Coffee With The Lord

I read the following passage this morning in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (a well-known passage of Scripture).  After reading it, I jotted these words in the margin of my Bible:  “Oh Lord, help me to discern the appropriate time to act – or not to act; to speak or not to speak – at the appropriate time and season!

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

• A time to be born, and a time to die;
• A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
• A time to kill, and a time to heal;
• A time to break down, and a time to build up;
• A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
• A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
• A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
• A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
• A time to seek, and a time to lose;
• A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
• A time to tear, and a time to sew;
• A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
• A time to love, and a time to hate;
• A time for war, and a time for peace.”

Oh, Lord help me to know the right time… Seek you for the right time… And act (or not act) at the right time!  May You be glorified in everything I do!

Storm clouds are on the horizon!  The broader culture seems to be less and less tolerant of those who share an unapologetic witness, embrace Biblical values, and live by Christian ethics.  Biblical prophecy seems to indicate that as the end of time draws near, persecution of Christians will increase and the broader culture will become less and less tolerant of those who openly practice Biblical Christianity…

It will seem like the 1^st century revisited!  Apostle Peter cautioned his readers, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.”  (1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV)

Peter, in writing to believers who lived out their Christianity in a context like that, urged them to live in the following way…

He said, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ! To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  (From 1 Peter 4:7–11 ESV)

We should not wait until the crisis comes (and the Bible indicates it surely will)!  We should get into the habit of living this way now!  Five things as the end draws near and persecution increases…

1. Prioritize and practice prayer ministry (for one another and the situation at hand)
2. Love fellow Christians deeply – don’t just mouth your love for one another, exhibit it!
3. Practice hospitality without grumbling (there may be times in the future when fellow Christians may knock on your door in the middle of the night needing help).
4. Serve one another with the gifts and abilities God has given you – whatever those gifts are.
5. In everything you do, be sure to glorify God!

Today in my Bible reading during “coffee the Lord” I read the following observation from Ecclesiastes 2:24-26…

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.  This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?  For to the one who pleases Him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God.”

Listen, if you find enjoyment in life and your vocation, that is a gift from God!  On the day after “Thanksgiving Day” – that’s something to be grateful for!  Why not pause and add that one to your thanksgiving list that you may have forgotten yesterday and determine to live all of life for “the glory of God – whatever you do!” (cp. 1 Corinthians 10:31)  It pays to live that way!!