Coffee With The Lord

In the early days in rural America cisterns were often dug to hold water where wells were not readily available. In addition to other things, these cisterns provided water for drinking for rural families. The fact is, there may still be a few of them still around in use.
If you had a cistern, it became very important to protect what was allowed to enter the cistern. It was not uncommon to do this with a grating of some sort. The reason? The water in the cistern, if unprotected, could bring disease and even death. Its purpose, however, was to provide life giving water.

I think Proverbs 4:20-27 may draw on this imagery, picturing the “heart” (the spiritual, emotional and mental center of life) as the reservoir from which everything in life flows and urging protection for what is allowed to enter it.

Here is what it says…

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL VIGILANCE, FOR FROM IT FLOW THE SPRINGS OF LIFE. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (ESV)

Did you notice what the writer of Proverbs has to say about the importance of the “heart” to the rest of life? He asserts that EVERYTHING flows from what is allowed to enter the heart. He urges vigilance and care over what is allowed to enter the heart! He identifies a couple of entrance points to the “heart” that deserve vigilant attention… ears (vs. 20), and eyes (vss. 21, 25). Then after his central emphasis on keeping the heart in verse 23, he gives attention to what comes out of “heart” … What comes out of our mouths (vs. 24), and where our feet lead us – our actions or behavior.

My cry after reading this passage from Proverbs this morning during “Coffee with the Lord?” Oh Lord, help me to understand the importance of “keeping my heart” and guarding what enters it through what my eyes behold and what my ears hear! Help me to remember that what comes out – in terms of speech and actions – are the consequence of what I allow to enter my heart! My decision: Gonna “keep my heart with all vigilance!” I’m faced with the reality that what comes out is either life-giving or destructive. I want it to be life-giving, don’t you?

Does it pay to serve the Lord – to live righteously? There are many voices in our culture that have abandoned the principle that it does. They live for self (“me-first”), they live for pleasure (“you only go around once”), and they live for money and possessions (“the bottom line” is what matters). But there are those who have chosen to forgo immediate, temporary aggrandizement and live with their eye on their eternal future. They’ve decided to live their lives to please God here and now and trust Him to reward their future. So what is the outcome of choices like that? I read about it this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” in my Bible…

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on… But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:14-19)

Don’t know how you’ve decided to live your life. I think I’ll listen to the advice of the writer of Proverbs! Right now the payoff for living righteously may seem like the first light of dawn. But the future of that pathway will end up like the full light of day! I believe living to please the Lord will pay off!

What a terrible affront it would be! A dear friend gives you a costly and precious gift and you set it aside and leave it unwrapped, ignored, and unused! They visit you later and notice it is still unwrapped, sitting on a shelf in a back room, completely ignored. They ask you about the gift… you blush with shame, offer a clumsy apology, but really have no adequate explanation for your disrespect of their generosity and friendship.

I read a passage this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” that brought this imaginary scenario to mind… Paul wrote Timothy and urged him… “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God has given us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

Apostle Paul, and other respected Spiritual leaders, had been God’s agent of blessing in young Timothy’s life. Directed by the Lord, Paul and others had recognized Spiritual gifts in his life. They had acted as God’s agents to confer, confirm and affirm those gifts. Timothy, however, had a responsibility – He had to overcome his natural fear or timidity and develop and utilize those gifts. His responsibility was to recognize the potential of the glowing embers of giftedness in his life and “fan into flame the gift of God.” What a picture of our human responsibility to develop and use the Spiritual gifts that God graciously gives!

God gives a rich variety of Spiritual gifts… Everything needed to build and bless others! They may be natural abilities elevated and lifted by the Holy Spirit to a new level or completely supernatural impartations. I don’t know what yours may be, but discerning, trusted, Spiritual leaders can help you discover and affirm them in your life.

Here’s a few additional important Scriptures on this topic…

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good!!” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them!” (Romans 12:6)

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve on another, as good stewards of God 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!” (1 Peter 4:10-11)

God has been so gracious and generous to His children! His gifts are varied and precious – perfect for who we are individually and what His purposes are for our lives. He blesses us individually with rich gifts but also through each of us provides everything needed to build and bless others! I gotta tell you, I don’t want to leave a single one of the Lord’s generous and precious gifts unopened and unused on a shelf somewhere! Oh, the words of Apostle Paul to Timothy ring in my ears today… “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you! With God’s help I’m going to do it!