Coffee With The Lord

Quarreling Christians – “Cat-fights” in Congregations … What a tragedy! What an ugly disfigurement of the beauty of “the body of Christ,” the local church in a community!

I remember, Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, father of John Ashcroft (attorney general under President George W. Bush), remarking, “85% of a pastor’s task is helping God’s people get along with each other!” I believe he was right – and probably in some congregations the percentage is even higher!

My Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord” from the Old Testament emphasized the beauty and powerful potential of unity among God’s people…

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers [God’s people in this context] dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron [the high priest], running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded His blessing, life forevermore [that’s the promise and potential of authentic unity]! (Psalm 133 ESV)

The need and value of unity is also accented by Apostle Paul in the New Testament:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another [being patient with one another’s weaknesses, idiosyncrasies and failings] and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony! And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12–15 ESV)

This was apostolic instruction given to a local church! It is admonition we need to take seriously today! Unheeded it damages or destroys the effectiveness of a church’s witness and mission in a community… more than that it excludes them for God’s blessing!

A frightened, panicking student knocked at my door just one week into the semester! They’d read the syllabus and they were genuinely concerned! The requirements were rigid – the expectations high. The professor (which happened to be me) did not have a reputation for “being easy!” Their words were, “I don’t think I can do it! I’ll just drop the course!”

My response? “You can do it! If you want to succeed and are willing to work with me, I guarantee you can pull it off! I know your level of commitment from other courses you’ve taken. You’re a capable and careful student! I’m here to help you succeed! You can do it!”

And she did! She worked hard, followed the syllabus, asked a lot of questions, and I helped her as I promised! She got an “A” for the course (and she earned it)!

Thought of that as I read the following passage in my Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord.” (I’ve added a few comments of my own in brackets)…

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you [set you apart as His own] completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [we’re taking His course – we’re His disciples – and the expectations are high!]. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it [Take heart – He is faithful – He keeps His promises! He is for us!, He will help us! He is God – the Almighty God – and with His help we can do this… blameless at Christ’s coming!] (from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV with comments)

Whew! Think I’ll stay the course!

What can you do if you’ve made a “royal mess” of things because of your own foolish decisions? Who can you go to that can help you out of your predicament? There is a Psalm that answers that question – Psalm 130. On more than one occasion I’ve turned it into a prayer! Check it out below… and if need be pray it!

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared [reverenced]! I wait for You, O Lord! My soul waits, and in Your word I hope! My soul waits for You more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning! I hope in the Lord! For with You there is steadfast love, and plentiful redemption! You will redeem us from all our iniquities!” (Psalm 130 with slight adaptations for prayer)

Hey it works! He (the Lord) is the One who can help us in the mess we’ve made of things!