Coffee With The Lord

Two interfacing passages today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” that make a very important point and teach a powerful truth… Psalm 130 and Luke 18:35-43

If you see answers to prayer as “spiritual entitlement” you just don’t understand the way God works! We are ALWAYS the recipients of mercy and grace! Our appeal is always based upon those two things and the Lord’s character – “His steadfast love!” We never “demand” – but we are encouraged to “appeal!”

Consequently, let me give a word of caution to my “faith healer” / “faith formula” friends from an ol’ guy who has regularly prayed for the sick to be healed (James 5:13-15) and seen God graciously answer with miraculous healing. Healing in Scripture is NEVER a matter of “spiritual entitlement!” Instead, most often it is the gracious response from God to this cry uttered in faith… “HAVE MERCY UPON ME…!”

Check out the following Psalm and then compare it with the Scriptural “case study”…

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! Oh Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my PLEAS FOR MERCY! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared! I wait for the Lord! My soul waits, and IN HIS WORD I HOPE! … Hope in the Lord! For with the Lord THERE IS STEADFAST LOVE, and with Him is plentiful redemption!” (From Psalm 130 ESV)

And then read and reflect on the “case study” I read this morning during my devotions… Luke 18:35-43 (and believe me, not the only one in Scripture!)…

It is the story of “a blind man sitting by the roadside.” His urgent appeal? “Jesus, Son of David, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” People tried to quiet him, but “He cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” No sense of “spiritual entitlement” here!!! Jesus heard his cry and responded to him, healing him! In fact Jesus told him, “Recover your sight, YOUR FAITH [expressed in an urgent appeal for MERCY] has made you well!” And he followed Jesus “glorifying God!”

Hey, a reputation for kindness gets around and is rewarded… Ask Ruth. Boaz noticed! “All you have done for your mother-in-law … has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before… THE LORD REPAY YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND A FULL REWARD BE GIVEN YOU BY THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, UNDER WHOSE WINGS YOU HAVE COME TO TAKE REFUGE!” (Ruth 2:11-12)

Do you live in a small community and attend a church with just a few people? Ever feel like because of that your influence is insignificant and your impact on world evangelism is unimportant? I’ve been reading Apostle Paul’s challenge to Christians living in a small community just like that – Colossians 4:2-6!

Colossae was a small community in the ancient Roman province of Asia (the area now called Turkey) on the banks of the Lycus River. At one time Colossae had been a city of considerable importance. However changes in commercial patterns and needs brought about the decline of its importance and size. Someone has said, that the Colossian church was “the least important church to which any epistle of Paul was addressed” (Lightfoot, 16).

To believers in this small town and little congregation Apostle Paul urged THREE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION SIGNIFICANT (I’ll feature the final one of the three today) …

FIRST, SUSTAINED INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS IMPORTANT! (COLOSSIANS 4:2-3A)

NEXT, PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL IS CRITICAL. (COLOSSIANS 4:3B-4)

FINALLY, YOUR PUBLIC LIFE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT WITNESS! (COLOSSIANS 4:5-6)

Paul also recognized the importance of the consistent Christian living and personal witness of the believers who lived and worshipped in Colossae! He urged the believers there to “make the most of every opportunity.” Paul also challenged them to be careful about their everyday conversations. He realized that the quality of their lives and graciousness of their words were as important to the success and spread of the gospel in Colossae and around the world as his own apostolic mission!

Hey, your daily life is vitally important to the Lord! Those who don’t know the Lord watch Christians in their neighborhoods closely. They listen carefully to our words. If we are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading we will have daily opportunities to minister to the needs of our neighbors and share Christ with them. Think of yourself as an ambassador for the King of Kings, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). You represent Him and His kingdom! Your task is to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to further the cause of Christ in your neighborhood and world!