Coffee With The Lord

You may have heard someone say this about another person:  “THEY HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION – THEY’RE AS GOOD AS THEIR WORD.”  What a compliment!

Several things in my Bible reading this morning reinforced the truth of that statement… especially as it relates to God.  He has a great reputation – HE IS TRUE TO HIS WORD!

This morning I read these words… “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” (Luke 16:10)  The context is Jesus giving His disciples instructions regarding how they should steward material things or handle “mammon” (money).  But it applies to God… He is the One who is the personification of faithfulness – He is faithful in much and little!

The clincher for me today though was reading Psalm 119:140… “Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it!”

Joshua reminded God’s people, Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land, “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord has made to the house of Israel has failed; all have come to pass!” (Joshua 21:45)

Apostle Paul declared, “All the promises of God find their ‘Yes!’ in Him (i.e. Christ).  That is why it is through Him that we utter our ‘Amen!’ (‘Yes! Let it be so!’) to God for His glory!” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

God is faithful!  He keeps His promises!  My grandfather, Bede LeRoy Shirley, once told me… “God is faithful, LeRoy!  He’s as good as His word!  He keeps His promises!”  My mother, Vera Constance Shirley Bartel, told me the same thing (and my dad, Ewalt Bartel, reaffirmed it with his heavy German brogue … ‘Ya, das is true – das is goot!”).  They found it to be true in every aspect of their lives!  I’ve personally found it to be true in my life, as well!  God is faithful!  He’s as good as His word!  He keeps His promises!  I’ve affirmed this truth to my children… and I’m depending on them to tell their children, and their children to tell their children…

So this morning this is what I said personally to God…“Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it!” (Psalm 119:140)

A wonderful personal prayer… Oh do it Lord! … “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name! Keep steady my steps according to Your promise and let no iniquity get dominion over me!” (From Psalm 119:132-133 ESV)

You’ve seen it happen in sports… An athletic team has developed a winning strategy that has led them from one victory to another all season.  They’ve worked hard and competed skillfully.  They’ve not abandoned their strategy or approach.  Now the big opportunity has come – the championship game… For some strange reason, they decide to abandon the strategy that brought them victory all season and try another.  AND THEY FAIL!  THEY LOSE THE BIG GAME!

Something of that story came to mind this morning as read Psalm 119.92-95.  Here is what the Psalmist said…

“If your law and not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction!  I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.  Save me, for I am yours!  I have sought out your precepts.  The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statues.”

The application goes something like this:  We all face temptation and challenges in life!  HEEDING THE PROMISES AND PRINCIPLES OF GOD’S WORD IS A WINNING STRATEGY in dealing with those issues – a tried and true tactic for victory!  Why would anyone abandon it and try another!  THE PSALMIST DECLARED, “I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR PRECEPTS!”

I, and many others before me, have tried the promises and principles of God’s word!  They work!  Today, I’ve reminded myself again today … WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH (AND THEY WILL), DON’T ABANDON A WINNING STRATEGY!  Stick with the clear teaching of God’s word!  It’s principles and promises will not fail you … better yet, the greatest “life-coach” of all – the Almighty God –  will not fail you!

How does the adage often used in sports go? … “DANCE WITH THE ONE WHO ‘BRUNG YA’!”