Coffee With The Lord

The passage I read this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” is a really big deal!  It doesn’t need much commentary… it’s pretty clear!  I encourage you to read it today slowly and reflect deeply on what it has to say… I did!  (Pay particular attention to what I’ve put it all caps.)

Jesus declared… “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit… Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING! … If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples… These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Oh Lord, help me to hear and heed your words today!  May I never forget them!

My reputation as a Christian is vital!  It either advances the cause of Christ or hinders it.  It’s often referred to as a Christian’s “testimony” and it includes not only their verbal witness, but also the integrity of their lifestyle!  How I live my life must match the witness I share.  Consistency and congruence in these two areas increases my influence with my community, colleagues, and close friends!

Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of this.  He urged the believers in Philippi, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world!” (Philippians 2:14-15)

Jesus put it another way, He told his followers, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

I want my testimony – my reputation – as a Christian to be congruent and consistent!  During my time of “coffee with the Lord” today I came across several verses in Proverbs that highlight three practical ways I can enhance my testimony (they’re found in Proverbs 14:29-31)…

1.  Don’t be a “hothead” – ask God to help you control your temper!

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” (check out James 1:20)

2. Be content – don’t be envious of what others have.

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (check out 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and Philippians 4:11-13)

3. Be kind and generous to those in need.

“Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him.” (check out 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and 1 John 3:17-18)

Three practical ways to enhance our “testimony” or witness as Christians!  I want to live this way, don’t you?

A few weeks ago I was traveling down the freeway toward Dallas and encountered an incredible sight… A late model Mercedes (couldn’t have been more than a couple years old) clearly in bad shape. The car was being driven by a young lady and it was smoking out the tail pipe badly. In fact, she was having difficulty getting any momentum and acceleration from the vehicle. That’s right, a Mercedes! Now a Mercedes is a very nice car! I thought to myself, someone has seriously neglected caring for that vehicle – they have not changed the oil, paid attention to warning lights, or taken it in for regular checkups and service! It’s tragic to spend a lot of money on a vehicle like that and then neglect it! Given the state of affairs, that young lady was headed for trouble and that vehicle was headed for a very big shop expense.

Neglect! … That was the topic of my Bible reading this morning – not the neglect of a vehicle, but the neglect of a person’s salvation! Here’s what the Message paraphrase of Scripture says…

“It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk NEGLECTING this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.” (Hebrews 2:1-4 The Message)

Salvation cost a great deal! Jesus paid the price for our salvation with the sacrifice of His life – His death on the cross for our sins! He purchased forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life for us! What we’ve been given as a free gift is incredibly valuable! Apostle Paul exclaimed, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) We dare not NEGLECT what we’ve been given! If we do, we do it at great personal loss!