Coffee With The Lord

People often experience God in the most unexpected and unusual places!

I imagine there are just a host of stories out there of God-encounters in unexpected places! … I’d love to hear ‘em. Here’s just a few I’ve heard: Encountering God while committing a crime, in a suicide attempt, during a frightening fit of anger, in a close call or a near death experience.

Saul, later renamed Paul the apostle, encountered the resurrected Christ while on his way to arrest and murder Christians. He certainly was not expecting to meet Jesus Christ! Read about it in your Bible – Acts 9:1-18 and his personal testimony about it in Acts 22:1-21.

Peter and Andrew – James and John powerfully experienced God while they were on the job – fishing and mending nets (Matthew 4:18-22)… even after a frustrating night as professional fishermen during which they had caught nothing (Luke 5:1-11; John 21:3-8).

Zacchaeus, a very rich man who had gotten his wealth by cheating others, was hiding in a tree (possibly curious about Jesus, but hoping to escape the Lord’s notice) and Jesus stopped right at the foot of his tree, looked up, and called him out… “Come down Zacchaeus! I must be a guest in your home today.” (Luke 19:1-10)

But the unexpected God-encounter that captured my attention today was in the Old Testament. Jacob had taken advantage of his brother, Esau, offended him, and cheated him. His brother was so angry he was plotting to kill him. Jacob was running for his life. Panting and out of breath after a day as a fugitive, Jacob finally fell down on the ground and made a rock his pillow. A fitful night of sleep ensued… Suddenly out of the darkness there appeared a stairway reaching from earth to heaven – angels were going up and down the stairway – at the top of the stairway… GOD! Instead of judgment – a blessing! A renewed covenant! Jacob woke up with a start! He exclaimed, “SURELY THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE AND I WASN’T EVEN AWARE OF IT!” Jacob did when many have done when they’ve had experiences with God like that… they remember the time and place! They memorialize it! They make a solemn commitment of their life to the God who revealed Himself to them! Jacob did! He called the place “Bethel” (which means “house of God)!” And he vowed to honor God’s claims on his life with the first portion (a “tithe”) of all he would ever possess! (Genesis 28:10-22)

How about you? Have you ever had an experience – an unexpected encounter – with the Living God! What was your response? Did you mean what you vowed to the Lord? Have you kept your commitment?

Never had it happen yet? Be on the alert… God may encounter you in the most unexpected time and place! He is the business of revealing Himself to people in times and places like that. After all he told those who saw how he revealed Himself to Zacchaeus, “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost!” You can’t get away from Him – He knows where you are – He can find you and reveal Himself to you in the most unexpected times and places (if you doubt it read Psalm 139:1-11)!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read once again these words… sobering, but true…

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide – many choose that way! But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult. Only a few find it.” (The words of Jesus, our Savior, as recorded in Matthew 7:13-14 NLT)

My response? I need to choose the road I take wisely… every day! Following the way that most take can be deadly – eternally deadly! Lord help me to choose YOUR WAY – even when it is difficult!

Two words that begin with the letter “P” today … “Preoccupation” and “Priorities”

Both words important for effective and fruitful “Christ-followers!”

We live in a world and in a cultural setting that is “Pre-occupied” with the material things that have to do with everyday life – the “here and now” … where and what we eat, what we drink, what we wear, and where we live.  Stand around a water cooler at work and just listen.  Examine conversations you’ve had with others.  Think about what has occupied your mind and concerns lately.  Hey, it’s easy to become “Preoccupied” with those things isn’t it?  Concern for them begins to just “gobble us up!”

But life is “more” than those things according to Scripture!

For Christ-followers the “Kingdom of God” or “the Kingdom of Heaven” needs to have “Priority” (there’s that second word)!

Here’s how the Bible puts it in Matthew 6:25-33 (part of my Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord”)…

“I tell you [Jesus speaking] not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear!  Isn’t life more than food, your body, and more than clothing? … These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers [“Preoccupation,” if you please],  but your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs!  Instead, seek the Kingdom of God above all else [“Prioritize” it and its values] and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need [some versions say “everything else”]! (From Matthew 6:25-33 NLT)

Ask anyone that understands the keys to success and effectiveness… They will tell you “Preoccupation” with the wrong things – even many things – leads to frustration, failure, and fruitlessness!  On the other hand, proper “Priorities” lead to fulfillment, fruitfulness and success!

Gotta tell you, with the Lord’s help, the Holy Spirit’s “nudge,” and the principles and values of Scripture in focus, as a follower of Christ, I want to “Prioritize” [there’s that word again!] God’s Kingdom and right living!  Life is “more” than “Preoccupation” with the concerns of just the “here and now!”  How did the old Gospel song put it… “With eternity’s values in view, Lord, With eternity’s values in view; May I do each day’s work for Jesus, With eternity’s values in view.”  That’s the way I want to live!