Coffee With The Lord

I was participating in a gathering of Christian leaders and my anger and frustration were mounting. The conversations had been about how to better do the Lord’s work. But there were a couple of participants in the group that were dominating the conversation and it was clear they were using the opportunity for self-promotion! Every time they chimed in it seemed like everything they said seemed to be about them. It seemed clear they wanted to be thought of as the most experienced, the best informed, the most intelligent and talented. I left the circle of conversation disgusted and angry… and I was not alone, the comments of others who were there read the signals the same way… They were very much into self-promotion!

Then I went home and experienced the Lord’s conviction… It seemed like the Lord whispered to my heart as I stewed over the previous experience… “LeRoy, have you ever been guilty of the yielding to the temptation to subtle self-promotion? Have you ever forgotten about exalting Me and shifted the focus to yourself – your opinions, your perspective, your gifts, your abilities, your wisdom, your agenda?” Ouch! That hurt! But I had to admit to the Lord that I’d been guilty!

I’m not talking about self-respect here… self-respect is a healthy thing and is anchored in our awareness that we are God’s creation, God’s child, and have something we can contribute to the cause of Christ and meeting the needs of others with the gifts and abilities God has given us…

In my Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of the great example John the Baptist provides for us all and the important principle his words teach us…

Some of the followers of John approached him one day and tried to pit him against Jesus… They said to him “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness – look, he is baptizing and all are going to him!” (Temptation for competition and self-promotion enter right there! John could have yielded to it – but he didn’t… He knew who Jesus was!) Instead John resisted and taught all of us who follow Jesus and serve Him a great lesson…

“John answered, ‘a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven! You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ (in other words he understood who Christ was and who he was… He had a healthy understanding of his role – in fact he referred to himself in the passage simply as “the friend of the bridegroom.”) Then John declared an important principle and he taught us an important lesson by his example… He declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease!” (from John 3:25-30)

Oh, I’ve got to tell you; I want to overcome the tendency – the temptation – to self-promotion! I want to live a Christ promoting, Christ exalting life! Don’t you? In the inspired words of John… “He must increase – I must decrease!”

Today I’m experiencing some nostalgia… The University where I’ve taught and been associated with as an administrator for the past 30 years is preparing for another academic year with something every educator understands… “in-service!” And here I am in Western Montana adjusting to something called “retirement!” (Now that doesn’t mean I’m going to allow myself to be “shelved” or become a mossy relic! No way! I’ve committed myself to teach some distance ed, teach some graduate seminars, supervise the projects/dissertations of some doctoral students, take some Bible conferences, and overseas teaching missions… even write a textbook.) But my relationship with the University has changed.

Back to “nostalgia” … I’m sitting here in Montana thinking about all the wonderful students I’ve had the privilege of investing in over these 30 years… There a thousands of them! They’re all over the world! Many of them hold high positions in various organizations, others lead large churches, they’re in places of influence, and my fervent prayer is that all of them are serving the Lord with all of their heart in the power of the Holy Spirit!

In my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I read a Scripture this ol’ prof would like to send their way … Kind of a “charge” or “challenge” that I borrowed from Apostle Paul. I’d like to make it my challenge today to all of my former students (or anyone else for that matter who is involved somehow “in the Lord’s work”…

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness! For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come… Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (from 1 Timothy 4:7–16 ESV)

Yesterday, my brother Wes and I, climbed to the summit of Columbia Mountain in Western Montana near Columbia Falls – a challenging, but beautiful hike of about 12 miles round trip. The trail winds through beautiful forest, crosses a refreshing mountain creek, features a beautiful waterfall, and all along the way – but especially at the summit – affords a stunning view of the entire Flathead Valley in Western Montana.

About ¾ of the way up the mountain I just couldn’t resist it anymore… We stopped together at a turn in the trail, rested a moment, and I read the passage that happened to be a part of my devotions that morning… Psalm 148 – one of the great “Hallel (Praise the Lord!) Psalms!” We reflected on the wonderful truth it expresses… had a few moments of worship and continued on with praise in our hearts to the Lord the rest of the way up the mountain. Here’s the Psalm…

“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for His people who are near to him. Praise the LORD!”

So here’s the deal… Every morning when the sun pushes out the night and awakens the dawn… every evening when it sets and the night sky is filled with stars in doxology on the day… every squirrel that scampers across the path… every deer standing silently in a mountain meadow… every pine and poplar along the trail… the gurgling brook and the cascading water fall… even the delicate tapestry of a leaf on a mountain oak… and two brothers traversing a mountain trail heading to a summit where the view takes your breath away… these all become a reason… no, more than that, an imperative… to praise the Lord, our Creator God! And believe me, that is what we did!