Coffee With The Lord

Passages today, January 4, in the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan: Genesis 4:1-26; Job 2:1-10; Isaiah 3:1-4:1; Matthew 2:13-23; and Romans 1:18-32.

ATTITUDES are a big deal! They are the fertile seedbed out of which flow our ACTIONS! I think that is probably why the Bible warns us in Proverbs, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow all the issues of life!” (4:23)

Many times we telegraph our attitudes in our countenance… our face (and other non-verbals) reveal how we feel, how we think, even what we are contemplating. I know my attitudes have sometimes led me to do what displeases the Lord – to sin! I know, my facial expressions, have telegraphed my bad attitudes and intentions (my wife, Sharon, can pick up on it in a moment, as well as I am sure others)!

I thought of that this morning in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord!” Here’s the passage that brought the issue to mind…

“In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it!’ Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him! Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” (from Genesis 4:3–9 ESV)

As a result of reading that passage, this is what I jotted down for myself in the margin of my Bible this morning… “LeRoy, watch your attitudes, they’re important! And then do what you know pleases God!” I believe that will help me as I move forward in 2021 to keep me from sin and please the Lord!

Today’s Bible readings in the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan are Genesis 3:1-24; Job 1:13-22; Isaiah 2:6-22; Matthew 2:1-12; and Romans 1:16-17. I’ve chosen Romans 1:16-17 for my devotional reflection today…

Ashamed! Ashamed of the things we should value, honor, and the things in which we should find a sense legitimate “pride” as Christians. Tragic, isn’t it! Sometimes, however, as strange as it may seem, we may feel “ashamed” regarding features of the “Gospel” as Christians…

I was guest speaker at a church in Austin, Texas a particular weekend years ago. Sharon and I and our little son, PJ were staying at a hotel there for the weekend. PJ was sitting at the desk in our room drawing a picture on a sheet of paper. Several times I walked by and complemented his effort. Finally, heard PJ sigh with satisfaction and I walked over to see the finished drawing. It was a child’s rendition of the cross (he’d even tried to add a 3-dimensional element to the drawing)… Let’s face it though – it was a child’s drawing! He looked up at me and said, “Daddy can we get some tape and put it up on the door of our room?” I admit that I felt a moment of shame (did I say it was a child’s drawing after all?)… And then I heard God speak clearly to my heart… His message? “Listen Son, I never want you to be ashamed of the cross again!”

Oh, and the rest of the story… When PJ got up to put his drawing on the door of our room… He had added these words to his drawing “God loves you” and then these emphatic words came from his mouth: “There Daddy, now they’ll know!”

This morning, during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read Apostle Paul’s position on this issue…He said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes!” (From Romans 1:16-17)

In another place Paul observed, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God!” (1 Corinthians 1:18) … Certainly nothing to be ashamed of!

The “gospel” had changed Paul’s life… He had seen what it could do in the lives of others! His confidence of it’s power was firm! He believed that behind the gospel was God power to change lives, situations, cultures, nations… the world! And me? “I never want to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ! It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes!”

Here’s the “Necessary Food” Bible readings for January 2: Genesis 2:4-25; Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 1:18-25 and Romans 1:8-15.

I was especially challenged today by the reading from Matthew today. But I can almost hear it now… Dr. Bartel, the Christmas story again?! I mean, we just finished taking down the Christmas tree and decorations!

Well the Matthew 1:18-25 passage reminded me of a “salvation” (or rescue) event in my life. Many of you know I am a devoted runner. Several years ago, I purchased a wonderful Garmin GPS tracking watch. Problem is, after several months of fooling around with the settings on it I really messed things up and nothing I tried to do made the situation better… only worse! Finally, in desperation, I called customer support and in a few minutes the Garmin representative solved the problem and got the watch running properly! …“Saved!”

Ever mess things up in your life? And what was the solution? … Admitting you had a problem (i.e. “repentance”) and appealing for help and trusting someone that could solve the problem (i.e. a “savior”).It was like that for me… I had messed things up in my life …as they say, “royally!” My self-will resulted in bondage and sin. I needed help – I needed a Savior! The Bible describes the human problem (including “my problem”) this way… “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!” (Romans 3:23)

So where does the Christmas story found in Matthew 1 come in you ask… In the middle of the human dilemma, called “sin, God sent an angel to the virgin Mary, and informed her she would supernaturally have a baby – the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ! He also appeared to Joseph, who was engaged to be married to Mary, and reassured him, “Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son, and YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS! All of this happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us!’ … And she brought forth her firstborn Son and called his name Jesus [“Savior”]!” (From Matthew 1:18-25)

That’s right… after we had “messed things up… ‘royally’ with self-will and sin, God sent His Son, our Savior, to “save us from our sin!” I remember vividly the day I became painfully aware of the “mess” I had made of things with my sin! I acknowledged my sin, asked God to forgive me, and trusted Jesus as my Savior! He did what I could never do on my own… He took the “mess” I had made, forgave me, and “saved” me, transforming my life, and giving me “abundant life” (John 10:10)! I’ve never been the same! It worked for me – and it will work for you! Thank God for Jesus Christ, our Savior!!!