Coffee With The Lord

Things don’t have to be big to pack a wallop! Atoms are packed with incredible energy… Diamonds aren’t very big, but are incredibly valuable… You’ve got glands in your body that are small but incredibly important!

And Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible (only two verses long) but it packs a big theological wallop! When you read it you have to put it in the context of the rest of the Old Testament message as well as the “mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3) and the grand message of the Gospel in the New Testament!

Here’s what it says…

“Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!”

Wow! The nations praising the Lord, not Just Jewish people! All peoples of the world extoling the Lord! Both Jew and Gentile experiencing God’s “covenant love” [His “hesed”] and eternal faithfulness!” How incredible is that?! Who would have ever have thought it was possible? … God did! God planned it from the beginning (check out Genesis 12:1-2; Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Kings 8:41-43), He provided it, and Jesus Christ gave himself to make it a reality! … “For God SO loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

The truth of Psalm 117, the smallest chapter in the Bible, is so powerful – so inspired – that Apostle Paul quoted from it in Romans 15 when making the case God’s plan includes both Jew and Gentile in one Spiritual body through Jesus Christ… Here’s what he said:

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another [Jew and gentile], in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Christ! Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God! For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised [the Jew] to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.’ And again it is said, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.’ And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him!’” (There it is… Psalm 117:1 quoted to make Paul’s case!)

Wow! Really glad for the wallop packed in the smallest chapter of the Bible! He included ME!

I love trail running!  I’ll run established routes, but show me a hiking trail in the mountains and I’ll want to tackle it every time!  But there are risks… I’ve taken some nasty falls!  Rocks, roots of trees, a momentary distraction and “bam” – your body is tumbling toward the ground and you’re doing your best to land in a way that minimizes injury!  Fortunately, I’ve never broken a bone or had a concussion, but I’ve gotten scraped up a bit and had to get up, brush myself off, and run back home with blood running down my leg or arm.  Gotta pay attention when you do trail running!  It’s no time to ignore the trail and become preoccupied with the scenery!

Living the Christian life victoriously in a sin dominated, pagan culture is a lot like trail running!  Apostle Paul put it this way…

“Be very careful, then, how you live [the Greek word for live is “peripateo” and literally could be translated “how you walk about”] – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus.

So here’s a summary of Paul’s suggestions for successfully living the Christian life in evil days…

1. Care is needed – stay alert to the risks along the pathway!
2. Wisdom is needed that takes advantage of every opportunity God gives you!
3. Don’t stumble along blindly – inform yourself of God’s will and do it!
4. Don’t participate in anything that makes you less than aware and alert to spiritual and moral danger (especially alcohol or drugs)!
5. Stay full of the Holy Spirit (in fact “walk in the Spirit!” – cp. Romans 8:1-8; Galatians 5:16, 25)
6. Build yourself and other Christians up with authentic, heartfelt worship!
7. Have an “attitude of gratitude” – “give thanks to God for EVERYTHING!”

Hey, be careful on the trail!  I’ll be out there “running the race with patience” (Hebrews 12:1-2) and I’ll be watching for you!

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!