Coffee With The Lord

REPENT! REPENTANCE!

I don’t know why it is, but for most people those words have a negative connotation!  That’s tragic, because the core meaning of the words are not negative at all … in fact, at the beginning of this new year, they are positive!  IN FACT THE WORDS “RESOLUTION” OR “NEW BEGINNING” would be terms that are close cousins.

In my Bible reading today John the Baptist’s message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  Now “the kingdom of heaven” is certainly not a bad thing!  In fact it is the sphere of God’s reign over those who belong to him… it is characterized by righteousness, God’s exhibited power and blessing, and wholeness!  Hey, Where the Living God reigns things are good and right – not marred by evil and sin!  To live uninhibited in that domain, however, things just have to change!

That’s why John’s challenge was… “REPENT”! … Prepare the way for the Lord!”

The NIV Study Bible has this great comment/definition of “repent” found in the notes for Matthew 3.2… “Repentance is not merely a change of mind, but a radical change in one’s life as a whole that especially involves forsaking sin and turning or returning to God.”  Now that’s not negative – a “downer” – that’s really positive!!  It prepares a person for living in the sphere where God reigns, leads, and blesses!

Just take it from me… I want to live in that sphere – that domain!!  With God’s help, I’m going to seek to allow the Holy Spirit to identify anything in my life that hinders that sphere of power and blessing this year and CHANGE!!  In other word’s … I’m going to REPENT!  Hey, it’ll be good – watch and see!!

From my Bible reading this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” in the epistles… Here’s a proper understanding of THE PURPOSE OF ANY “SPIRITUAL GIFT” … Apostle Paul said, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established – that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me!” (Romans 1:11-12) Compare that with 1 Corinthians 12:7… “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one FOR THE COMMON GOOD!”

I read Job 1.1-5 this morning as part of my New Year’s Bible reading… And I discovered that I aspire to be like Job! … “He was blameless – a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.” Our world desperately needs more people like that!! I want to be one!!

He was also a person who cared deeply about the spiritual welfare of his family and accepted responsibility for their spiritual welfare… The Bible says his children would have periodic “celebrations” that apparently deeply concerned him. Here’s what was reported of him… “When these celebrations ended – sometimes after several days – Job would purify his children. He would offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular practice.” (Job 1.1, 5 New Living Translation). Godly parents know this concern. They care deeply about the spiritual welfare of their children, pray regularly for them and passionately desire to see them live their lives for the Lord. I purpose to be like Job in that regard not only for my children, but also my grandchildren (and great-grandchildren – and believe it or not, I have a few of them!).

So, this is my prayer on this New Year’s … I WANT TO BE MORE LIKE JOB IN MY GENERATION!”