Quite a number of you have noticed that I have used the pic/logo for the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan to introduce my “Coffee with the Lord” posts at the beginning of this year. I did that to emphasize I would be drawing my devotional posts/reflections from the passages in the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan I developed. I just wanted you to know that I will continue developing devotional posts from the “Necessary Food” Bible reading passages in “Coffee with the Lord” but will not continue using the pic/logo every day.
If you have not gotten the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan pdf file for your Bible reading this year you may download it here…
Left to ourselves – left to our own inclinations and inner impulses – what happens to humankind? The Noah story in the Bible tells us… “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5 ESV) The power of sin – The evil infection of the human species – the impact of “the fall” upon us all has been great and devastating!
But in the midst of all this moral chaos and depravity – when “Every intention of the thoughts of humankind were only evil continually” – a success story! “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:8-9 ESV)
I am so impressed (and challenged) by Noah… No Bible – the written word of God! No weekly church services where he could meet with fellow believers to encourage him and sustain his faith. No pastor to provide counsel and messages to sustain, guide and foster his faith. No Christian radio or television. No worship music to access to inspire and uplift him. Only evil, pervasive depravity, and temptation all around him and his family! Evil actions, wicked people, seductive temptation, and perverted behavior everywhere! But in the midst of it all Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation – He walked with God!
Wow! It can be done! God is faithful! His grace is sufficient! “He [the Lord] is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy!” (Jude 24) Noah found ways to sustain his faith! Here’s his secret on a single phrase of Biblical text… “He walked with God (step-by-step, moment-by-moment, day-by-day)!” At the outset of this New Year I want to do that… I purpose to do that by God’s grace! It worked for Noah!
The passages in the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan for January 5 are: Genesis 5:1-32; Job 2:11-13; Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 3:1-12; and Romans 2:1-11.
Ever hear this statement… “I feel your pain!”? Com’on really?! We really need to be careful about statements like that given without much thought about how much people are suffering!
Many of us have friends that are suffering pain and grief as we enter 2021. They need our support, help and comfort as they weather the process of grieving.
I read Job 2:11-13 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord.” It seems to me that after all Job had been through, his “friends” made their first mistake when they stopped simply being WITH him in his suffering and opened their mouth and proposed all kinds of simplistic “answers” to his dilemma.
But that begs the question, however… What did they do RIGHT at the outset of their time with him? I’d like to suggest several things…
When they “heard of the adversity that had come upon him” they immediately acted! They “made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.” They did not postpone or put off their attempt to communicate their concern and comfort.
They “wept with him” and grieved with him. Authentic empathy is a wonderful gift to a suffering individual! It communicates the message, “I’m seeking to ‘feel with you’ in your pain and suffering! I am with you in the time of your sorrow.”
They extended their concern and care for Job’s suffering and sorrow: “They sat down with him on the ground seven days and nights” (however, that may not have been long enough). Grieving is a process and it often takes extended time to process before it is resolved in the lives of those who are hurting.
And then the final thing they did right…(at least for awhile)… “No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great!” Advice and “stock clichés” are NOT what a grieving person needs! Loving, caring, presence, however, can be a wonderful help and healer! But even then “don’t overstay your welcome!” A sensitive discernment should be exercised – the grieving will need some personal “space” to process their feeling.)
Oh, I want to be a blessing to those that are hurting, don’t you? Apostle Paul urged us to “Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.” (Romans 12:15) And he also reminded us, “If one member [of Christ’s body] suffers, all the member suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)
