Coffee With The Lord

I really don’t know how to express what I’m feeling this morning as a result of spending time with the Lord in His word!!  I just finished reading a passage from Job 26.7-14 and then Apostle Paul’s doxology in Romans 11.33-36 after he had reflected on God’s marvelous plan to save humanity… Both passages left me in awe!!!  I’ll post them for you without comment for you to read for yourself below. 

Maybe a picture will help you understand though…  Anyone who has ever been to Petra in Jordan will know the experience I’m talking about… You walk down a long, narrow passage with towering stone walls on each side (not very pleasant if you have claustrophobia! 🙂  Then your guide, dramatically stops, makes a few comments about the history of the place, takes you a few steps forward and suddenly you catch just a glimpse of one of the grandest sights on planet earth… but it is just a glimpse (look at the picture).  A few more steps and you are simply blown away by the grandeur of it all!!

Enough said… Here is what Job said…

^“He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.  He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.  He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it his cloud.  He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.  The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.  By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.  By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.  Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:7–14 ESV)

And this is how Apostle Paul exploded in worship!!

 ^“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?  For from him and through him and to him are all things! To him be glory forever. Amen!!”  (Romans 11:33–36 ESV)

Wow!!!  I’m in awe… and worshipping!!!

True or False questions… Some students of mine love ‘em. You’ve got a 50/50 chance of getting them right even if you haven’t studied. Kinda like spinning a roulette wheel… might get ‘em right – might get ‘em wrong.

The students who do well on True or False questions though KNOW the answers! They studied!

This morning I read a passage that addresses the issue of “the true and the false”… And the fact is God doesn’t want us guessing on this issue. He wants us to KNOW the answer!! If we’ve prepared ourselves, if we’ve read, studied, and heeded His word there will be no reason to guess! We’ll be able to exercise discernment … we won’t be fooled! And on the issues involved it’s more than a grade that’s involved… it’s our eternal welfare that’s at stake!!

Here’s the passage that prompted all of this today during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:15-23 NIV)

Take it from an ol’ prof… You don’t want to be guessing on this exam! You want to KNOW the answers!!

Some things can be so deceptive… Doors or gates are like that.  Entering them is one thing… what you find on the other side can be quite another!

Some entrances look so inviting, so attractive, so good … but once you enter, they’re actually filled with terrible danger and death.  After you enter, you’d like to leave – you’d like to escape, but you’re trapped – the door seems locked!  Fear grips you!

Other doors are quaint and plain – even weathered and uninviting… Who would choose to enter this house anyway?  You grab the knob or take hold of the latch to the gate with a little bit of anxiety… What’s on the other side?  Someone you trust told you how to get to this door and that it was filled with warmth and treasure… Could it be?  You reach out, depending on their word… You open it and find a room filled with bounty – a place of wonder and untold blessings!

Jesus used an analogy like this to describe two ways:  The way to “destruction” – and the way to “life” (abundant life).  Here’s what He said…

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14 ESV)

 I want to choose wisely.  I’ve been warned… I’ll take His word for it (rather than follow the crowd) – I believe He knows what He’s talking about, don’t you?