Coffee With The Lord

I enjoyed a wonderful season of worship this morning at the “church” (the gathering of believers – NOT the building; because a building is NEVER a “church” in Scripture!) I attend and of which I am a part.  The Lord’s presence seemed so real!  The singing was vibrant and heartfelt.  The instrumental support was not simply “performance” – it was done worshipfully, with excellence!  Prayer time was filled with faith and expectancy!  The pastor’s message was God-glorifying and an “echo” of what Scripture teaches!  Opportunity was given for individuals to respond in faith and commitment to the “good news” – the “gospel!”  Oh what a wonderful day – the “Lord’s Day” – the day Christians (followers of Jesus) around the world, have chosen to celebrate and worship God!

And then I recalled my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord” … Psalm 92, entitled “A Song for the Sabbath” – How appropriate for the Christian day of worship – “the Lord’s Day!”

“It is GOOD to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning [that’s what we did this morning!] and your faithfulness by night [that’s what I’m doing right now!]… For You, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy!  How great are your works, O Lord!  Your thoughts are very deep! … The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord!  They flourish in the courts of our God!  They will bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green!  They declare that the Lord is upright!  He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him!” (From Psalm 92 ESV)

Ahh… The Psalm captures my sentiments this Lord’s Day perfectly!  It was another great “Lord’s Day” – A great day worshipping with fellow Christians… And a day reflecting on God’s goodness and greatness at home later in the day!  I just love Sundays… “the Lord’s Day!”

Babies and small children are a special gift from God! Such potential! Such possibilities!
The church body I am a part of “dedicates” children (and their parents) to the Lord. Others practice infant baptism. I could address the theological issues related to each approach but will not. My point today is simply to affirm the fact that I believe there is something powerful – something “prophetic” – in such ceremonies! I believe God honors the words spoken over small children and the commitments that parents or caregivers make in those kinds of occasions. In fact, if I am attending such a ceremony I pay particular attention to words that are spoken and utter a strong “Amen!” whenever possible. If I am conducting (or participating in) such a ceremony, I trust the Lord to guide and prompt my words through the power of the Holy Spirit! I personally believe God can and will guide me prophetically and will honor what is said and affirmed.
Yesterday, during “coffee with the Lord,” I was reminded of this as I read the story of Jesus and his “presentation” at the temple very early in His life. I also read of His development physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually subsequent to that occasion. My belief? Every Christian parent of a small child would desire what the Bible says about Jesus following that “presentation” occasion to be true of their child! Here’s the record…
“And when the time came… they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord… Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And there was a prophetess, Anna… She was advanced in years… she did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him [Jesus] to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem… And they returned into Galilee, to the town town of Nazareth. And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon Him! … And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man!” (From Luke 2:22-52)
Isn’t that what you want for your child… and if you’re a grandparent, for your grandchildren? I believe it is also what you want for the children of your friends and other family members as well! … For them to grow and become strong, filled with wisdom… enjoying the favor of God… Growing physically, emotionally, and spiritually… Becoming all that God created them to be! And if you have a small child and haven’t “presented them to the Lord” yet… May I be one voice urging you to do it… Not because it will “save them” (that will be their personal decision as they are exposed to the Gospel and put their trust in Jesus Christ for themselves), but because God honors such pledges and prophetic blessings. After all, it’s just as much a personal commitment for you as a parent or caregiver to keep them under the influence of the Gospel as it is a presentation of the child!

As Christians living under “grace” and the “New Covenant” we often struggle with how to respond to God’s law. Afraid of “legalism” we often see those who claim to be “followers of Christ” go the opposite extreme… “license” (almost anything goes under the rubric of “freedom” – very little difference can be observed in the lifestyle between the broader culture and “Christ’s followers”).

Today, as a part of my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a wonderful insightful comment on this issue written by Dallas Willard in THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY…

He observed: “If people in our Christian fellowships today were to announce that they had decided to keep God’s law, we would probably be skeptical and alarmed. We probably would take them aside for counseling and possibly alert other responsible people in the group to keep an eye on them. We would be sure nothing good would come of it. We know that one is not SAVED by keeping the law and can think of no other reason why one should try to do it.

“This leaves us caught in a strange inversion of the work of the Judaizing teachers who dogged the footsteps of Apostle Paul in New Testament days… As they wanted to add obedience to ritual law to faith in Christ, we want to subtract moral law from faith in Christ. HOW TO COMBINE FAITH WITH OBEDIENCE IS SURELY THE ESSENTIAL TASK OF THE CHURCH AS IT ENTERS THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.”

You know what? Looking around at contemporary Christian culture, I think Dallas Willard got absolutely right! May we hear clearly once again the words of Christ our Lord and Savior, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished! Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)