Coffee With The Lord

Good question eh? And the answers to that question vary depending on the presuppositions of the people answering the question… All the way from outright denial of God’s existence to unlimited power and greatness (universal power and control over all that exists – He created and sustains ALL things – microscopic to macroscopic).

Well this morning in my time of Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I read these words from an otherwise unknown writer in Proverbs, Agur: “Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in His fists? Who wraps up the oceans in His cloak? Who has created the whole wide world?! What is His name – and His Son’s name? Tell me if you know!” (Proverbs 30:4 NLT)

As I pondered those words, the lyrics of a wonderful old Gospel song, written by Stuart Hamblen came to mind… found myself humming the tune and relishing the words most of the morning. Here they are…

“Though man may strive to go beyond the reach of space
To crawl beyond the distant shimmering stars
This world’s a room so small within my Master’s house
The open sky’s but a portion of His yard

“How big is God? How big and wide His vast domain
To try and tell, these lips can only start
He’s big enough to rule His mighty universe
Yet small enough to live within my heart

“As winter’s chill may cause the tiny seed to fall
To lie asleep till waked by summer’s rain
The heart grown cold will warm and throb with life anew
The Master’s touch will bring the glow again”
–Stuart Hamblen

And to that I say a hearty “AMEN!” That’s what I believe about how big (and small) the God I love and serve is!

He was a Gentile, not a born Jew or a Christian… He was an influential officer in the Roman military. But God took note of Him – God loved him – God revealed Himself to Him and advocated on his behalf. His name? Cornelius. And he became the “door of entry” – the “breakthrough person” – for Gentiles to have equal standing with God’s chosen people in history (and eternity)!

Here’s what God’s chosen messenger told Cornelius personally: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!” (Hey it pays to pray and demonstrate compassion and generosity to those need!)

Here’s what God told Peter – a prejudiced Jew: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean!” … “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, I have sent them!”

Here’s what Peter had to say in Gentile Cornelius’ home: “You know it is against our [Jewish] law for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer thing of anyone as impure or unclean.”

And the rest of the story… While Peter was explaining the gospel – the wonderful story of Jesus – to them, “The Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message… and they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God…

Then Peter asked, ‘Can anyone object their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?’ So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” (From Acts 10)

Hey, God is “no respecter of persons!” – He plays no favorites! He has people out there who are not yet Christians – good people (and some who are not so good), kind people (and some who are not so kind), but sincere people , searching people – He wants to reveal Himself to them and fill them with His Spirit! He wants to use them to break down barriers of prejudice and open doorways to new frontiers of the Gospel. Perhaps God wants to use you (and me) to reach out past our prejudices and share the Gospel with them. What do you think? You just might be surprised at what God will do!

When I was a young man in high school I was living a hypocritical life. I claimed to be a Christian and played the part pretty well on Sunday and other special occasions, but during the week I was anything but a follower of Jesus! God sent a wonderful Christian teacher to our high school, Mr. Shenaman. The way he lived the Christian life was an adventure – it was certainly not boring. He started a Bible study for interested students in the church across the street from my High School. Students were flocking to it.

One day I couldn’t stand it any longer, I told Mr. Shenaman I was raised in a Christian home but didn’t experience Christianity like he did! I asked him, what was his secret and what he thought I should do. He asked me a simple question that forever changed my life!… He said, “Bartel, how much time are you spending in God’s word every day?”

I decided to accept his challenge and began meeting with the Lord every day before I went to work in the old ’50 Chevy my grandfather had given me. I had enough credits in high school I only had to go to school half a day. I worked at a newspaper in the afternoon. I’d park my car in the parking lot of the newspaper at noon, and on the car seat I’d have my lunch bag, my Bible, and a pencil… I’d read God’s word and underline what I thought God was saying to me that day. God met me there… That old ‘50 Chevy turned into my “temple” – I would read… I would weep… I would worship… I’d repent… AND GOD CHANGED MY LIFE!

In fact, I would have to say that the most significant personal “revival” I have ever experienced in my life did not take place because of special speaker we had in our church, or a special series of meetings that focused on “revival.” It took place in that old ’50 Chevy as I would read, reflect upon, and respond to God’s word! That’s why I love the Bible so much! And that’s why I have a time every day I treasure and call, “coffee with the Lord.”