Coffee With The Lord

Summer is the growing season…  It’s a time when you can almost see Kansas corn grow.  Newly planted lawns stick their green shoots out of the brown earth.  Garden vegetables mature and get ready for the dinner table and flowers burst forth in beautiful blossom and delightful scents.

Occasionally something just seems to break all the rules of normality and gets HUGE!!  You’ve seen the pictures in the newspaper or magazine… Huge pumpkins that you’d have to use a pickup to haul, cucumbers three feet long and eight inches in diameter… Freaks of nature – weird!

This morning all of those images came to mind as I read the following verses…

“Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”  Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?  It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”  (From Luke 13:18-21)

Now it seems to me this parable accents two main things… The phenomenal growth of the Kingdom of God and the incredible influence of the message of God’s Kingdom.

There is no question about it; the growth of the Kingdom of God has been phenomenal!  What began with just a handful of ragamuffin disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit exploded with growth in the early centuries in spite of persecution, survived its own popularity and pollution in the Dark ages, revived itself during the Reformation, again survived later rationalistic attacks, and sprang to life again during the Great Awakenings, revival movements, the Jesus revolution and Pentecostal and Charismatic Renewal!.  “Incredible” is a good word to describe what has been the growth of the gospel!

Not all growth has been positive though… A number of Bible scholars see “abnormality” in the growth described in this parable.  They contend that all growth is not positive and see the “birds of the air perched in the branches of the tree” in much the same way as the “tares” the enemy planted in another parable (see Matthew 13.36-42)!

The second image in the passage is that of the influence of the kingdom.  The “leaven” or “yeast” influences the “large amount of flour and dough.”  The influence of the gospel in our world has been equally phenomenal!  Countless lives have been transformed, entire communities and nations have been impacted, societal structures have been changed, and compassionate ministries have been birthed.  The Kingdom of God has had an amazing effect!  I wish I could say, however, that all of the influencing done in the name of the “Kingdom” or “gospel” has been positive… it has not.  There are all too many sad stories of abuse of power in the name of the gospel.

It seems to me therefore, in this growing season we call “summer,” we ought to continue to sow the seed of the gospel, we ought to be carefully watering God’s garden, tending it carefully – watching for the growth that God intends, and preparing expectantly for the harvest!  And as “yeast” we ought to be doing all in our power to see to it that the influence is positive and Christ-like… oozing with love and expecting the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit do its work.  LET’S BE ABOUT KINGDOM WORK IN THIS “GROWING SEASON” … LOOKING FORWARD TO THE “DIVINE HARVEST!”   

DEALING WITH “THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY” – it’s a way that people sometimes describe the challenge of coping with all of “the stuff” that life sometimes brings.

It came to mind this morning as I read Philippians 4:11-13 in the Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord.”

Apostle Paul was in prison, possibly facing death, dealing with isolation from those he loved, deprivation, unpleasantness, discouragement and even despondency. How could he deal with those challenges? His faith – his confidence in God – helped provide an answer and gave him the resources he needed! In his darkest hours he declared he had “learned a secret” (a “secret” he shares with us all)! Here’s “the secret” in his own words…

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME.”

What a secret – Divine enablement – Christ’s sufficiency – and the Holy Spirit empowerment!

But that’s not all… Add to that the loving care, generosity, and caring concern of fellow Christians…

He goes on to say, “Yet it was kind of you [fellow Christians in Philippi] to share in my trouble… the gifts you sent were a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. [And then Paul gives this assurance to these self-sacrificing, generous, compassionate fellow Christians…] And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus!” (Philippians 4:14-19)

So how can a Christian deal with “the good, the bad, and the ugly” that life sometimes bring? Combine God’s complete sufficiency and add to that the support and help of fellow Christians (i.e. the “body of Christ’) and we have everything we need to face whatever life brings! What a secret! Praise the Lord!

Just felt this repost of mine might help a person (or church)…

Needed: A Syzgus…

My Bible reading this morning (Philippians 4.2-3) prompted this reflection. Perhaps it will help someone…

Two key church leaders, Euodia and Syntyche, had a significant disagreement or difference of opinion. These ladies were probably charter members of the congregation in Phillipi. The point is clearly made that they had worked together with Paul, probably in the founding of the church. But something had come between them! An issue had gotten so big that they could not agree with each other – even in the Lord! It was apparently not a doctrinal issued that divided them, but a personal one. Today it might have been any one of the petty issues that Satan capitalizes on to divide congregations: A position in the church, a decorating choice, a construction issue, perceived favoritism with children, an overlooked invitation – you name it, Satan can use it!

There was only one adequate solution. These two ladies needed to be reconciled to each other! Paul first appeals to their mutual relationship to Christ (i.e. “agree…in the Lord!”). Then he asks a third, well-known, and mutually respected spiritual person in the church to serve as a peacemaker to help bring them together. Some scholars believe the word translated “loyal yokefellow” (Syzygus) is actually a proper name. Without help, their continued disagreement and malice toward each other would have a destructive impact on the entire church – the “body of Christ.”

———————–

My story… We had a misunderstanding. Another Christian brother felt like I had wronged him. I felt like he had abused other people and had tried to destroy a ministry. We separated. We didn’t talk to each other for a long, long time. Contrary to popular opinion, time didn’t solve the problem – it never does! One day my telephone rang. It was a respected mutual friend. He appealed to me to make a phone call and seek healing in the relationship. I heeded his appeal, humbled myself, and made the call, forgiveness was sought and then given, and the destructive wound was healed! THANK GOD FOR A “SYZGUS!”

Perhaps you know of a relationship that has been damaged and severed because of a wrong or a misunderstanding. Right now you feel the sweet “nudge” of the Holy Spirit to be a peacemaker – a “Syzygus”… Why don’t you prayerfully seek the right words and the timing of the Holy Spirit and do as He directs… You know, don’t you, that the Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5.9 NIV)?