Coffee With The Lord

I’m always impressed by what Scripture has to say about those who respond positively, submissively, and obediently to the Lord’s discipline! It just NEVER turns out bad! Its not pleasant, but it’s ALWAYS profitable (check out Hebrews 12:1-13)!

Today in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I read the following words about those who experienced the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple – of those who experienced the pain of exile in Babylon. Here was God’s promise to those who responded positively to His discipline…

“At that time I will be the God of all the clans of Israel and they will be my people. I, the LORD, affirm it!” The LORD says, “The people of Israel who survived death at the hands of the enemy will find favor in the wilderness as they journey to find rest for themselves. In a far-off land the LORD will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you. I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel, so that you will once again be built up. Once again you will take up the tambourine and join in the happy throng of dancers. Once again you will plant vineyards…and enjoy their fruit… Hear what the LORD has to say, O nations. Proclaim it in the faraway lands along the sea. Say, “The one who scattered Israel will regather them. He will watch over his people like a shepherd watches over his flock.” … They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be radiant with joy over the good things the LORD provides… They will be like a well-watered garden and will not grow faint or weary any more. The LORD says, “At that time young women will dance and be glad. Young men and old men will rejoice. I will turn their grief into gladness. I will give them comfort and joy in place of their sorrow… My people will be filled to the full with the good things I provide.” (from Jeremiah 31:1–14 the NET Bible)

So here’s the deal… If deep in your heart you feel like you’ve been experiencing the pain and stress of God’s discipline – you know that you’ve messed up and failed Him and are suffering the consequences… Hang in there, acknowledge your sin, submit to the Lord, do what He tells you, learn what He’s trying to teach you, depend on the loving character of your Heavenly Father, and expect him to fulfill the truth embedded in Jeremiah 31:1-14 on your behalf… Depend on it – He will!!

I’ve been a prof for a long time and had a lot of students… Let me tell you, It’s a lot of fun and very gratifying to get things right!  I’ve seen happy dances, fist pumps, and high fives… I’ve heard shouts of joy, “yahoo’s.” and sheer exclamations of unutterable ecstasy (almost sounded like “speaking in tongues” … might have been).  It really feels good to get things right… especially when someone with experience and expertise says you got it right!

There’s an account in the Bible that tells a story like that… I read it this morning…

“Now one of the experts in the law asked him (Jesus), ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?”  Jesus answered, ‘The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’  The expert in the law said to him, ‘That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that He is one, and there is no one else besides Him.  And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices!’  When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God!’” (Mark 12:28–34 the NET Bible)

Now the “expert in the Law” was a smart guy… but he got it right when he answered Jesus, the Son of God, the source of all wisdom!  And Jesus said so… “You are not far from the kingdom of God!”

Believe me, I want to get the answer to that question right as well!  I want to KNOW what is most important!  Not only do I want to know it… God help me live by it!  Embrace it!  Act on it!  It think that’s probably what Jesus meant by the expert being “near the Kingdom” – he probably was right in theory… but probably hadn’t fully acted on it yet!  Oh, I want to believe it and act on it!  God help me to “love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and with all my strength!” … And then “love my neighbor as myself!”  I’m confident if I do, one day I’ll hear the words I want to hear from the One that really matters… “Well done, good and faithful servant!”  And then you talk about happy dances and fist pumps… (You’ll want to be there to see it!!)

I spent my morning reflecting on these words from 2 Timothy 3:14-17…

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because know those from whom you learned it, and hwo from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

They prompted the following are comments that I intend to share with the graduates at SAGU later today…

From my own personal experience let me highlight 10 things I believe God’s Word, the Bible, will do in your life if you prioritize it… practice it… and put it within your heart…

1. Gain perspective: God’s Word will give you an accurate perspective on your life and the circumstances of life you’ll face… (God’s perspective) Without it your view of things is jaded, distorted, and out of balance… You only see from the perspective of time – not eternity.
2. Guidance: The psalmist observed… “Your word is a lamp unto my feet – a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105) In all the decisions of life I’ve discovered the principles and clear instruction of Scripture is a reliable guide. It guides my decision making.
3. Success: After the death of Moses, Joshua’s mentor, God spoke directly to Joshua and assured him with these words… “Keep this book always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, be careful to do everything written in it… Then you will be prosperous and successful! – Joshua 1:8
4. Conviction and Cleansing: My mother liked to quote this adage, “This book will keep you from sin – or sin will keep you from this book” … The psalmist posed a key question for young people in our culture…“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word”… Then he responded with this affirmation: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you!” Psalm 119:9-11)
5. Encouragement/comfort: In every crisis and circumstance I’ve faced, I have experienced the uplifting character of God’s word… It’s always there to provide the support, encouragement, and comfort I’ve needed… In a soul shaking, terrifying experience filled will foreboding, there is NOTHING… NOTHING like God’s Word)
6. Strength & Spiritual sustenance: My Bible is what I call “Necessary food!” – I embrace the testimony of Job – who declared long before there was a written Bible… “I have esteemed the words of your mouth more than my necessary food!” (Job 23:12); Peter advised new Christians… “Like newborn babes, desire the pure spiritual milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” – 1 Peter 2:2
7. Values to guide (and anchor) my life: I must say, the values that Scripture teaches, that the Bible elevates and articulates, are the reliable, core ethical standards that contradict what a corrupting culture embraces and act to preserve and promote Godly living in the face of a world that, without Christ is hell-bound, and rotting at its core.
8. Convictions: Reading and embracing what the Scripture teaches, for me, has produced within me, deep, rock solid, circumstance resisting, temptation overcoming, life foundation producing convictions! I’ve chosen to build my house of the solid rock of Biblical convictions – not the shifting sand of human opinion and disobedience! And the Bible assures me when the storms of life have come and gone, my house will still be standing! (Matthew 7:24-27)
9. Core attitudes that influence everything I do – every decision I make: Ah, here they are, well-known within the pages of Scripture – reliable core attitudes that can positively influence every atom of life – every micro-second of human existence from here to heaven… Faith, Hope, Love… How did Apostle Paul say it… “For now we know in part … but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears! When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face! Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love! (1 Corinthians 13:9-13)
10. Finally, Your message and ministry comes from God’s word! Listen “Effective ministry flows from a full reservoir – So keep your reservoir full! I’ve discovered if I fill my mind and heart each day with God’s word – A time each day that I call “Coffee with the Lord” – I always have something good to share with others! God’s word provides the content and basis for my message and ministry – without it, I have nothing significant to say. I am my best when I am simply an “echo” of what He has already said in His word!)