Coffee With The Lord

Recently I heard a young lady receive a wonderful compliment… Someone said, “She is a very wise shopper! She knows quality when she sees it (AND she knows when someone is trying to deceive her). She is able to consistently get a good deal!” (Just gotta say, that sounds like my daughter Shari … and her mother Sharon!! “Like mother, like daughter” I guess

I wish Christians were that “sagacious” (there’s a word for the day) in spiritual things! Thought of that today as I read Apostle Paul’s warning in Romans 16.17-19 this morning…

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them! For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people…I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”

So here is the deal… Don’t believe all the “marketing” you hear about spiritual things. Program your mind and heart with God’s word and depend on the Holy Spirit to work within you to produce authentic spiritual maturity and the discernment you need so that you can recognize a “spiritual scam” and reject it when you see it – as well as recognize “the real deal” and embrace it!

What a marvelous invitation (and PROMISE!) from none other than Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!!! … “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden [burdened down], and I will give you rest! Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls! For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (from Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)

I was in the 6th grade… in Ms. McElroy’s class… I was doing pretty good… I’d “aced” a few exams, done pretty good at diagramming a few sentences on the board, I’d raised my hand in class to answer a few questions… and even got ‘em right! (Ms. McElroy even smiled at me with approval!!) I’m “on a roll” I thought!! Pretty smart!! Gett’n a little “cocky” … I think she (Ms. McElroy) realized it…

Next day in class… I was whispering to a buddy of mine while Ms. McElroy was trying to teach… She looked directly a me… “LeRoy, can you answer that question?! (I admit it, I didn’t have a clue what the question was, let alone the answer!!) Then she erupted!!! One question after another!… tough questions!! Rapid fire!! No mercy!! Bartel? HUMBLED!! (and he deserved it!!)

I thought of that 6th grade episode this morning as I read Job 38 (and scanned Job 39). God addresses Job… (Now Job is a righteous guy! He’d been through a lot! Had to listen to a lot of self-righteous palaver! But even righteous guys now and then need to be “brought down a peg or two”)…

“Then the Lord spoke to Job… Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me! (Then one rapid fire question after another…) “Where were you?! … Tell me if you understand! Who… Who… Have you…? Tell me if you know all this? Can you…? Do you know…? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?” On and on rapid fire! (Job 38-39)

Now, it’s one thing to experience Ms. McElroy rapid fire… It’s another thing to experience God firing one question after another at you!! It caused Job at the end of the book to say, “I know that You can do all things! No purpose of Yours can be thwarted! You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand! Things too wonderful for me to know! You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears have heard of You but now my eyes have seen You! Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes!” (Job 41.1-6)

When I’m tempted to get a little cocky… a little arrogant… a little “know it all” … it might be a good idea to re-read Job 38-40.

Reminds me of another verse in the Bible (found in two locations) “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4.6; 1 Peter 5.5 … probably a paraphrase of Proverbs 3.34)