Coffee With The Lord

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage and then grinned… The passage? Ezekiel 6… Here’s what captured my attention…

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them and say; ‘Oh mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places…” (From Ezekiel 6:1-3ff)

Have you ever observed someone making a comment, or saying something to one person, but they really we delivering a message to someone else? Maybe you’ve actually done it. The question that could be asked is, “For whose ears were their comments really intended anyway?”

In this passage it is clear that, although Ezekiel was to “set his face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them,” his message was really meant for the ears of rebellious, idolatrous, sinning Israel! In fact, in the rest of the chapter this comment is made four times regarding Israel when God acts to bring judgment on their sin… “And then they will know that I am the Lord.”

I guess the message is this… “When God speaks – when God acts – we should not shovel the message over our shoulders and dismiss it by saying, “Oh He’s talking to someone or about something else!” We should pause, reflect deeply, and ask ourselves, “What is the Sovereign Lord saying to me?

“He that hath an ear, let him hear!”

Things don’t have to be big to pack a wallop! Atoms are packed with incredible energy… Diamonds aren’t very big, but are incredibly valuable… You’ve got glands in your body that are small but incredibly important!

And Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible (only two verses long) but it packs a big theological wallop! When you read it you have to put it in the context of the rest of the Old Testament message as well as the “mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3) and the grand message of the Gospel in the New Testament!

Here’s what it says…

“Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!”

Wow! The nations praising the Lord, not Just Jewish people! All peoples of the world extoling the Lord! Both Jew and Gentile experiencing God’s “covenant love” [His “hesed”] and eternal faithfulness!” How incredible is that?! Who would have ever have thought it was possible? … God did! God planned it from the beginning (check out Genesis 12:1-2; Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Kings 8:41-43), He provided it, and Jesus Christ gave himself to make it a reality! … “For God SO loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

The truth of Psalm 117, the smallest chapter in the Bible, is so powerful – so inspired – that Apostle Paul quoted from it in Romans 15 when making the case God’s plan includes both Jew and Gentile in one Spiritual body through Jesus Christ… Here’s what he said:

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another [Jew and gentile], in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Christ! Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God! For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised [the Jew] to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.’ And again it is said, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.’ And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him!’” (There it is… Psalm 117:1 quoted to make Paul’s case!)

Wow! Really glad for the wallop packed in the smallest chapter of the Bible! He included ME!

I love trail running!  I’ll run established routes, but show me a hiking trail in the mountains and I’ll want to tackle it every time!  But there are risks… I’ve taken some nasty falls!  Rocks, roots of trees, a momentary distraction and “bam” – your body is tumbling toward the ground and you’re doing your best to land in a way that minimizes injury!  Fortunately, I’ve never broken a bone or had a concussion, but I’ve gotten scraped up a bit and had to get up, brush myself off, and run back home with blood running down my leg or arm.  Gotta pay attention when you do trail running!  It’s no time to ignore the trail and become preoccupied with the scenery!

Living the Christian life victoriously in a sin dominated, pagan culture is a lot like trail running!  Apostle Paul put it this way…

“Be very careful, then, how you live [the Greek word for live is “peripateo” and literally could be translated “how you walk about”] – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus.

So here’s a summary of Paul’s suggestions for successfully living the Christian life in evil days…

1. Care is needed – stay alert to the risks along the pathway!
2. Wisdom is needed that takes advantage of every opportunity God gives you!
3. Don’t stumble along blindly – inform yourself of God’s will and do it!
4. Don’t participate in anything that makes you less than aware and alert to spiritual and moral danger (especially alcohol or drugs)!
5. Stay full of the Holy Spirit (in fact “walk in the Spirit!” – cp. Romans 8:1-8; Galatians 5:16, 25)
6. Build yourself and other Christians up with authentic, heartfelt worship!
7. Have an “attitude of gratitude” – “give thanks to God for EVERYTHING!”

Hey, be careful on the trail!  I’ll be out there “running the race with patience” (Hebrews 12:1-2) and I’ll be watching for you!