Coffee With The Lord

Someone wronged you… said something that wasn’t true or bad about you… took advantage of you… hurt you, a family member, or a close friend…

How does the saying go… “I don’t get mad – I get even!” (and in most cases, we even ignore the first part of that saying).

Is that the way Christians – devoted, obedient, followers of Christ – should behave?

I was faced with that challenging question today in my Bible reading during my daily time of devotions I call “coffee with the Lord”…

Here’s what Jesus said… “You have heard that the Law says, “’An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’ (Exodus 12:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21) BUT I SAY TO YOU…” (and I paraphrase what follows)… Don’t retaliate! Don’t try to get even! Instead extend mercy and grace to those who wrong you, offend you or take advantage of you! In other words BE GODLY! BE CHRISTLIKE!

OUCH!!! Lord, help me to be more like you! Start it within – in my attitudes – help it to happen “inside – out!”

Apostle Paul, in writing to Christ-followers in Rome put it this way…

“Never pay back evil with more evil! Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable… Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ (Deuteronomy 32:35) says the LORD. Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ (Proverbs 25:21-22) Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good!” (from Romans 12:17-21 NLT)

I want to live that way! Lord help me to be more like you! Not simply “human” – but authentically holy!

If I may, I’d like to suggest that you memorize Romans 6:1-14 in your Bible (or at least spend some significant and focused time prayerfully reflecting on its message)! Why would I say that? Well, if you’re serious about living in spiritual victory over sin as a Christian, that passage holds the secret for you!

Here it is… The Secret of Living in Spiritual Victory over Sin is Realizing the Reality of your Baptism!

According to Apostle Paul these are the core elements of that truth…

 “When we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we (in a real sense) join him in His death.” (vs. 3)

 “We died and were buried with Christ in our baptism” (vs. 4)

 And then “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of God, the Father, now we can live new lives… We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.” (vss. 5-6)

 “So you should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus! Do not let sin control the way you live – do not give in to sinful desires!”(vss. 11-12)

 And the result of identifying fully, day by day – moment by moment – with Christ; with the reality of your baptism? “Sin is no longer your master” (vs. 14) – you have no obligation whatever to do what it entices you to do – you are “alive with Christ” and his resurrection power is at work in your life! (Taken from Romans 6:1-14 The New Living Translation)

Here is a way of thinking about it that I think will help. It’s a bit like your old self dying (with Christ, of course), being buried, and then through Christ’s resurrection power being resurrected to live a new live… AND THERE YOU ARE, STANDING THERE ALIVE, LOOKING AT YOUR OWN TOMBSTONE AND GRAVE!

My response? Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus, for Your death, burial and resurrection! I’m really glad for the reality baptism depicts! (Oh, and as an aside… If you have put your faith in Christ to forgive you and give you new life – you really MUST be baptized!)

Often just letting God’s word speak for itself is the best course of action! I read these words during my time of “coffee with the Lord” and felt they were appropriate at the beginning of this new year as we face the challenges it brings (they’re from Isaiah 8, as God’s people faced a threatening Assyrian invasion) …

The Lord’s message to the enemies of God’s people…

“Huddle together, you nations – listen, all you distant lands! Prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless! Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed!”

Why?…

“Immanuel! – For God is with us!”

Then Lord’s message to His own people…

“Don’t think like everyone else does! Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them! Make the Lord of heaven’s armies holy in your life! He is the One you should fear [or reverence]!”

God’s word must have priority for God’s people!

“Preserve the teaching of God! Entrust His instructions to those who follow Him! Wait for the Lord! Put your hope in Him! … Someone may say to you, ‘Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings they will tell us what to do.’ But shouldn’t God’s people ask God for guidance? … Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict His word are completely in the dark!” (adapted from Isaiah 8 – the New Living Translation)

Let me tell you, as I move into 2020 and the challenges it brings, that is going to be my strategy! I purpose to listen and heed what God’s word says – not what “the Enemy” says! How about you?