Coffee With The Lord

If we’re not careful, we can begin to think of “revelation” only in terms of the words we find in the Bible! Granted, the words we find in the Bible are special and function as revelation. I affirm with complete conviction Apostle Paul’s declaration: “All Scripture is inspired [breathed out from God…” (II Timothy 3: 16-17 – i.e. it comes from God). But very often the “revelation” that we find in the Bible is the record of a God-encounter – a revelatory experience with God Himself – that is more than simply words! God reveals HIMSELF to someone in some profound way! It may be visual, it may be auditory – and it certainly is sensory and very real!

I think that is the kind of experience Apostle Paul had and recorded for us in I Thessalonians 4:13-17 when he shared what will happen to Christians who have died (and those who are still alive) when the Lord returns! He speaks of it as “a word from the Lord” but the words he used to describe it are very visual, even auditory – I believe Paul saw something and heard something vivid and real – a revelatory drama played out before his very eyes! More than simply words – it was a revelatory reality that will occur one day for those who follow Christ! Here read it that way and see if it doesn’t bring your comfort and living hope!

“And now… I want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. WE TELL YOU THIS DIRECTLY [A “word”] FROM THE LORD: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.” (From 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NLT)

Wow! What an awesome “revelation” Paul must have had! Imagine it! And it’s a reality! All of those who are believers – dead or alive – will one day be a part of it! I want to experience that reality – don’t you?

Hey, let me clear something up… When the Bible speaks about “the fear of the Lord” it is NOT talking about dread or terror of God!  A much better way of processing that phrase is to think “reverence of the Lord” when you encounter it in Scripture!

What is “reverence?”  Well here’s the way Webster defines it:”Honor or respect felt or shown.  Profound or adoring awe or respect.”  Combine honor, high regard, deep respect, awe and love together, and you have “reverence!”

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read and reflected on Psalm 128 which addresses this very topic!  Just let me say after reading it… There are wonderful promises for those who “reverence” the Lord (i.e. “fear the Lord”)!  It pays to reverence Him (and then as a result of that live for Him – obey Him (i.e. “walk in His ways)!  You’ll be blessed in every way – materially, vocationally, physically, emotionally, socially…and most of all spiritually.  Your family will be blessed!  Blessed!  Blessed!!  BLESSED!!!

Here’s how Psalm 128 puts it (and it doesn’t get much better than this!)…

“Blessed is everyone who fears [reverences] the Lord, who walks in his ways!  You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you!  Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. ⁴Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears [reverences] the Lord!”

Gotta tell you, I want to live a life that in every way exhibits and expresses “reverence” for the Lord!

I don’t do this often, but I thought you might enjoy… A “coffee with the Lord” blast from the past (the passage was part of my Bible reading today)…

Hey, the Lord loves “Scrooge McDuck” too (in the Bible his name is Zacchaeus)!

You know them… the little guy in our culture who is a cheat! He’s ripped off a multitude of people. Evil as can be! He’s the one with that inner office that nobody can get to without going through a thousand others who do his dirty work for him… He never answers his phone unless he’s forced to. A wicked little snip – greedy as can be – all he can think about is money. Heartless little hunk of humanity! The guy you love to hate.

God loves him! Jesus knows where he is! Jesus knows his name! Jesus knows how to get through to him! Jesus is not out to get his money – He cares about him!!

I read about this guy in the Bible this morning during coffee… Here’s the story – check it out…

“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said. ‘Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.’ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner!’ they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’” (Luke 19:1–10 NLT)

So here’s my advice… Don’t allow your heart to hate this guy, like the religious crowd of Jesus’ day! And don’t be a party to those who criticize the Christians who try to reach out to him with the gospel! Instead pray for him! The Lord knows “the tree” he’s in and how to get through to Him! The Lord loves Him too! Remember: Jesus “came to seek and save those who are lost!