Coffee With The Lord

You’ve seen the “before and after” pictures… An old dilapidated house – once beautiful, well furnished, and cared for – but now neglected, bearing the effects of weather and decline, ugly and in disrepair. But someone buys it, sees potential in it, a sign goes up indicating it is a “restoration project”, a contractor” has obtained it and a miracle begins to take shape before your very eyes. Months later… “Open House” is advertised and you visit… Your mouth drops open, there are “Oohs and Ahhs,” … It’s beautiful! The original grandeur of the place has been restored, perhaps even surpassed!

It can happen to a life! It can happen to a church! It can happen to a city and even a nation! God is the “master restorer!” He has the resources – the “capital” to make the necessary investment! He has the time and patience (and it often takes time and patience). He has the skill and the plan (he can see beauty in the most wasted and neglected things that sin has ravaged)! I read about it this morning in the Bible…

“O LORD, you showed favor to your land; you restored the well-being of Jacob. You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people; you forgave all their sin… Restore us, O God our deliverer! … Will you not revive us once more? Then your people will rejoice in you! O LORD, show us your loyal love! Bestow on us your deliverance! 8 I will listen to what God the LORD says. For he will make peace with his people… Yet they must not return to their foolish ways. Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; then his splendor will again appear in our land! Loyal love and faithfulness meet! Deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss! Faithfulness grows from the ground! And deliverance looks down from the sky! Yes, the LORD will bestow his good blessings! Deliverance goes before him, and prepares a pathway for him.” (from Psalm 85 the NET Bible)

So take heart! The “master restorer” can make what has been wasted by sin into something beautiful again! He can! He has the resources, the ability, the patience and the plan! Just hand him the deed to the property!!

Those who love the Lord know the peace, the joy, the deep and satisfying fulfillment His presence brings in their lives! There is nothing like it! It’s the place you want to be! It’s your “heart home” at the deepest level! Being in His presence – sharing it with fellow Christians – being aware that He is there with you and among you… just nothing better!

In wonderful poetic and picturesque language, one of the ancient Korahite poets (a priestly group in the Old Testament) captured it perfectly…

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL! I desperately want to be in the courts of the LORD’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God! Even the birds find a home there, and the swallow builds a nest, where she can protect her young near your altars, O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL, my king and my God! How blessed are those who live in your temple and praise you continually! How blessed are those who find their strength in you, and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple! … Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.” (from Psalm 84 in the NET Bible)

I mean, picture it! Imagine it! The psalmist says even the little bird – the swallow – who somehow finds a way to build her nest somewhere near the “Holiest of all” in the temple area is incredibly privileged! That little bird is pictured as instinctively understanding the specialness of that place – the place where God manifests His presence!

Oh, I identify! How wonderful is the profound awareness of His presence! Alone, early in the morning during “coffee with the Lord!”…or somewhere out during the activities of the day! …or when meeting with fellow Christian in prayer, worship, Bible study or Christian service… To suddenly be aware of His presence! It’s something I cherish… something I long for!

I hesitated to post this today in “coffee with the Lord” simply because I try to focus on positive, uplifting things from my devotional time.  However, the passage I’m reflecting upon today was a part of my Bible reading and is a part of God’s inspired word so I will comment on it!

The vitriolic and hatred throughout the centuries against the nation of Israel, whom God chose in a special way to bring His revelation to the world and our Savior, is no new thing!  Throughout human history they have experienced the hatred and destructive designs of evil rulers and nations.  The Canaanites, Assyria, Babylon, Hitler and others were guilty in the past.  And today; ISIS, Iran, and others have joined their evil ranks.  Anti-Semitism is growing at a terrifying rate in our world and should provoke the concern and prayers of every Bible-believing Christian!

The historic promise of the Living God regarding Israel?  “The Lord said to Abram… ‘I will make you into a great nation!  And I will bless you and will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing!  I will bless those who bless you, but the one who curses you I will curse!  And all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

It is against that backdrop I read these words this morning in the Bible…

“O God, do not be silent! Do not ignore us! Do not be inactive, O God!  For look, Your enemies are making a commotion; those who hate You are hostile.  They carefully plot against your people, and make plans to harm the ones you cherish.  They say, ‘Come on, let’s annihilate them so they are no longer a nation! Then the name of Israel will be remembered no more.’  Yes, they devise a unified strategy; they form an alliance against You!’” (Psalm 83:1–5 the NET Bible)

Listen, I am not of the group that says, “Israel can do no wrong!” – History (biblical history) has proven otherwise!  I’ll let the Lord settle the score on those matters (and He has proven Himself well able to do that… check out the major and minor prophets in your Bible)!  But I’m tell you, I would not want to align myself or be on the side of those who hate Israel and desire or plot its destruction when God judges!

My prayer today?  That Israel would accept her Messiah… the Lord Jesus Christ!