Coffee With The Lord

During “Coffee with the Lord” this morning I was reminded… I need cleansing! More than just a surface cleansing (like you’d clean a window or a dish – or even like when you wash your hands or take a bath or shower)! I need “inside-out cleansing” – a complete purification! A cleansing that happens when a purifying agent enters an material and acts within it to drive out all impurities!

That’s is what David prayed for in Psalm 51 … and that is what I want! Clean mind! Pure heart! Right motives! This is how David expressed it (read it from the NET Bible in a fresh way…)

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts! Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. Against you—you above all—I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me. Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom. Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! … Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! … Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit— O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject! (from Psalm 51 (NET Bible)

That’s my prayer today (not because I’ve done anything overtly evil – I just need it… I need it often)! David’s words have become mine! I want to be clean “inside-out” … The “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit!” (Titus 3:5) The “washing of water by His word!” (Ephesians 5:26); The cleansing power of His blood! The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit! My repentance! My acknowledgement (i.e. “confession”) of sin! His cleansing… inside and out!

People seek security in all kinds of things. As I read the Bible this morning I came across this analysis of two typical “security seekers”…

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower! The righteous person runs into it and is safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.” (Proverbs 18:10-11)

Take your pick! I’m going to seek my security in life in the steadfast love, promises and character (i.e. the “name”) of the Lord! I’ve discovered that “wealth” is not reliable – it can evaporate and disappear over night depending on the circumstances and situation… and you can’t take it with you when you die! I think I’m going to seek to follow the advice of Jesus… “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal! You cannot serve God and money! (Matthew 6:19-20, 24)

She had experienced enough of his unfaithful, abusive behavior. It had been one adulterous affair after another, lies, and then demeaning, cruel tirades… even bruises and black eyes! Then came the empty promises… I’ll never do it again! I’m so sorry… I just lost it for a minute! Please don’t turn me in!” She sought counsel, she prayed, …and she packed up her bags and left for a safe house. No woman should have to put up with this! She loved him but she had suffered enough. Her life and the life of the children were in danger.

It’s a hypothetical story, but I can tell you as a pastor it describes a sad reality in our culture that has happened over and over again! Sometimes the “reality therapy” of leaving has a positive result… the offender repents, turns to God, seeks help and changes!

This issue came to mind as a read another sad story in the Bible this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…

God speaking… “I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore; Israel is defiled. Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the LORD…

“With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them. They have dealt faithlessly with the LORD!

“I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me!” (Hosea 5:3–7, 15 ESV)

Perhaps you have been unfaithful to the Lord! You’ve acted like a spiritual adulterer and abuser. He has been patient, forgiving, and merciful to you over and over again – accepting you and loving you. But lately it seems like He has withdrawn from you. You pray but there seems to be no answer – the “heavens are brass!” You’ve gone so far you wonder if you can ever find Him again – you don’t know what to do!

Unfaithful, abusing husbands and wives and unfaithful Christians need to do the same thing… Sincerely repent (change their mind, heart and behavior inside and out), humbly seek forgiveness, and get help (Spiritual help and accountability)! God and will forgive and restore spiritual adulterers and God-abusers! And spouse abusers can be healed as well, and become faithful, loving spouses again! But it takes genuine repentance, the help of others and the rebuilding of trust through accountability.