Coffee With The Lord

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I spent some time prayerfully reflecting on individuals that have had (and continue to have) a positive influence on my life.  These are the kind of people who, simply having a relationship with them, makes you better, nicer, and more godly.  Relationally they are (and have been) an incredible positive asset in your life!

My advice?  See if you can come up with three… I’m talking about top three here!  It took me awhile!  I won’t give you my entire list, but Sharon, my wife, was definitely #1!  Oh how I love her – how I respect her!  You want to talk about someone who has made a positive impact on my life – made me a better person – nudged me toward all God created me to be… Sharon’s done it!

But there is a relationship above all others that has been supremely positive… It’s my relationship with the Lord!  In fact, it was reading about the positive impact of that relationship this morning that prompted this reflection!  Here’s what the Bible says…

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all!  If we say we have FELLOWSHIP with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have FELLOWSHIP with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (From I John 1:5-9 ESV)

Let me tell you, my relationship with Him – the fellowship we enjoy as I walk through life with Him – has a cleansing influence and impact on my life!  He just makes me better!  In His presence, issues are exposed, sin is dealt with, positive actions and attitudes are affirmed, and loving accountability is experienced!  Some relationship I tell you!  Wonderful relationship!  I recommend!

This morning I had a flashback to the old game show on television “Jeapordy!”  In the show, the host would give the contestants general knowledge clues about something in the form of “answers,” and the contestants had to phrase their responses in the form of questions… “And the question is…”

So lets’ do a little “Jeopardy” today:  Here’s the “clue” right out the Bible passage I read this morning…

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us — that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us…”   (From 1 John 1:1–3 ESV)

And the question is… “Who is Jesus Christ!”

I know… A little “game show” flashback!  But that’s who He really is!  … The “Word” (God expressing – no maybe “revealing” is better – Himself in humanity (John 1:1-3)!  Our Savior – Life itself!  Eternal life manifest.  The “Gospel” – the message that God sent His only begotten Son, to earth to be our Savior… to live, to die for our sins, to rise from the dead, an ascend back into heaven as our intercessor and advocate!  That’s who Jesus is!  That’s what Christmas meant… It all began in a stable, a virgin, and a manger!  But it ended on a cross, led to an empty tomb, and now He – “Who is Jesus Christ?” – is at the Heavenly Father’s right hand on our behalf!

This image came to mind as I read 2 Peter 3:10-13 this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. SINCE ALL THESE THINGS ARE THUS TO BE DISSOLVED, WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE OUGHT YOU TO BE IN LIVES OF HOLINESS AND GODLINESS, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! BUT ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE WE ARE WAITING FOR NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS!”

With that in view, I want to live right and wait expectantly… Don’t you?