Coffee With The Lord

If you’re like a lot of people, you got up this morning, got a cup of coffee, and began to think about all the things you had to do today… calls you had to make, bills you had to pay, errands you had to run, appointments you had to keep, things you had to prepare for, and tasks that had to be done! You made a list… gulped the coffee… perhaps made a piece of toast… and headed out the door, or simply dove into the tasks right at home!

But did you take the time for “devotions” – time for fellowship with Him (the Lord, I mean) – some time in His word, reflection, prayer, worship, thanksgiving (I call my time like this, “coffee with the Lord). I’ve discovered I have to prioritize my time with Him! If I miss it, neglect it, or let something else push it aside, I feel like I’ve missed something really important all day long. My day goes better when I have it – worse when I don’t make time for it.

There’s a true story in the Bible that addresses this issue…

Martha was a good housekeeper and a wonderful hostess! She and her sister, Mary, lived together. You could depend on Martha for a spotless house, everything in order, delicious meals, a beautiful table setting and fastidious hospitality. Mary? Well when Jesus showed up, it seemed like a lot of things were forgotten for time spent with Him, listening to His words, and soaking up His presence. Martha? She was busy bustling about the house, doing her best to keep things just right. Martha, felt a little resentful that she was having to fulfill her responsibilities and Mary’s too. The sad result… Martha felt she had to forgo time with Jesus to keep “the I’s dotted and the t’s crossed.” Read it for yourself in Luke 10:38-42.
Here’s how she complained to Jesus about it… “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

And the answer Jesus gave her? “’Martha, Martha!” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed! Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her!”

My take away from that story? Prioritize some time daily with the Lord in your busy, hectic, schedule! You’ll be glad you did! Your day… your week… your LIFE will go better! Don’t neglect your responsibilities – that’s bad stewardship of the time God has given you. But, on the other hand, in the words of Jesus, don’t allow yourself to be “worried and upset about many things… one thing is needed… choose what is better!” Make quality time daily with the Lord a priority!

It seems every generation has its own favorite way of describing something “over-the-top,” mind-boggling good,,, Something so great it boggles your mind!  For my generation, you’d just exclaim, “awesome!”  I remember a later generation using the term, “rad!”  A few have even adopted the old “Mary Poppins” movie term, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!.

I just wonder what term you’d use to describe the greatness and goodness of God expressed in Psalm 111?  Chime in – let me know.  (It was part of my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord this morning.)

‘Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation!  Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.  Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.  He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.  He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.  He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.  The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.  He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!”

Com’on, give me a word you’d use to describe the greatness and goodness of God…

Discipleship is a big deal! Jesus commanded us to make more than mere “converts” – statistics we can report of people who responded to an “altar call” or prayed “a sinner’s prayer.” He commanded us to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20). It’s in what we refer to as “the Great Commission.” Pretty important, wouldn’t you say?

So what is discipleship? Here’s the definition I use…

The intentional development of those who respond in faith to the Gospel so that they become devoted, obedient followers of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit working in their lives through…
 Accountability and loving relationships within the Church (the community of “Christ-followers”)
 Study and personal application of the Bible
 Participation in prayer, worship, ministry, stewardship, and evangelism

So during my time of “coffee with the Lord” this morning I read this passage written by Apostle Paul to the churches in ancient Asia [Note: I’ve added a few explanatory note or two for clarification in brackets]…

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles [the unconverted – those in broader pagan culture] do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned [“manthano” – a Greek verb drawn from, and related to the noun translated “disciple” in Scripture… i.e. “You were not “discipled” to live that way!”] when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness!” (Ephesians 4:17–24 NIV)

So it seems to me, this is our challenge… Believers today must be discipled in such a way that they exhibit distinctive lives – different from the broader pagan culture! It is intolerable, biblically, for Christ followers to live like a lost world – with no difference between those who claim to be redeemed and the broader culture. Minus legalism, those who have begun to follow Christ, must be discipled to live a new life – different from the world around them in practical matters (see verses 25-32 of the same passage).

As a spiritual leader I cannot be satisfied after I have taught the truth or proclaimed God’s word with just compliments (like “Wow! What a blessing!” or “How uplifting or inspiring!”) I must be satisfied with nothing less than changed lives, and do everything in my power to help facilitate that!