Coffee With The Lord

Just finished reading one of the most difficult and disturbing parts of the Bible this morning… Joshua 19-21. It tells the revolting story of a culture without a moral compass. It seems like almost every ethical principle and moral norm imaginable is violated in the account! (I could describe it and tell the story but it is too graphic and disgusting for this venue. Read it for yourself and keep in mind this is an historical account, not fiction – it actually happened!).
The story begins to end with this incredible… no, more than that, this absolutely irrational scene: “And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, ‘O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel!?”
Why has this happened?! How absolutely stupid and silly! The last verse of these chapters gives the answer… “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” These chapters record what can happen in a culture that abandons the moral norms of Scripture! It’s where were headed as a culture as we more and more reject the moral guidance of Scripture and embraces “situational ethics” – what “seems right in their own eyes”. The inconceivable today becomes actual tomorrow. I’m Concerned… and praying!!

I had a math teacher in school who was a whiz with mathematical computations. She would pose a problem, write it on the board, and ask us to solve it. I’d do my best. Now I was certainly no math whiz but I felt I could get around ok with mathematical equations. After we’d try, then our math teacher would go to the board and begin solving the problem… urging us to compare what we had done with her approach and solutions. She’d approach the end of the problem and with a flourish turn around and say… There! Is that what you got? Did you see how I did that?

Problem was… her answer was NOT what I had gotten… AND how she got her answer was NOT the way I had gotten mine! I was almost always ready to argue with her answer… Although I hate to admit it, her answer was ALWAYS right and mine was wrong.

I really don’t know how many perplexing problems of life I’ve tried to solve on my own. Did my best too! More than I’d like to admit my humanly devised solutions to life issues turned out to be wrong. Then in frustration, I’d go to God’s word, and discover that from a biblical perspective my answer was all wrong… it was my best effort, but it was wrong. Often God’s solution was counter-intuitive! He said trust – I just tried harder! He urged obedience – I rejected that and used my own solutions. And then the arguing would begin. I’d reject His answers – His solutions – and try something else. Same dead end! Same frustration! Wrong!!

This is what I read in the Bible this morning… “The sum of Your word is truth! Every one of Your righteous rules endures forever! (Psalm 119:160)

Think I’m ready to acknowledge what the Bible says to be true… “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways declares the Lord! For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thought than your thoughts!” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I am always deeply impressed by the “heart” of a true spiritual leader! Once again in my Bible reading today I read a passage that articulated the values and concerns of such a person – in this case the Apostle Paul. Here’s what he wrote to the church in Colossae…
“I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you (and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face), that your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:1–5 ESV)
Here are the key things that impressed me today about such a spiritual leader…
1) The deep, deep concern they have for the spiritual welfare of others
2) The desire they have for love to dominate the relationship of those they lead, “knitting together” their hearts
3) The longing they have for God’s people to come to know Christ in a personal, deep, intimate way (because “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are found in Him)!
4) The concern they have that those they lead not be deceived and deluded by false doctrine (even if it comes couched in “plausible arguments”)
5) The joy it brings when those they lead evidence “good order” and “firmness of faith” in Christ Jesus.
As a boy growing up I was privileged to have had two pastors who evidenced these kinds of passions. Today I honor them… Pastor Leon Mitchell (deceased) and Pastor Kenneth Peterson. Thank you, gentlemen for being that kind of pastor and evidencing those kinds of values! If you have (or have had) that kind of spiritual leader you have been blessed indeed!
Oh… final word: Just reporting – I passionately want to be that kind of spiritual leader!