Coffee With The Lord

I’ve worked on a few construction projects and encountered different building superintendents… Some are aloof, simply show up occasionally, examine things, give a few orders, scold a bit and disappear. Others jump right in there with you, give you a sense of “team,” offer some suggestions, make the tasks enjoyable and applaud progress… you never have the sense of them “not being there.”

In the task of Church building, I believe the Lord is the second kind of “building superintendent” or “site superintendent!” We are “God’s fellow workers” or as another translation puts it, “laborers together with God. (Check out 1 Corinthians 3:9-17)

The Lord is building His church – the “temple” where He manifests His presence! It is a big important project! The firm, strong foundation is Jesus Christ! We participate in the building process – He uses us!

We need to give Him our best and build with things that endure! He’s no slouch and wants our best. What we do – what we have done – will be tested! Is it enduring – can it stand the test?

Apostle Paul, “a skilled master builder,” inspired by the Holy Spirit gives this warning: “Do you not know that you (plural in the Greek – “You all”) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him! For God’s temple is holy, and YOU are that temple!”

But hey, take it from me, no one better to work with (and under) than God! He makes me want to give my best effort and invest quality workmanship in the “Temple” He’s building!

Sometimes, as time passes we forget things that are important and we need reminders.  I wish we’d never forget, but sometimes we do.  Where did we put that item?  What did that person tell us?  What was that telephone number?  How did I do that?  When did that happen? … You’ve had a few “forgets” too, I can see! J  What’s frustrating is they tell me it gets worse as you as you get older! J

Thought about all of that as I read these words from the Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“Listen to me! … Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He!  I am He who will sustain you!  I have made you and I will carry you!  I will sustain you and I will rescue you! … Remember this! Keep it in mind!  Take it to heart! … I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.  I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please… What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do!’” (from Isaiah 46)

God said that!  I can’t afford to forget it!  (And most of all, I’m very grateful for the reminder!!)  Don’t let me forget this Lord!!

What a wonderful, powerful, ALMIGHTY GOD we serve!

Every time I read Isaiah 44:24-28 in the Bible I am encouraged. This prophecy, given before Jerusalem was destroyed and the Babylonian captivity – 150 years before Cyrus lived and became king of Persia – predicted how God would use this Persian king to bring His people back to their homeland after His judgment, and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple!! Awesome!! Now, go ahead and read the prophecy below, and worship!! Nothing! Absolutely nothing is too hard for the Lord!! He knows the end from the beginning!!

“This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners… who carries out the words of His servants and fulfills the predictions of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited!’ Of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt!’ And of their ruins, ‘I will restore them!” … Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please!” (notice He is called by name 150 years before he is even born!) He (Cyrus) will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt! And of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid!’” (from Isaiah 44.24-28)

Wow!! This prophecy was fulfilled in detail! The Lord knows the end from the beginning and has the power to use even a pagan king to fulfill His plan. Praise the Lord!!