Coffee With The Lord

It’s Memorial Day… a day of remembering with appreciation those who have given their lives in service to our country, defending the liberties we hold dear. Here is one voice (of many) who pause today and ponder their sacrifice, and their families sacrifice, and who utters a heartfelt thanks for their memory and service.

As a Christian, however, I remember others also today… Devoted followers of Jesus Christ who have experienced suffering for Christ’s sake, persecution and martyrdom down through the centuries. Many followers of Jesus today are experiencing persecution worldwide! They are reviled and slandered! Many have been threatened and assaulted, even killed for the sake of Christ. How can we honor these faithful “Christian soldiers” this Memorial Day weekend?

I’d like to suggest at least 5 ways (all beginning with the letter “P”…

Prayer – These suffering, persecuted believers must know that we are praying for them! They are not forgotten! In the words of Samuel, an ancient leader of God’s people, “God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you!” (1 Samuel 10:23)

Preparation – I must be personally prepared to join them in suffering, if need be, “for righteousness’ sake” and the cause of Christ! (Matthew 5:10-12) Scripture declares, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

Proclamation – The testimony and witness for Christ and the gospel is what has brought persecution down through the centuries and today. Suffering Christians who have been persecuted, in prison, and facing death, must know that others join them in a bold and fearless witness.

Provision – When suffering and persecution come for the cause of Christ and the Gospel, families suffer, spouses suffer, children suffer. Those who are suffering must know that the family of God “bears one another burdens!” We not only pray… we provide from our means to help one another!

Participation – Hebrews 13:3 urges followers of Christ, “Remember those who are in prison as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the Body [of Christ].” “Empathy” is a good word here… we are called too “suffer along with” – to understand and feel what another person is experiencing from with their frame of reference, placing (as much as is possible) ourselves in their position.

So today, on this Memorial Day, I see the rows of stones in military cemeteries, and I reflect with deep appreciation for the sacrifice of all those who have died defending our freedoms! But I also remember the host of “Christian soldiers” down through the centuries who have suffered and given their lives for the cause of Christ! And I also remember those around the world who, today are suffering persecution as faithful, righteous, and loving followers of Christ! Many of them are making the ultimate sacrifice each day, month and year as Christian martyrs. Remembering!!!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read Psalm 90 and jotted this down in my journal… Life is so short and eternity so long that I can’t afford to foul up!

Here is the profound, inspired truth of God’s word in Psalm 90 that prompted that personal comment!

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God! … For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night… You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away… So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom… Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (From Psalm 90 ESV)

This great Psalm is attributed to “Moses, the man of God.” He had seen it all… The power of God, the mighty miracles of God, the sin and rebellion of God’s people, their complaining and faithlessness, and the sad consequences – 40 years of wandering in the wilderness as an entire generation died. He personally suffered the tragic consequences of a moment of rash anger that kept him from entering the Promised Land. And so he utters this Psalm – this prayer at the end of his life… “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom!”

My personal paraphrase and prayer? “Oh Lord, life is so short and eternity so long that I can’t afford to foul up! Help me now! Help me tomorrow! Help me every day – every moment of my life – to be faithful to You until I enter Your presence!”

OK, I’ve been a university professor for a long time… I’ve got at least 35 years of teaching ministry under my belt! This is how it usually works… A class is created, course objectives or outcomes are written, supporting textbooks are chosen, a syllabus is written, classes are held, reading assignments are made, lectures are given, discussions over the material are held, assignments or projects are created, and finally tests are given. Based upon the assignments and test grades a final grade for the course is given. That’s the way it usually works… and if you asked most students, it’s those test scores they feel matter the most – they think if they pass the tests they should pass the course. So they try to keep up with the assigned reading, attend class, do their assignments, and study like crazy for the exams – especially the final exam!

But the key question is this… Is the final exam what really determines whether or not you’ve learned what you should – does it determine your mastery of the course… Or is life, and the integration of what was learned into service, employment and living REALLY the final test? Does the final grade on your transcript really reflect course mastery?

What if how we live is the “final test?”

I just finished reading Deuteronomy 8 this morning during “coffee with the Lord” and jotted this in the margin of my Bible… “Obedience is a big deal! It’s really the ‘final test’ determining whether or not we really trust, love, and reverence [or “fear”] the Lord!”

Here it is right out of the Bible…

God spoke to His people as they prepared to enter the “Promised Land” … He said, “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, TESTING YOU TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, WHETHER YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS OR NOT. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:1–3 ESV) And the whole chapter (and the next) reinforces that core truth… Obedience in life (flowing out of trust, love, and reverence for the Lord) is the final exam!

That’s not just an Old Testament idea either! Here’s how Jesus put it, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments… Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me!” (from John 14:15-24) And Apostle John echoed Jesus’ words, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)

So obedience flowing out of a heart of love and trust is a big deal – Say what you will, in the course we call “Discipleship 103” it’s the “final test!” Just saying… I REALLY want to pass that course with flying colors! Every day of my life is a test!