Coffee With The Lord

This morning I had “Coffee with the Lord” while traveling back from Colorado Springs… Consequently not a long post, but I think a thought provoking one, nevertheless…

Was reminded in my Bible reading today of the stark contrast between Jonah’s response to God’s call and commission and Philip’s in the Book of Acts.

Jonah rebelled and ran the opposite direction (Read Jonah 1:1-3)

Philip heard the Lord’s call and obeyed, overcoming racial prejudice and personal inconvenience to do God’s will…

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him… Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:26–35 ESV)

What a stark difference in responses! What a contrast in attitudes! What different consequences and outcomes for Jonah and Philip! My prayer? Oh Lord, may I be as quick and enthusiastic in my response to your call and guidance as Philip!

I looked at PJ, my son… something was wrong, I could tell it… it was written all over his face! I asked him, “What’s wrong PJ? Tell me what’s wrong!”

Nothing’s wrong Daddy! Nothing’s wrong!” as he held his hand with his other hand.

“Let me look at your hand PJ!” I insisted, “Let me look at your hand!” And finally… reluctantly he let me look at his hand… A sliver and a deep one as well! “PJ, let Daddy take out that sliver!”

“No! No! No!” he cried as he yanked his hand away! There was no way he was going to let me touch that hand!

I warned him, “Son, if I don’t take out that sliver, it will become infected and very painful! Now is the time to take out the sliver… it will be better if I do!” But He wouldn’t let me touch it…

His dad was right…

Thought of that episode in the experience of parenting (an episode many parents – and children – remember vividly and identify with) as I read this verse as part of my Bible reading today…

“Whoever conceals his (or her) transgressions WILL NOT PROSPER! But he who confesses (i.e. acknowledges) and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)

It’s painful to acknowledge your failure and sin! It’s embarrassing! Feeling shame is no fun… but neither is what happens when you fail to deal with sin in your life! Take it from me… It doesn’t get any better… In fact, things get worse! You try to hide it, you refuse to acknowledge it… and guilt piles up… deceptive techniques become a way of life… and instead of going away, sinful practices multiply and spin out of control!

Why not acknowledge it to the Heavenly Father, accept his forgiveness, and seek the help of fellow “recovering sinners” who will accept you, love you, support you and hold you accountable?

Here’s a wonderful promise… “If we confess (i.e. acknowledge) our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!” (1 John 1:9) How do I know? I’ve had to do that on more than one occasion!

Tomorrow I’ll do something I delight to do… TEACH God’s Word to some students preparing for Christian service! Few things are as gratifying to me as structuring a learning experience designed to help someone discover what the Bible teaches, implement it, and then see the light come on in their eyes as they experience insight and then finally apply the truth to their lives. I LOVE to see discovery and insight happen!! I don’t know how to say this appropriately so I’ll just say it… Seeing someone experience an “aha moment” in the study of God’s word “turns me on!” – It’s not heaven, but it comes close! I love to teach!!!

Yet today, in my Bible reading during “Coffee with the Lord,” I had a sobering moment… The Bible says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers (and sisters) for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness!” (James 3:1 ESV)

Teachers have got to be willing to accept the added burden of not only speaking truth, but living it! Teachers have got to realize it’s not enough to explain truth… our lives must model it! God helping me, I never want distort truth either with my words OR my life! I want the learning experiences I structure to not only be cognitive (lead to the intellectual grasp of truth) or the love and appreciation of truth (the affective embrace of truth)… I want desperately to be a living case study and example of the truth I teach (a behavioral model leading the way to the discipled life)!

Oh God help my teaching ministry to be more than “Blah, blah, blah” – words, words words and more words!” Help me take others by the hand and lead them to authentically follow in the footsteps of Jesus! Although it sobers me, I’ll accept the additional responsibility of being a teacher! I love to teach!