Coffee With The Lord

How do you feel… what do you do… when things go “from bad to worse?”

It doesn’t get much worse than the situation referred to in the introductory comment of Psalm 3: “A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.” (Check out the story in 2 Samuel 15.13 – 17.22)  I mean, can you imagine the sense of rejection and failure!  Betrayed!  Plotted against by your own son!  Forced to run for your life because your own flesh and blood has attempted a coup against you!  Doesn’t get much worse than that!  And that is the background for what David cries out for and confesses in Psalm 3.

“Lord, how many are my foes!  How many rise up against me!  Many are saying, ‘God will not deliver him!’  But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts up my head!  I call out to the Lord, and He answers me… I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me!  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side!  Arise, Lord!  Deliver me my God! … From the Lord comes deliverance!” (From Psalm 3 NIV)

I’ve learned something over the years… Most of the “greats” of the Bible have experienced the kinds of things that we face today!  When things are bad!… When they’re just terrible!… When a sense of rejection, failure or betrayal just overwhelm you… inspired words like those of David’s can be of great help!  Make them your own!  Pray them!  Confess them to God!  It’s great therapy… AND the Lord hears and answers those prayers… Ask David!!

Whenever I read Matthew 13.1-9 (the parable of the farmer scattering seed and the various soil types) and its explanation (vss. 18-23) I usually pay attention to various types of soil Jesus identified and the difference in fruitfulness.  Today, however, during “coffee with the Lord” I was impressed by the enemies of spiritual growth and fruitfulness Jesus identified… I want to be especially alert to them in my life!!

1) The “evil one” himself, who if he has his way will find a way to snatch away the seed. (vs. 19)

2) My own lack of “deep roots” so that problems or persecution keep me from bearing fruit. (vs.21)

3) The “thorns” – i.e. the worries of life and the lure of wealth and materialism – that choke out spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

I want to be alert to these enemies of spiritual growth and fruitfulness in my life!  I want to hear the message of the Kingdom, understand it, believe it and embrace it and allow the “Divine Husbandman” to work within my life to produce a bountiful harvest for my Lord!! (After all, I’m his “vine” and it’s His field, isn’t it?)!

God’s rich and wonderful blessing is not earned, but on the other hand it is not an award for irresponsible living and bad behavior!

Those were my thought this morning as I reflected on Psalm 1 during “coffee with the Lord” … Now let me share my jottings (my comments or personal paraphrase) of this Psalm today (compare it to what you have in your Bible.)  Incidentally, periodically writing a personal paraphrase of a significant passage of Scripture during your devotional time can be an uplifting and profoundly edifying practice!)  Here is my personal paraphrase of Psalm 1 today…

“Who does God bless – what kind of person?

He blesses the person who DOESN’T DO SOME THINGS: They don’t follow the advice of the wicked, you won’t find them living a sinful lifestyle, or hanging out with those who mock God or laughing at what is righteous.

On the other hand, He blesses them because of SOME THINGS THEY DO… they love God’s word with all their heart and think about the wonderful things it teaches all of the time (they “meditate” on it day and night)!

When you observe their life, they are a lot like a vibrant flourishing fruitful tree – God’s blessing is upon everything they do!

Wicked people are just the opposite – They’re blown here and there by every wind that comes along like tiny bits of dry grass on a sidewalk on a hot windy day.  At the final judgment they’ll be in deep trouble!  They won’t have a chance.

God is intimately aware, however, of everything going on in the righteous person’s life!  His wonderful blessing is upon their lives both now and forever!”

My personal paraphrase of Psalm 1 – 02/17/2021

I gotta tell you… I want to be the kind of person God blesses!