Coffee With The Lord

As many of you are aware that regularly access and read my posts here on “COFFEE WITH THE LORD,” I have developed a Bible reading plan entitled “NECESSARY FOOD” based up Job’s declaration, “I have treasured the word of His mouth more than my necessary food!” (Job 23:12) It’s unique feature is that using it you read a passage from each of the major divisions of Scripture (Old Testament history, poetry, prophecy, Gospels/Acts, and epistles) daily, and following it finish reading the Bible in a year. In fact, most of my “Coffee with the Lord” devotionals posted here are based upon my daily Bible reading!

So as I was thinking about today’s “Coffee with the Lord” post I decided to give a brief devotional reflection on today’s “NECESSARY FOOD” BIBLE READINGS… Happy New Year!!! Here goes…

Genesis 1:1 – 2:3: The “Eternal One” spoke into existence EVERYTHING we see and experience! And in it’s original state, before the impact of “sin,” declared it “good!” And although marred by sin, we still enjoy much of the “goodness” of what He created!

Job 1:1-5: Praise God that there are people like Job in the world today, who are “blameless and upright, people who fear God and turn away from evil!! (vs.1) … People who in the midst of a sinful world and difficult circumstances sustain righteous lives, trusting in the Lord – “RIGHTEOUS REGARDLESS!”

Isaiah 1:1-31: Tragically though, even “religious” people drift away from God, go their own way, fall into sin and live hypocritical lives! But, praise the Lord, there is a remedy – God in His mercy offers forgiveness and salvation! “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool!” (vs. 18)

Matthew 1:1-17: And that’s what God did! He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to be our Savior! “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ…of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ!” (vss. 1 & 16 cp. John 3:16-17)

Romans 1:1-7: Oh what a wonderful plan! What a gracious, merciful provision! Available to all – “to bring about the obedience of faith…among all nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ!” (vss. 5-6)

Hey, just let me say, “Have a blessed New Year as you read, reflect upon, and respond to God’s Word in the coming year! May it become your Spiritual “NECESSARY FOOD!”

NOTE: If you’d like a free pdf copy of the Necessary Food Bible reading plan message me or request one at leroybartel@gmail.com (please provide your preferred e-mail address).

”Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever! Amen!!” (From Jude 24–25 ESV)

In this time of transition to a new year it only seemed appropriate for me to quote the “ageless One” – “the One who is, and who was, and who is to come!” (Revelation 1:4, 8, 4:8) So I could think of nothing better for your New Year’s message in “coffee with the Lord” to be “IN HIS OWN WORDS!”  Here it is…

“BEHOLD, I AM COMING SOON! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.  Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.  BEHOLD, I AM COMING SOON, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things! I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.  The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

“HE WHO TESTIFIES TO THESE THINGS SAYS, ‘SURELY I AM COMING SOON! AMEN!’”

My response? “COME, LORD JESUS!!!”  

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.  

(From Revelation 22 ESV)