Coffee With The Lord

I read a proverb this morning during “coffee with the Lord” that provoked some self examination…

“There are those whose rash words are like sword thrusts. But the tongue of the wise brings healing!” (Proverbs 12:18 ESV)

I’ve experienced the first group… so have you. They delight in being “direct” – just “telling it like it is” (as they call it). They rarely weigh their words and like the phrase, “let the chips fall where they will” (in other words, “I don’t really care how what I am saying effects you or impacts your life!”) There’s a sad trail of hurt, personal damage and destruction that flows from their mouth.

I don’t want to be like that! I want to be careful about what I say (and how I say it)! I want to say things that bring encouragement, help, and healing to others! I want my words to build up rather than destroy. I know there’s a time to confront and challenge evil – but even when I have to do that, with God’s help, I want to be “steel under velvet.” How about you?

I don’t know how many Nutrisystem ads I’ve watched on TV… You know, the ones that feature the “before and after” pics. When I was a kid growing up it was the “Charlie Atlas” ads… “Before… I was a 90 pound weakling” – Now… and you’d see the picture of a 185 pound hunk of steroid-enhanced humanity (that was before the days of “PhotoShopped” pics).

Now I know that Nutrisystem has helped a lot of people with weight loss issues… But what about “spiritual issues”? – What about “eternal issues”? – What about “life-issues”? … I’d love to see a series of pics that really get at the difference Jesus makes in a life!

Here’s the passage that prompted that line of thinking this morning…

“FOR WE OURSELVES WERE ONCE… foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. BUT WHEN THE GOODNESS AND LOVING KINDNESS OF GOD OUR SAVIOR APPEARED… He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people!” (Titus 3:3–8 ESV)

Think about what your life was like “before Jesus” … Compare it what it’s like now! No comparison! Complete transformation! Life-abundant! Life “courtesy of Jesus”! That’s my testimony! … Really wish I had a “Spiritual pic” of the difference He’s made! (I think I’m probably making one … one of those “panorama shots” you know… It’s called a “testimony”!)

The temptation of our culture is self-seeking, self-centeredness, self-occupation, greed and its opposite… stinginess. On the other hand the gospel introduces a culture of generosity… God’s generosity in Christ (it’s called “grace”) and it’s effect within the lives of authentic Christians… generosity toward others. I’ve just got to tell you… I want to live that way!! In fact this morning I read several proverbs grouped together in the Bible that awakened this desire in a fresh way in my life…

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.” (Proverbs 11:24–26 ESV)

We’ve been incredible blessed by the self-giving and extravagant generosity of God in Christ! I want His generosity to mirrored in mine, don’t you?