Coffee With The Lord

Can you imagine hearing God speak these words to you? …

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”  (From Amos 5:21-24)

Ouch!  Scary eh? And all along you thought you were OK – You’ve been a religious person after all!  You go to church regularly (in fact you’re an upstanding member), you give when the offering plate goes by, and compared to many people in your community you’re considered a person who exhibits two “R’s” – you’re “religious and righteous!”

Amos, the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told some self-righteous Jews that God was not impressed with their religious gatherings, their sacrifices, or their liturgy!  He examined their heart and was concerned about their behavior on the other six days of the week besides their “sabbath!” – He was concerned about how they treated their “neighbor!”

Jesus told the story of two guys praying… One was a self-righteous, hyper-religious Pharisee, the other a sinful Publican (a tax-collector)… The Pharisee prayed like this: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”  But the tax collector would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Then Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [right with God], rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (From Luke 18:11-14)

Gotta tell you, nothing has changed!  Some of the biggest hypocrites in the world are religious people!  It makes God both sick and angry!  Jesus called them “whitened sepulchers” (whitewashed graves)!  After reading this passage this morning during my devotions my heart personally cried out and echoed the words of Amos… Oh, Lord in MY LIFE “may justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”  Help me to be authentically righteous – “inside-out!”

Here’s something every loving Christian parent would like to say to their child…

“My son (or daughter), if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad! My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right! Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear [or reverence] of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:15–18 ESV)

Here’s some wise advice from an ol’ pastor… Start communicating that early (but don’t be afraid to communicate it prayerfully when they are older)! Communicate it lovingly… and let them know how much it means to you as their parent! Hey, it’s worth it!!!

I just finished reading and reflecting on Hebrews 11 again this year during “coffee with the Lord.

It’s about a life of faith (leading to obedience) – the kind of life that pleases God!  A life that embraces all that life brings in a God-pleasing way!  Life lived with “confidence” in God regardless of what comes our way – confidence in His character, His direction, His promises, His presence, His provision, His power … regardless (“The good, the bad, and the ugly”)!!! 

And the chapter asserts and identifies the host of people down through the ages who have demonstrated “a faith walk” is the way to live life!!!  Again… REGARDLESS!!!

So this morning I finished reading and reflecting on Hebrews 11 and read the following words from Hebrews 12…

“Therefore [looking back over all that Hebrews 11 has said], since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand  of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”  (From Hebrews 12:1-3)

Listen, I’m grateful for every example of faith that Hebrews 11 gives me – that “cloud of witnesses” down through human history!  But more than anything else I’ve got my eyes on Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of my faith!”  I’ve run a few marathons in my life and I can tell you this life is NOT a sprint – it’s a marathon!  I know what it is to reach mile 20 and want to quit … I know what it is to feel like you can’t  make it to mile 26.2!  And in this “faith-life” I intend to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and run with endurance” the course set before me… looking to the saints of the ages who are my heroes, but most of all to Jesus, my Savior!