Coffee With The Lord

She lived in a very humble home, way out in the country, and my wife and I had gone out to pay her a visit. She had a serious, destructive, malignancy. Poverty was written all over her surroundings. We had just finished a wonderful, encouraging conversation, had read some Scripture together, and I was about to pray … she interrupted me… “Pastor, have you and Sister Sharon been praying for something?”
I thought for a moment and then responded, “Why yes, we have.” (We had been wanting to give our children piano lessons … but no piano. We wanted to get a piano, but really didn’t have the money. The used ones we had checked out had really been ‘junk’ so we just decided to wait and pray.
She replied, “Well, the Lord told me to give this to you!” as she shuffled off, fumbled around in an adjoining room, and returned with an envelope. We opened it, and in shock and devastation counted out hundreds of dollars!
When I got back to town, I immediately called her daughter who attended our church and told her what had happened… Her response? “Pastor, that’s just like Mom! She’s been saving up that money and God told her to do what she did! Accept her gift as God’s provision.” We were emotionally devastated with humility and gratitude!
I thought of that experience this morning as I read the following account in Scripture… The lesson? Some of the most generous people in the world are the poorest! Poor in worldly terms… wealthy in Spirit and character! There are still “widows” who “give more than anyone else” when they out of hearts of devotion and love give their “mites” to others (Luke 21:1-4)… Listen, how much you have in the bank does not determine the level of your generosity or wealth!
Here’s the biblical account that prompted this reflection…
“I want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part! For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints — and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us… But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace (the grace of generosity and giving) also.” (2 Corinthians 8:1–7 ESV)
So here I am again this morning, a choked up with tears, reliving a wonderful case study in Christ-like generosity. Oh God, I want to be a generous Christian!!

Sometimes it just seems like evil has the upper hand! Those that belittle righteousness, mock the reality of God, and scorn those who seek to follow Christ seem to have the wave of public opinion going their way. Godly, biblical values are spurned in public policy and those who embrace them are labeled as bigots. In fact, sometimes it may seem like God Himself has “cast off His people” as a consequence of their own compromise and sin…

Ever feel like that?

I read a Psalm this morning that seemed to put some of those thoughts into words and turned them into a prayer…

“O God… remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed… Remember!… How long O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? … Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth! … Arise, O God, defend your cause!” (taken from Psalm 74. Read the whole Psalm.)

Those were some of the words I uttered to God this morning as my prayer. Why not make them yours as well. I don’t want to be a victim… I want to be an intercessor!

Contrary to what some would lead you to believe by their lives, their words, and their demonstrated values… ETHICS MATTER! INTEGRITY MATTERS! And it especially matters when a person claims to be a Christian (a Christ-follower) or a “minister of the gospel”!

Today during “coffee with the Lord” I read 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 – Paul’s personal expression of his ethics in serving the Lord – in several versions and was deeply challenged and impacted by his personal claim. I settled on “the Message” to share today…

“Don’t put it off! Don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details! People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly … in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.”

Deeply challenged by that, I tell you! I want to honor my Heavenly Father and His Son – my Savior – Jesus, by living that way… serving with those values clearly evident in my life! Don’t you?