Coffee With The Lord

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that is as current as the headlines and what you’ll see and hear about it in the evening news… Zephaniah 3:9-20. Now, to be sure, it has special significance prophetically for the nation of Israel – “the Holy Land”… But it doesn’t end there. Zephaniah’s prophecy has deep significance and wonderful encouragement for God’s people, regardless of their ethnicity, as they approach the “times of difficulty,” prophesied at the “end of history!” (cp. 2 Timothy 3:1ff)

Here’s a portion of what Zephaniah prophesied:

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil!

“On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: ‘Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing… Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth! At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.” (From Zephaniah 3:14–20 ESV)

Those are not my words… and they certainly are not the words of the enemies of Israel today! They are God’s declared word! Read the entire 3rd chapter of Zephaniah… God’s will deal with those who resist His plan and persecute His people… And His wonderful promises include, not only Israel, but all of God’s people regardless of their ethnicity and nationality! Praise the Lord!!!

“An evil man is ensnared in his transgressions, but a righteous man sings and rejoices!” (Proverbs 29:6) Don’t be deceived… The choices are deceptive bondage (in the name of freedom) or true freedom – the result of a righteous life!!

Couldn’t resist reposting this from 10 years ago …

I just finished reading apostle James great passage dealing with faith and works this morning (James 2.14-26). Maybe I’m the only one who would enjoy this, but I would LOVE to sit in and listen to apostle Paul and James have a “one-on-one” discussion on the relationship of faith and works! I think it would be intellectually stimulating, spiritually enlightening, and highly practical for our understanding of salvation and a life of discipleship… and probably highly “animated” as well (they’re dear “brothers in Christ” after all)! J (Might remind me a little of the “discussions” I have with my brothers).

Listen to the two sides of the issue for awhile today…

James: “What good is it if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? … Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead! Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. Look at Abraham… His faith and his actions were working together. His faith was made complete by what he did. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness… You see, a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone… As the body without the spirit is dead so faith without deeds is dead!” (From James 2.14-26 NIV)

Paul: “We maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law… What then shall we say that Abraham… discovered in this matter? What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ To the one who does not work, but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, faith is credited as righteousness… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast!” (From Romans 4 and Ephesians 2.8-9 NIV)

I know what you’re thinking… He’s going to try to resolve that age-long issue for us today! NOT!!! In fact this issue reminds me a little bit of the response of Charles Spurgeon when he was asked to resolve two apparently opposing theological truths… His response? “I never reconcile friends!”

“Faith” and “works” … properly understood “forever friends!’