that “sagacious” (there’s your “word for the day”) in spiritual things!  Thought of that as I read Apostle Paul’s warning in Romans 16.17-19 this morning…

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.  Keep away from them!  For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites.  By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people…I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”

So here is the deal… Don’t believe all the “marketing” you hear about spiritual things (a smooth, slick presentation by a “big name personality” does not make something “true”).  Program your mind and heart with God’s word and depend on the Holy Spirit to work within you to produce authentic spiritual maturity and the discernment (i.e. the Spirit prompted “check,” my mother would say) that you need so that you can recognize a “spiritual scam” and reject it when you see it – as well as recognize “the real deal” and embrace it!

Our temptation is to try to domesticate and “tame” God – the ineffable, incomparable, sovereign, All-mighty God! We try to make Him over in our image! He won’t stand for it – it can’t be done!
God is not like a horse in someone’s stable – You cannot put a bridle in His mouth or a saddle on His back. He isn’t like your dog – He cannot be leashed or trained to do your bidding. He can’t be caught like a trout with a lure and put in your fishing basket. He can’t be programmed like your computer to act at your commands… I could go on…
In fact, Job, who had faced some incredible trials and weathered some unfair accusations, asked God some tough questions and even expressed some personal frustration with what God allowed to come his way (read the book!). The sovereign, Almighty God decided it was time to ask Job a few questions Himself… It’s all found in Job 41…
God drew on the imagery of a powerful, “mythical” sea monster – bigger than life… “Leviathan!” Interpreters are not sure whether or not “Leviathan” was an actual creature or a mythical sea monster – powerful, untamed, fire-breathing, ferocious, and incredibly dangerous! The question God fired at Job was, “Job, do you think you can tame him? Can you make him your pet? Can you master Him? Will he do what you want him to at your beck and call? Read it in your Bible…
Then God fires this question at Job… “Who then is he who can stand before Me? Who has first given to Me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine! [even Leviathan!]” (Job 41:10-11)
God is God! God will be God! He cannot be domesticated – He cannot be tamed! He cannot be ordered around! He is sovereign! But He is also loving! He knows what He is doing (and very often we don’t know what God is doing or how He is doing it)! We’ve got to trust Him! We’ve got to depend on His character as He has revealed Himself. Almighty God is greater than “Leviathan!” The ancients could not domesticate “Leviathan” – and we can’t make God do what we want Him to either! We can, however, trust Him, depend on His revealed character, and appeal to His love, mercy and grace! And, believe me, I’m going to!!!