Coffee With The Lord

A song to sing on the way to church…

That’s what the “Songs of Ascents” were for ancient Israel… They were songs sung as they made their way up to the Temple to worship in Jerusalem.

During my time of “coffee with the Lord” early this “Lord’s Day” morning I read one of these songs… Psalm 128. In a few short hours Sharon and I will do what we do every Sunday morning… we will head off to worship with fellow Christians… And I’ve already got the song I’ll be singing in my heart (I might even hum a “Spirit prompted” tune as I think about the words of this “Song of Ascents” (A song to be sung on the way to church)…

It’s a promise! It’s a blessing given to those who walk in the “fear” [or reverence] of the Lord (and believe me, I intend to do just that EVERY DAY of my life!!)…

Here are the words of the song (with a few personal interpretive comments in brackets) …

“Blessed is EVERYONE who fears [or reverences] the Lord, who walk in His ways! They shall eat the fruit of the labor of their hands! They will be blessed, and it will be well with them! Their wife [their spouse] will be like a fruitful vine within their house; their children will be like olive shoots around their table! [In other words their family will live under the favor and blessing of the Lord!] Behold, thus shall the person be blessed who fears [or reverences] the Lord!” (Adapted from Psalm 128 – A Song of Ascents)

Yup, I’m going to sing it in my heart to the Lord on the way to church today… I’ll be renewing my commitment to “walk in the fear of the Lord” and claiming the promises of Psalm 128 as well! How about you?

Genuine spiritual leaders are deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare of those for whom they accept responsibility… They cannot be nonchalant, unconcerned, detached or remain uninformed or ambivalent about their welfare. They will seek to find out the welfare of those they lead and do what they can to help them.

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read the passionate words of such a spiritual leader – a man who was a model for us in that regard – Apostle Paul…

“So when we could stand it no longer… we sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by their trials… For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. FOR NOW WE REALLY LIVE WHEN YOU ARE STANDING FIRM IN THE LORD! How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones!” (From 1 Thessalonians 3:1–13 NIV)

Oh, let me tell you, may I have a heart like that as a spiritual leader! May my heart long to see and hear and contribute to the spiritual progress of those I lead (or have led). May I do everything in my power to determine and keep track of their spiritual progress and stability! May I intercede in prayer for them daily! Thank you, Apostle Paul, for giving us a glimpse into the heart of a true spiritual leader!

One of the scariest things a person has to do sometimes is start over (or as the figure of speech goes, “start from scratch”)!

Perhaps things did not go well, some bad decisions with consequences… Or perhaps circumstances beyond your control, and you lost everything, and you had to start over! It may be a business… Or your profession… It may be your marriage… Or your reputation… You may have just gotten out of prison… Or a storm, a flood or a fire destroyed everything… You’re scared to death! You’ve got to start over! Will it work? Will you succeed? You’re almost afraid to try – but you must!

God’s people, Judah, had made some terrible decisions… They bore the consequences of their sin! Jerusalem was destroyed! The temple had been dismantled! The enemy, Babylon, carried off their brightest and best – everything of worth was pillaged! When Babylon was done Jerusalem itself, and the temple, the pride of the nation, was just an ugly, smoking pile of rubble! And then 70 years of exile… 70 years of neglect… 70 years of unmown grass, and rats, and ugliness!

But then God fulfilled His word and performed a miracle! After 70 years of exile Judah was headed back home! Psalm 126 (the passage I read this morning in my devotions) tells the story… describes the emotions of the people…

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream!… Our mouths were filled with laughter, and out tongue with shouts of joy! Then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them!’ The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad!”

But then reality set it… They had to “start over… they had to start from scratch!” And all they had to work with was an ugly pile of rubble! They were an agrarian people… and all they had was a bag of seed…just a bag of seed! Do you plant it (an act of faith) – or do you eat it? That’s when “starting over” gets tough! Here’s how Psalm 126 describes it…

“Restore our fortunes, O Lord! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing precious seed [just a bag], shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him!”

Hey listen, if you’ve experienced a disaster… or the consequences of sin and bad choices have destroyed your marriage or your reputation… God is faithful! He will help you start over! You’ve got to, you know! Take what little you have (and it may be very little), cry out to Him (“Restore our fortunes, O Lord!”) and begin “sowing” (even if your eyes are filled with tears and your heart with fear)! Conquer what is past with the Lord’s help and faith! I believe you’ll experience “reaping and rejoicing!” Com’on! With God’s help start over! I’m praying for someone today who is scared to death to start over… conquer your fear with faith!