Coffee With The Lord

Freedom!  No longer in bondage!

The good news is, we don’t have to live in bondage to self and sin any longer!  We can live a life of moral freedom.

The world’s lie is that doing the things the Bible forbids is freedom… Surprise! Surprise!! Surprise!!!  That leads to bondage, guilt, and regrets.  More than that, it leads to death!

Christ offers freedom… moral and spiritual freedom.  Serving the Lord is freedom!!  One day after another moving out of bondage and into the adventure of freedom in Christ!  I read about it this morning in the Bible… (the quotes a bit long but savor it as you read it…)

“What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?  Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?… We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him… So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.  For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!  Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness? … Having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness… Just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification… Now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life!  For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!!” (from Romans 6:1–23 NET Bible)

I’m determined to experience the “payoff!”  I want to explore every aspect and dimension of “freedom in Christ” available to me!  Don’t you?  Living in freedom!!

This morning as I read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of the good, godly people I know and how God has blessed them.

Most of these wonderful people would not think of themselves as “good” (although everyone who is around them, and knows them, certainly would!). They exemplify the best in human virtue. They understand and insist that any goodness they have comes from the Lord’s influence within their lives. They are a blessing to their spouse (if they have one), their family, their friends and business associates, their church and their entire community (they’re even a blessing to their enemies)! Some of them are preachers… but the great majority of the ones I know are humble, godly laypeople.

These people, according to Matthew, are “the poor in Spirit (i.e. they understand that apart from God they are nothing – they are in spiritual poverty), they mourn, they’re meek, they hunger and thirst for righteousness, they’re merciful, they are pure in heart, they’re the peacemakers, they’ve been persecuted for righteousness sake, they’ve had people say all kinds of evil things about them falsely” (and they’ve blessed their persecutors in return). Good, godly people by the grace of God! “Blessed” people! A blessing to me and everyone around them and blessed by God!

This morning during my time of devotions I came up with a personal list of about ten that I know (I am sure there are more that will come to mind). I’m going to first of all thank God for them! But secondly, I’m determined that I’m going to find a time, place and way to personally express to them my admiration and appreciation. And finally? I want their example to impact my life! I want to be like them, don’t you?”

I’m impressed this morning by “the ripple effect” – one small stone in a quiet pool can impact the entire body of water. I know you’ve seen it. The stone drops… the ripples spread everywhere!

And a single, significant life – the life of the Lord Jesus Christ – has impacted powerfully the whole world! I read about the early stages of His ministry this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…

“Jesus went throughout all of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people. So a report about Him spread… People brought to Him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions… and He healed them! And large crowds followed Him…” (from Matthew 4:23-25) The “Stone” has been dropped into the pool of humanity…

At the end of His earthly ministry, after His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus appeared to His followers and said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you!” And when He had said this He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:21-22)

Apostle Paul referred to those who follow Jesus as “the body of Christ!” Now we are His hands, His feet, His voice, His healing presence in our world (the “pool”) – and our task is re-present Him in our world in the power of the Holy Spirit without distortion… to continue the ministry He began! (Which incidentally, is the story began, and was unfinished, in the book of Acts in the Bible.)

The “ripple effect” – the Stone has dropped into the pool! Watch the ripples spread! (Oh help us Lord!)