Coffee With The Lord

It seems like there is a crook behind every bush – someone who is trying to take advantage of others and rip them off! The “fine print” stuff and marketing ruses designed to take advantage of people today keep attorneys general and consumer advocacy groups very busy. What to do? How to stay on top of it all and avoid being the target of all this stuff!

Believe me, I don’t have the total answer, but I do have a practical answer based upon the teaching of God’s word! It may seem simplistic and naïve, but on more than one occasion it has worked for me (as well as many other God-fearing people) and kept me from a personal disaster…

The suggestion – the recommendation I have to offer based upon God’s word… Pray about it – seek God’s direction and guidance before you sign a contract or make a major decision! Then listen to what the Holy Spirit seems to be saying to your spirit. (You can call that “intuition” if you want to, but I believe it is more than that!) On more than one occasion it has kept me out of trouble and from a painful experience. And on more occasions than I’d like to admit, I only wish that I had followed my own advice! 😉

The story in the Bible that I read this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” that prompted this reflection? It’s found in Joshua 9… Israel’s neighbors (and enemies) – the Gibeonites – had heard the mighty things God had done for His people in laying claim to the Promised Land. They were fearful, so they developed a ruse, and went to Joshua and the other leaders intent on deceiving them and winning an agreement of “peaceful coexistence” (which the Lord had forbidden). They dressed in old, worn out clothes, and brought old, dry, moldy provisions and acted the part of needy people from a distant land… and appealed for a treaty. The leaders of Israel fell for it!

This is what the Bible says… “The Israelites sampled their provisions BUT DID NOT INQUIRE OF THE LORD! Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them… and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by an oath… Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were their neighbors, living near them!”

So here’s a bit of practical advice today from God’s word… Before you sign the contract, or make a major purchase, or commit to a course of action that has significant implications for your future… Pray about it! Seek the counsel of God’s word! And listen to your heart! Gonna seek to follow my own advice today! Think things will go better!

Family life is often portrayed in idealistic and romanticized terms. Everyone sitting around a fireplace engaged in intimate conversation with smiling faces filled with evident love and admiration. Would be nice – but that’s not the way it often is.

A local church is a family … and sometimes we’re more like a REAL family than we want to admit! Relational tensions, differences of opinion, and sometimes a “family squabble” (or outright fight) sometimes characterize a local congregation of believers.

The idealized picture? There is an old Southern Gospel song that put it this way…

“You will notice we say “brother and sister” ’round here,
It’s because we’re a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

“From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I’m not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!

(Refrain)
“I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the Family of God”
(Bill and Gloria Gaither)

I love the song! … The problem? It’s not always quite that way!

That’s what caused Apostle to say…

“I therefore, a prison for the Lord, URGE YOU… (one of the strongest words in the Greek language – “parakaleo” – beseech or beg) to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…

Then he encourages believers to remember what they have in common – what they share… “There is ONE body and ONE Spirit – just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your call – ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)

It’s a wonderful thing to be in a family where unconditional love – even “tough love” is the pervasive dynamic… It’s also a bit challenging at times. Hey, sometimes we’re more like a REAL family than we want to admit!

I’ve been privileged over the years to have had some wonderful coaches, mentors or encouragers… For example, I had a great cross-country coach in high school – Coach Crumpton. He had the unique ability to “light a fire under you” if you were under-performing… But at the same time he could be one of the most effective encouragers/motivators I have ever seen. Thinking back, I think I would have been willing to risk “death by effort” for that man! He really convinced me that I was able to perform way beyond what I thought I could… (and I did).

Apostle Paul did much the same thing for the believers he was writing to in Ephesians as Coach Crumpton did for me in athletics…
In his great apostolic prayer on their behalf (Ephesians 3:14-19) Paul prays that:

• They be empowered within by the Spirit
• That Christ would “be at home” in their hearts
• That they would comprehend more deeply Christ’s incredible love
• That they would experience God’s fullness

Then Apostle Paul says, “Com’on! you can do this! God working in and through you can make it happen! (Ephesians 3:20-21) So here’s the outline…

1. The Possibility: He is able to do within and through you more than you can ask or imagine!

Check out these incredible promises in that regard: 1 Thessalonians 1:23-24; Philippians 1:6; 4:13; Romans 8:35-38: 2 Corinthians 9:8; Jude 24-25, etc.

2. The Power: He is able to do it “according to the Power at work with us” – the indwelling Holy Spirit

3. The Praise: Glory to God in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations – forever and ever!

And to all of that, I want to say “Amen” … So be it Lord! So be it!! I can almost hear my Heavenly Advocate and Coach now… Com’on LeRoy! You can do this!!