Coffee With The Lord

From my Bible reading today during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

Ever get tired of waiting for someone to arrive? They said they would come, they even indicated a time and place, but they were late and you had to wait on them… You paced the floor, you checked your mobile phone and texts, you fiddled around, grabbed a snack… and waited! You were even tempted to take a nap…

Tired of waiting? You can’t afford it if you’re the “front person” for a VIP [a “very important person]. You get tired of waiting on them… goof off, go grab a snack, or take a nap, and they arrive? You’re fired! I’ve watched the “front persons” for the President of the United States just before a press conference… scurrying around, checking microphones, taking care of last minute details… and he’s delayed… no “let up” – stay alert, stay ready, watch the doorway, he’s coming!

The Bible addresses the importance of staying alert and ready for the coming of another VIP… the “coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Here’s what it has to say on that important subject…

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him! It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes… It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak… It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns… But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers!” (From Luke 12:35–46 NIV)

In another similar passage this warning is given, “Watch! For you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming!” (Matthew 25:13) Believe me, as one of His “front men,” I want to be ready!

Some of you will recall I led a Bible study a couple of years ago entitled “Route 66: Exploring the Books of the Bible” (Trinity Church, Cedar Hill, TX) In the study – in addition to a brief overview of each book, its structure, characteristics, and key themes – I identified some of the well-known, key passages of each book of the Bible.

The denomination I am a part of, the Assemblies of God, is emphasizing “Biblical Literacy” – stressing the fact that every Christian needs to have a “working knowledge” of the Bible. This comes, in part at least, by getting Christians to read the Bible regularly.

This post is just an early announcement for those who are interested… In addition to “Necessary Food” (the Bible reading plan I developed several years ago in which you read the Bible through) I intend to develop Bible reading plan based upon the key passages I identified as a result of doing the “Route 66” study. This plan will identify 365 of the key, best known, passages in the Bible. I hope to have it finished, edited, and proof-read and ready for distribution at some level for 2019. Stay tuned. I think you’ll like it!

My post today is a follow-up to yesterday’s post upon Philippians 1:19-20, that encouraged fellow Christians to pray for the persecuted church…

What would a noted spiritual leader who happened to be in prison and facing martyrdom for his faith say to fellow Christians? What godly advice would he have for Christians that perhaps might face persecution themselves in the future? What would Apostle Paul, himself in prison and facing death, say to fellow Christians today?

We don’t have to be in doubt on that issue… We have his words to the congregation in Philippi in the Bible…

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves inn a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ! Then… I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you…”

And then he would remind us… “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” (From Philippians 1:27-30)

The Bible predicts increased persecution as the end draws near! Authentic believers will not escape it – things will get worse for Christians before they get better. In fact, I am personally concerned that many professing Christians are not prepared to face persecution for Christ’s sake with faithfulness and fearlessness… The expectations they have for their “discipleship” is instead predicated upon blessings, painlessness and prosperity.

So I believe Apostle Paul’s words from imprisonment to the believer’s in ancient Philippi are apt for us today! Persecution may come… no, it will come! And if and when it does, I want to live “worthy of the gospel,” evidence authentic unity with fellow Christians, and fearlessly stand shoulder to shoulder with them as we share the gospel!