Coffee With The Lord

At times, like you, I nearly despair over the condition of things in our world and nation… Rampant evil, unbridled violence, malignant injustice, growing godlessness and more. It causes one to cry out, “What is this world coming to?!”

The “Day of the Lord” is coming! A time when God intervenes, judges sin, deals with Satan, and comes back to take over and establish His kingdom. In the face of all that is discouraging, I read an encouraging word about the future of things in the Bible during “Coffee with the Lord” today…

“Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake! Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you!” Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in the wilderness. The dry soil will become a pool of water, the parched ground springs of water. Where jackals once lived and sprawled out, grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow. A thoroughfare will be there— it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it— fools will not stray into it. No lions will be there, no ferocious wild animals will be on it— they will not be found there. Those delivered from bondage will travel on it, those whom the Lord has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout! Unending joy will crown them! Happiness and joy will overwhelm them! Grief and suffering will disappear.” (Isaiah 35:3–10 from the NET Bible)

So I’m going to take Isaiah’s word for it (above) and Apostle’s Paul’s word for it (below)… “I consider that our present suffering cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us… Creation itself will be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children!” (Romans 8:18, 21 NET Bible)

Until then I purpose to be redemptively involved in the world I live in with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ… AND I’m going to lift my eyes toward the heavens often and tune my ear for the sound of a heavenly trumpet!

Heard someone who called themselves a “Christian” the other day say the following about a fellow Christian (a newer… perhaps “unseasoned” and idealistic new Christian)… They don’t like what I’m doing? They’ll just have to deal with it! I’m free in Christ!!

To which comment I thought… Now that’s really the spirit and attitude of Christ! Tragedy is, that person thought of themselves more “mature” than the new Christian… more informed! (My opinion? I think the issue of who was the more “mature” and “informed” perhaps had gotten confused and turned around!)

Today during my time of “coffee with the Lord”I read the following passage in my Bible and it brought to mind the conversation I overheard referred to earlier…

“Therefore we must…determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister… If your brother or sister is distressed because of [any exercise of your personal freedom] you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy [by your freedom] someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God does not consist of [the exercise of your personal freedom], but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people. So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. Do not destroy the work of God [by insisting on your freedom]. It is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you [do]. It is good not to…do anything that causes your brother (or sister) to stumble!” (Romans 14:13–22 NET Bible) (the words in brackets are mine and applicational0

It’s nice to have freedom in Christ. But a truly “mature” Christian will evidence the attitude of Christ… “Who was concerned not only about His own interests but also the interests of others… Who emptied Himself by taking on the form of a slave… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!” (adapted from Philippians 2:4-11) … And He did that for us! Self-limitation for the benefit of another is a GODLY thing – a Christlike thing!… God help me never forget it!!

I don’t have much time for a post today because I’m traveling from APTS (Asia Pacific Theological Seminary) in Baguio, Philippines to Manila where tomorrow I’ll catch a plane to Tokyo and then on to Dallas and HOME!

But let me say that I am always incredibly impressed with Joseph in the Bible and his positive attitude! All kinds of really “bad” things in the natural happened to him and yet he found a way to keep a positive attitude generated by his faith in God. As I read my Bible in the van on the way to Manilla today I noticed this wonderful positive expression of faith even in the naming of his sons…

“Two sons were born to Joseph before the famine came… Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, ‘Certainly God has made me forget all my trouble and all my fatherʼs house.’ He named the second child Ephraim, saying, ‘Certainly God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’” (Genesis 41:50-53 the NET Bible)

Did you pick up on the repeated phrase? … “Certainly God has made me… 1) forget all my trouble.” and 2) “made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

I gotta tell you, I want to have that kind of confidence in the God who can “make all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)