Coffee With The Lord

There is an old worship song that goes, “After all He’s done for me, after all He’s done for me – How could I do less than give Him my best, and live for Him completely; after all He’s done for me?”

Isaiah 5 speaks of a “love song concerning God’s vineyard” (Jerusalem and Judah – God’s people). The Lord had redeemed His people from bondage, rescued them and provided for them on multiple occasions. He sustained them through the wilderness, defended them and prospered them!

Their response? … Complaint, disobedience, rebellion and idolatry! So He asks, “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done for it? I looked for it to yield grapes – why did it yield wild grapes? I will remove its hedge (its protection)! I will break down its wall! I looked for justice, but behold bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!”

What ungratefulness! As a redeemed child of God I never want to be guilty of that! “AFTER ALL HE’S DONE FOR ME…”

“Paradigm” or “Paradigmatic” – Big words! A paradigm is a typical example or pattern of something; a model. If something (or someone) is paradigmatic it serves as a typical example or model of something.

ENOCH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS PARADIGMATIC FOR DISCIPLESHIP! … The Bible says, “Enoch WALKED with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (I just read it this morning in Genesis 5:24!)

Discipleship consistently in Scripture is described as a WALK! It’s not a sprint – you can’t jump into a high powered spiritual vehicle and speed to “Christ-likeness’ – You can’t board a heavenly trans-cosmic airline and shortcut the challenges to get to Heaven. In discipleship it’s one step with God after another – a day-by-day journey – even moment-by-moment and event after event! Sometimes it may seem tedious and a bit boring. Other times it’s exciting and challenging. Even when the word “run” is used in the Bible in the context of discipleship, the exhortation is “run with patience.” (Hebrews 12:1) It is Paul’s favorite word for the Christian life in Ephesians (2:10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15).

Enoch “walked with God” for over 300 years… before there was a Bible or other spiritual resources, before there were regular “church services,” before there were “pastors.” One day as he “walked with God” he was no more on earth – “the Lord took him!” Even the idea of being “caught away” into heaven to be with the Lord is a part of Enoch’s account!

Gotta tell you… I’ve decided to “walk with God!” Today, tomorrow – this year and the ones that follow – wherever He leads, whatever it takes! And I’ll look forward to the day I’m caught away to be with the Lord (as was Enoch) … Yup, ENOCH IS “PARADIGMATIC” FOR CHRISTIANS!

SUSTAINED INTEGRITY… It’s a big deal!

Some people exercise integrity intermittently … when others are watching, periodically, when things are going well, or when it’s convenient or easy. It’s quite another thing to exhibit “sustained integrity!”

Job exhibited “SUSTAINED INTEGRITY!” The Lord’s confidence in Job’s faith and character is again confirmed. First Satan destroyed everything precious to Job – his possessions and even killed his children (check out Job 1:6-22). Now, however, Satan is permitted to attack him physically with pain. And he maintained his integrity even in the face of his wife’s frustrated advice!

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lordsaid to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? HE STILL HOLDS FAST HIS INTEGRITY, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.’ Then Satan answered the Lordand said, ‘Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ IN ALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN WITH HIS LIPS!” (From Job 2:1–10 ESV)

With the Lord’s help and empowerment, I want to be like Job – exhibiting SUSTAINED INTEGRITY!