Coffee With The Lord

Israel and Judah, nations that God had labored to redeem as His own, because of their sin and rebellious ways, were worthy of judgment, condemnation, and complete rejection! They had experienced His discipline. However, in a passage that I read this morning – Isaiah 54, during my time of “coffee with the Lord” the Lord instead assured them of His incredible, lavish love, mercy and grace…

As I read Isaiah 54 today I was reminded of what God offers us, the undeserving and worthy of His judgment and condemnation, through Jesus Christ… An opportunity for growth and expanded fruitfulness, instead of a life of barrenness! Acceptance and embrace instead of rejection. Compassion and everlasting love instead of judgment. A covenant of peace instead of condemnation. Vindication when we really deserve to reap all of the consequences of our sinful ways…

Here’s just a taste of the language of the passage (you really should read the whole chapter for yourself!)…

“Sing, O barren one! … Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities… For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called… For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed!” says the LORD, who has compassion on you… All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you… No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD!” (From Isaiah 54)

I’ve got to tell you, it brought to mind the words of this contemporary worship song… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLFak6N04GY

A transformed life is the true outcome of “new birth” through faith in Christ. Here’s a quick spiritual life transformation assessment that you can use to determine your progress in your new life in Christ… (just a suggestion… if you use it you may want to password protect it 😉)

As honestly as possible answer the following questions…

1. What did I love doing before I found Christ as my Savior and Lord that I no longer choose to participate in now? What activities did I engage in in the past that I no longer engage in? What did I find enjoyable that I am now ashamed of?

2. On the other hand, what do I love doing now that I didn’t enjoy before? What do I find satisfying to participate in now, that I am a Christ follower that I didn’t find fulfilling before?

Here’s a couple of key Scriptural passage that support the assessment…

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (from 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2 NLT)

Truly transformed people won’t “spend the rest of their lives chasing their own desires, instead they will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols… Your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.” (1 Peter 4:2-4 NLT)

I believe I read every godly parent’s (and grandparent’s) prayer in the Bible this morning, as they think of the challenges that young people face today… Their prayer as they contemplate their future in the evil world in which we live today…

Here’s what I read this morning in my Bible this morning that describes the world in which we live – and the world our children and grandchildren will have to live in (should the coming of the Lord be delayed)…

“Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man! Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak… On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.” (from Psalm 12:1-2, 8) Sounds like the corrupted culture around us doesn’t it?