Coffee With The Lord

I call it the “John the Baptist Syndrome”

The account behind it is found in Luke 7:18-23. John, anointed by the Holy Spirit, was God’s chosen voice, to proclaim the need of repentance and “prepare the way of the Lord.” He was sent to get things ready for the coming of Jesus. Multitudes flocked to hear him in the wilderness. One day, Jesus appeared… And John prophetically proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus asked to be baptized by John. When John honored His wish, a powerful, authenticating miracle occurred! The heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove appeared… Then a deep, rich, voice sounded from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased!”

Some things you just learn to depend upon – they seem to be inviolable laws… For example, I went to bed last night fully expecting to experience sunrise (in fact I checked Google last night and the sun rose at precisely at 6:19 a.m. CDT… I’m a morning runner). Went on a 4 mile run this morning and not once did gravity fail me so that I floated away (in fact there was an incline or two on the run that because of gravity harassed me). I expected to find fresh air to replenish my lungs and invigorate my body on my run… and sure enough it was there in good supply. Things we depend upon… Laws it you please.

There’s another one though that’s really important – a spiritual law! Over the years I’ve learned to depend on it. Just as inviolable and dependable as the others. I could take the time to document how pervasive the assurances and declarations of it are in Scripture, but that would be a project much too time and space consuming for this reflection. Just let me assure you it’s comprehensively and abundantly distributed through both Old and New Testaments! This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of it as I read one of my favorite Psalms – Psalm 103… That dependable quality – That reliable “law” of God’s character is His “steadfast love” (His “Hesed” is the Hebrew term)!

Here’s how it’s expressed in Psalm 103…

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit [death], who crowns you WITH STEADFAST LOVE AND MERCY, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s… The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger AND ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE… He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, SO GREAT IS HIS STEADFAST LOVE TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. BUT THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” (From Psalm 103)

New Testament you ask… Is it a New Testament spiritual character “law” of God? Here’s what Apostle Paul declared…

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. I am sure that neither death not life, nor angels nor rulers, no things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!” (From Romans 8:35-39)

Wow! In a world filled with so much bitterness and hatred, I’m certainly glad for God’s “steadfast love!”