Coffee With The Lord

When you were a child growing up how did you know when something was really important? How did the important people in your life communicate that to you? Was it their tone of voice? Did they put their hand on your arm and establish contact with you? How did you know when you needed to pay very close attention?

Now that you’re an adult, how do you know when it’s important? When you’re reading a document, is it words all in “caps” or in bold print like: “NOTE THIS” or “IMPORTANT?” Is it much like when you were a child, a change in volume or tone of voice? Is it a threat you hear or consequences that are spelled out? What is it that gets your attention – what makes you heed what is being said?

The “Gospel” is an important message! In fact, it is a life-or-death matter! Our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we pay attention to it – whether or not we believe it and structure our lives around it! We cannot afford to ignore it, lose sight of its importance, or forget it! I don’t know what more God could have done to emphasize to us how vitally important it is! Here is what the inspired writer of Hebrews had to say about its importance…

“Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away! For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty, HOW WILL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT SUCH A GREAT SALVATION? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:1–4 the NET Bible)

So many messages in the world in which you and I live that are clamoring for a hearing! All kinds of techniques are used every day to capture our attention. Some messages are more important than others. The message of the gospel, however, is one proclamation I cannot afford to ignore! It’s critically important to me personally! It’s important to every member of my family! It’s important to each of my friends and neighbors and all the people I work with. In fact, it’s an essential message for every person on planet earth! I’m going to give it my focused attention! I never want to lose sight of it! And I’m going to do everything in my power to see that it is communicated by every effective means available to the whole wide world! Help me Lord!!!

Secret disciples – People who have come to believe that Jesus is “the real deal” – but are reluctant to take a public stand for Him – confess Him publicly – and live their lives openly as a Christ follower! It’s called “hiding your light under a bushel” (Matthew 5:15-16)

There’s a lot of em! I meet them all the time… You have an honest, heartfelt, unguarded conversation with them and it comes out – “Yup, deep down in my heart I think Jesus is real! I believe He is who He claimed to be! I try to be a good person and do what I think would please Him. But I don’t want to offend others who believe differently… I don’t want to lose my job or ruin my chances for advancement… I don’t want to force my beliefs on other people.”

Question is… What would Jesus think of that? How would the One who publicly went to the cross and died for their sin have to say about that kind of approach to “following Jesus?”

Well, I read a passage this morning in the Bible that gives us some idea, I think… Here’s what the passage has to say…

“Despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him… Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God!” (from John 12:37–43 NLT)

That’s the way it is sometimes… and it’s tragic! Especially when you consider what Jesus himself said in another place…

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” (from Matthew 10:32–33 NLT, see also Luke 12:8-9)

You see, that’s one of the reasons why, in discipleship – in deciding to “follow Jesus” – water baptism is required! It’s kind of a public acknowledgement of your faith and “follower-ship” of Christ – a kind of “coming out party” for those who claim to be Christians… And it’s necessary! It’s essential!

So here’s my advice based upon what the Bible says… “Man up” (or “Woman up”)! Come out of the closet and stop being “a secret disciple of Jesus” for fear of others (or whatever other reason you give)! Jesus would be pleased! Others would be influenced to follow Him! God would be honored! Authentic discipleship would go better for you – regardless of what it would cost you personally… How did Jesus say it… “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (from Matthew 10:39; 16:25-26 NLT)

As we enter the next election cycle (and each time the campaigning seems to start earlier), and the discussions begin about who would be the best person to serve as president of the United States. I’ve given a lot of serious thought and prayer about that issue (and listened to a lot of opinions on the subject). People offering their name for consideration on the Republican side abound. Names on the Democratic side seem to be increasing.

This morning during “Coffee with the Lord” I spent a significant amount of time reflecting on that subject, praying about it, and reading my Bible (I read Daniel 4 – an “open letter” from a pagan king… you ought to read it!). I guess the tone of the recent Republican debate also sparked my thinking… Here’s some personal perspective (and I want to keep names out of my consideration today).

We all want someone who is “electable” because in our form of government those who serve must be able to attract the support of large numbers of people. I’d of course prefer someone who is “a born-again, Bible believing, “Christian values embracing” person, but I know that is not always possible (and even in the Bible some great leaders did not fit that profile).

But if I have a choice (and I do as an American) here are some voter guidelines and principles for me…

• I want the person I vote for as much as is possible to share my basic Judeo-Christian values. (And a big one for me is they must not be a “liar” – I want someone who shoots straight, tells the truth, doesn’t shift blame and accepts responsibility for their actions and decisions).
• I want someone who is “conservative” (not only fiscally conservative – even more important to me, they must be a social conservative).
• Any candidate I would vote for must be anti-abortion and pro-protection of the unborn in the womb. They must also be pro-traditional marriage and oppose same sex marriage. These are litmus tests for me.
• But I want compassion too – In fact, in the last election cycle I really liked the term “compassionate conservative!” (In fact, I wish we’d hear and see more of that!)
• For me, arrogance, rude behavior, and the misrepresentation of other candidate’s positions and records are disqualifying characteristics in a candidate. “Speaking out” must never morph into “meanness!” It’s possible to be “steel under velvet.”
• On defense, they must understand that one of their greatest responsibilities is “keeping America safe.”
• I want someone who defends “religious freedom” as the framers of our constitution would have understood it… not freedom FROM religion, but freedom OF religion.
• And finally, when we face a national crisis of any kind, I want a candidate who would not hesitate to call the nation to prayer and personally lead the way by bending their knee to Almighty God.

This is NOT a complete list of my principles… but it is where I ended up this morning. Perhaps it will be helpful to you as we move toward electing our next president.