Coffee With The Lord

A devotional reflection from my Bible reading today using the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan: 1 Chronicles 1:1-54; Proverbs 23:10-18; Jonah 4:1-11; John 20:24-29; Hebrews 11:23-31

This is a personal “repost” but I remember the event like it happened again TODAY!

I just finished reading two chapters in from 1 Chronicles (chapters 1-2)! Some would say with a bit of emphasis… “BORING!!” (In fact, it is a part of the Bible where many people “stall out” a discontinue their Bible reading!)

That was my complaint to God one morning a number of years ago after my time of “Coffee with the Lord.” I had just struggled through several chapters that we call “genealogies”! I remember it vividly… As I finished my Bible reading that morning I expressed my complaint to God that I thought He had wasted a lot of valuable space in the Bible and had devoted it to this boring stuff! (There was a lot of more interesting and helpful things He could have devoted to Biblical content!)

I had some pastoral calls later that morning to make in a city nearby, so I got in the car, reached over and turned on the car radio (still grumbling about those stupid “genealogies”… “Boring, I tell you!!”) The radio happened to be tuned into a Christian radio station… And “as God is my witness” these were the first words out of the mouth of the person who was speaking on radio program… “I used to complain to God about why He ever put the genealogies in the Bible… And one day He spoke these words clearly to my heart, ‘Son, if I cared enough about those people, to include them in my eternal plan, I care about you! You are also an important part of my eternal plan!”

Well, let me put it this way… I’VE NEVER COMPLAINED AGAIN THAT THE “GENEALOGIES” WERE IN THE BIBLE… (In fact, I’ll usually slow down a bit when I’m reading them and try to pronounce every single name! 

A devotional reflection from my Bible reading today using the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan: 2 Kings 25:1-30; Proverbs 23:1-9; Jonah 3:1-10; John 20:19-23; Hebrews 11:13-22

I jotted these notes in the margin of my Bible this morning after reading John 20:19-22…

“A powerful, memorable occasion with Jesus! (And how many of them I have had!) PRECURSOR OF PENTECOST!!”

Here is what the passage says…

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After He said this, He showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’“ (John 10:19-22)

Things looked bad… events were frightening and foreboding. But there had been reports… sightings! Suddenly, in their darkest, fearful moment Jesus showed up and spoke “Peace” to them!! It was really Him!! A wild emotional swing from fear to overflowing joy! One more time… He speaks, “Peace!”… And then His powerful potent commissioning… “As the Father sent me, I am sending you.” And I guess only they would be able to fully explain to us what happened next… “HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!”

I’ve had a few experiences with the Lord that were similar (perhaps not as profound… but just as real!). I want more! I want to treasure those moments… and act on them! Don’t you?!

A devotional reflection based upon a passage of Scripture from my Bible reading today using the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan I developed: 2 Kings 23:31-24:20; Proverbs 22:24-29; Jonah 2:1-10; John 20:11-18; Hebrews 11:8-12

Sometimes we get ourselves into a terrifying situation because of our own rebellion and self-will! We said “No!” to the will of God, paid the fare, and seek to go our own way (see Jonah 1:1-3)! Consequently, we find ourselves in a terrible, frightening state of affairs!

In Jonah’s case it was “the belly of a great fish” appointed by God!

But the good news is that the same God who “sent the fish” is a merciful God and hears sincere, heartfelt, fervent prayers from places like that!

Here it is from my Bible reading today during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish: “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and He answered me! Out of the belly of Sheol [i.e. certain death – even “the grave”] I cried, and You [Oh God] heard my voice! … You brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God! When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to You – into your holy temple! With the voice of thanksgiving I will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay! [Hey, I’ll proclaim it!] SALVATION BELONG TO THE LORD!” (From Jonah 2)

My advice? If you’ve been running away from God… If you’ve been resisting His will… and found yourself in a terrible, terrifying place (the consequences of your self-will) – cry out to the Lord sincerely – seek forgiveness and repent! He’ll mercifully grant it, restore you, and give you another opportunity to obey Him and do His will! He did for Jonah!!