Coffee With The Lord

Testimonial (and encouragement) from an ol’ guy to Christian parents and grandparents today…

I just finished reading 2 Timothy 3:10-17 during my time of “coffee with the Lord” this morning and was reminded of my experience.

I know godly parents (and grandparents) are deeply concerned about the kind of world and culture their children will face as adults. They have every reason to be concerned! The passage I read today prophecies of “the last days”… “Evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived!” (3:13) and the description of the abounding evil of “the last days” in 3:1-5 is frankly frightening! Our children and grandchildren will face a dangerous and evil culture!

But my parents did their best to prepare me for the future I would face. They prioritized keeping me in church, had daily “family altar” (i.e. devotions), insisted that I be taught the Scriptures in our church (and not be “Biblically illiterate), and personally sought to teach and prioritize the values of the Bible at home! Consequently I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior during “family altar” as a small child!

How does the passage say it? “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how FROM CHILDHOOD YOU HAVE BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH THE SACRED SCRIPTURE, WHICH IS ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.” (3:14-15)

And let me tell you what my parents prioritized and practiced worked!!! I am now 77 years of age… I lived for the Lord during my teen years… was tempted (but resisted it) … faltered (but was forgiven) … persecuted for my faith (but was able to stand firm)… faced all kinds of challenges and difficulties (but God has been faithful!)

In fact I’ve proven the truth of 3:16-17… “All Scripture is ‘breathed out’ [“inspired”] by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, THAT THE MAN [OR WOMAN] OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK!”

Thank you Mom and Dad Bartel for your investment in my life! Thank you little church in Ronan, Montana! And most of all… THANK YOU GOD!!!

Does the name Onesiphorus mean anything to you? Probably not in a personal way… But if you’d have had the privilege of a personal conversation with Apostle Paul late in his life – in prison in Rome, just before his martyrdom – He’d have told you just how much this guy and his entire “household” meant to him!

Here’s what Paul had to say about it in 2 Timothy (I just read it in my Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord) this morning…

“You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains! On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus!” (2 Timothy 1:15-18)

People who help others – especially older saints – in their time of loneliness and need are very special! Their concern is like a “cup of cold water” on a hot day to a parched throat! It’s like the healing hand of Jesus extended – more than that – it’s like His loving presence, His comforting voice in their time of deepest need.

Not only did Onesiphorus get involved in helping Paul… he mobilized his entire “household” (likely meaning not just his immediate family, but perhaps implying the “congregation” or the “church” that met in his house) to minister to Paul’s need! They were “the body of Christ” to Paul in his deepest need! How did Jesus Himself say it… “As you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to Me!” (Matthew 25:40, 45) How did the old gospel song put it… “Oh to be His hand extended!”

Oh what a challenge! What an honor to be an “Onesiphorus” kind of person (or a member of a congregation like that) to someone in need! Gotta tell you… I want to be one! And as passionately as I want to be a member of his household… I want to avoid like the plague being like others in the province of Asia… especially like “Phygelus and Hermogenes” who forsook Paul in His time of need… they were ashamed of him… ashamed of “the gospel” (see 2 Timothy 1:8)!

I’ve taken some long road trips… Journeying through a lot of different towns, quite a few states, several different highways, lots of intersections… Plenty of opportunities to get sidetracked, take a wrong turn and just plain get lost. Take it from me… even GPS is fallible (I’ve discovered that the hard way)!!

Life is like that. Every day there are plenty of opportunities to take a wrong road! The passage I read in Proverbs this morning identified two ways… “The way of wisdom – the path of the righteous” – and “the way of the wicked.” And the passage recommends an infallible GPS (Godly-Positioning System) and the reliable and accurate map for dealing with life’s twists and turns, poorly marked roads, tempting (but dangerous) pathways and just plain old ruts and ditches – the Bible. Here’s what the passage says…

“Hear, and accept My words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on… But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (from Proverbs 4:10–19 ESV)

Hey, you know the “rap” on men – on “husbands” and dads don’t you? They are not willing to ask directions or consult a map. Consequently they are continually getting lost and losing valuable time correcting their errors in navigation. I don’t want to be like that on the road of life! Going to pay attention to the Lord! – Going to consult the map – God’s word – the infallible “Godly-Positioning System” !