Coffee With The Lord

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 on the phone, calling people with an urgent voice saying, “Listen, I’ve got a restaurant full of hungry guests, you’ve got to come! I need help!!”

That scene came to mind as I read Matthew 9.35-38 this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord!

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… The Bible says, “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 (No, more than that – 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 in His ministry as “the body of Christ” – a ministry that also includes healing the hurts of humanity through His incredible power and message. The size of the challenge, though, is overwhelming – there is so much to be done.”

The solution to this problem? What was 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 interested spectators! The task continues to be great, 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 (i.e. pray!) for “the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into His harvest!”

Hey, the harvest is “white” (it’s ready – more than ready!) It’s waiting and may be lost without help!! He is faithful! I believe He’ll hear our fervent prayer and send out more “heavenly harvest workers!”

I know how it is… I’ve had it happen… the alarm goes off, you look at the time, the bed is so warm, you say to your sleepy self, “just a few more minutes” … then you wake up with a start!! You look at the clock again and with alarm realize you have to get to work or you’ll be late!! You jump out of bed…

Got the scene in your mind? … I read about a similar scene dealing with my life as a follower of Jesus this morning…

“You know how late it is! Time is running out! Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed! The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” (Romans 13.11-14 New Living Translation)

The Lord’s coming!! I’ve got an appointment with Him … Got to be ready to “meet Him in the air”! Don’t want to doze of and be sleeping when the trumpet sounds!! Don’t want to goof off, start living sloppy and sinful!! He’s coming for those who are up, clothed, serving, and ready to meet Him!!

ARE YOU “DEBT FREE?” A few who read this may be… most are not!

There is a sense in which all of us have had the moral and spiritual indebtedness against us “paid in full” by our Savior (Colossians 2:13-15)! But there is also a sense in which there is a “love-debt” Christians will pay the rest of their lives – on that debt we will NEVER be “debt free”!! (Check out the passage I read during “Coffee with the Lord this morning – Romans 13:8-10 esp. vs. 8

“OWE NO ONE ANYTHING, EXCEPT TO LOVE EACH OTHER!”

God’s law is summarized in two core commandments: Love God wholeheartedly and love your “neighbor” as yourself! (cp. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 with Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 10:25-37).

In this passage Apostle Paul urges us NEVER to feel like we have repaid the 2nd great commandment! In fact, he informs us that if we really succeed in “loving one another” (our “neighbor) we have fulfilled “the law!”

Oh Lord, help me to do a good job of BOTH – Loving God (expressed in obedience) and loving my “neighbor!” … And may both of those be understood and expressed as love as a verb, not simply as an emotion!