Coffee With The Lord

Posh place, palace or prison… it doesn’t matter!  God is able to bless those who are faithful with His favor!  Consider a “case study” – Joseph in the Bible:  In Potiphar’s house as a servant… “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man… His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed!”  But also as a prisoner… “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison.  Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.  The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him and whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed!” (From Genesis 39)

Sometime in our lives we will all face something that is absolutely terrifying to us – a situation that produces dread in our hearts! Isaiah 33 raises that issue for God’s people Israel… The “destroyer” in this passage was probably “Assyria.”  Assyria, in the ancient world, was the early purveyor of what some in the military have labeled “shock and awe.” Their methods of warfare were notoriously cruel. They raped, pillaged and tortured their victims. God allowed them to be the agent of judgment upon His people for their sin…

In the face of that terrifying situation Isaiah voices a prayer on behalf of a righteous minority in the nation… He cried out, “But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for You! Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble!” (Isaiah 33.2 NLT).

Those words give voice to a prayer that I have prayed… and will need to pray sometime in the future in a terrifying situation. Perhaps you’re facing one right now! Perhaps it is a dreadful situation of your own making … Perhaps it isn’t.  Doesn’t matter… PRAY THE PRAYER!! God will help you! He will sustain you!! He will be “your strong arm each day and your salvation in times of trouble!”

We entered the restaurant to get a bite to eat for lunch. There were only two individuals waiting tables and the tables were full of hungry people!! (A bus load of individuals had stopped for lunch just before we arrived.) The waitress in charge was doing her best, but the size of the task was overwhelming. She did her best to get us seated, but it was not long before I saw her over at the phone, calling people with an urgent voice saying, “I’ve got a restaurant full of hungry guests, you’ve got to come! I need help!!”

Thought of that scene as I read Matthew 9.35-38 this morning in the Bible!

Jesus had done all He could to personally minister to the needs of the multitudes in the towns and villages around Him… The Bible puts it this way… “Jesus went through all the villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

The needs of the crowds and the size of the task, however, was overwhelming… “When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Nothing has changed! We, as “the body of Christ” have been called (mandated, if you please … commissioned) to share in His task… to teach and proclaim the “good news” – the Gospel. We’ve been called to share His ministry as “the body of Christ” – a ministry that also includes healing the hurts of humanity through His incredible power. The size of the challenge, though, is overwhelming – there is so much to be done.”

The solution to this problem? The answer Jesus prescribed? “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into His harvest!”

The way I see it, we who are followers of Jesus are to do everything we can personally to fulfill and further His ministry – no slackers, no one simply sitting on the sidelines as simply spectators! The task is great though, and the needs are pressing! … When we feel absolutely overwhelmed… We need to pick up the phone (the “heavenly phone”) on a regular basis and ask (pray!) for “the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers into His harvest!” He is faithful! I believe He will!

In the meantime though… I’m going to “pitch in” and do all I can!!!