Coffee With The Lord

This morning my Bible reading included II Kings 4… One miraculous event after another in quick succession through the ministry of Elisha!  And it starts in the chapters preceding chapter 4 and continues in the chapters following!  Bam!  Bam! Bam!  Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!  One incredible miracle after another!  Wow!!!

But what really caught my eye this morning – beyond simply the miracles – was how the Bible refers to Elisha…  He’s called “the man of God.”  In chapter 4 alone he’s referred to in that way eleven times (and then there are the chapters before and after where he is referred to that way)!  Now, my Roman Catholic friends would refer to a guy like that as a “saint!”  We Pentecostals would talk of him in terms of “signs and wonders”… The Bible’s terminology is better, I think:  “Man of God!”

I gotta tell you, I want to be “a man of God!”  So I jotted down a few characteristics of the “man of God” – Elisha, in my journal.  Here they are…

• He knew God personally
• He heard from God
• He was God’s agent with a unique, special anointing
• He acted along with – in cooperation with – God
• He spoke God’s will

I’ve gotta tell you, I don’t believe it’s gender specific either!  It’s possible to be “a woman of God!” Here’s what the Bible says…

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.  Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit!”  (Joel 2:28-29)

Shall I say it one more time?  OH, I WANT TO BE KNOWN AS “A MAN OF GOD!”

Every parent with a child headed off to college knows the feeling… You rejoiced at the birth of a wonderful baby; you nurtured, provided, protected, and most of all loved them. You cried when they entered kindergarten and elementary school. Then it was high school and graduation. But you really felt it when “your baby” left for college! You prayed a lot, cried a lot, and then you did what you felt you had to do in order to protect and provide for them… you sent them off with a cell phone and a credit card (and instructions)!

I get a lot of requests for this, so thought I would post it for those who have asked…

1.  I value my marriage and family

Faithfulness and fidelity in marriage and family life are infinitely more important to me than any competing human loyalty.

2.  I value people

Since God loves everyone and His heart throbs redemptively for all people of the world, regardless of their race, gender, culture, or situation in life, so should I.

3.  I value the church

Since Christ “loved the church and gave Himself  for her”  (Ephesians 5:25), I should love it in spite of its imperfections, pray daily for its well-being, contribute my best to its mission and ministries, be willing to submit its authority, and live so its reputation in the world is positive.

4.  I value the Holy Spirit

The secret to effectiveness and victory in my Christian life is for me to live all of life sensitive and responsive to what the Holy Spirit is doing within the various contexts of my life.

5.  I value my ministry

My ministry, to be effective, must be in keeping with my calling and gifts, must express itself as servanthood and stewardship, must be fundamentally interpersonal in nature, and made effective through the power of the Holy Spirit.

6.  I value the Bible

The Holy Scriptures are uniquely inspired by God and completely trustworthy.  They are essential to my life in Christ – my all-sufficient guide for faith and daily living.

7.  I value my daily quiet time with God

Time spent with God — getting to know Him, His Word, seeking His will, embracing His purposes, and listening to his voice — is not wasted, but wisely invested time.  It is essential for the effectiveness of my personal life and ministry.