Coffee With The Lord

I heard a frustrated voice beside me utter these words: “Whose idea was this anyway!?” Someone had taken it upon themselves to do something ill advised, marked by foolish self-will, and problematic for others! Not a good idea – a foolish frustration producer!

Hey, it really matters whose idea something is – God’s idea or ours!

I read about it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”– Number 1 in your Bible. God had ordered a census – It was HIS idea – it was God’s idea and command!

“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, ‘Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company.’”

But in another location at a later time a census was merely a human idea. In fact it was King David’s prideful idea and it resulted in judgment and loss of life (read it for yourself in 2 Samuel 24). David’s key military leader, Joab, tried to talk King David out of doing it, but David was in no frame of mind to listen… Sinful, self-will!!

Listen, If something is God’s idea and command it must be followed! If it is merely a human idea, generated by arrogance, self-will and pride, not only does God frustrate such plans, it often results in His discipline and judgment.

Just take it from me – I WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT ISSUE!

I hate to admit it, but might as well… I’ve had to make David’s prayer in Psalm 51 my prayer more often than I’d like to acknowledge.   Covering up sin doesn’t help…  “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 ESV)  Acknowledging my sin to God and asking Him to forgive me has been the only effective solution to deal with guilt that I’m aware of… (“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1.8-9)

So here are David’s words from Psalm 51 that I read again this morning (words, I’ve had to make my own on more occasions than I’d like to admit).  …Word’s you might want to keep handy, if you’re at all like me …Words, that if you pray them sincerely from your heart, God has promised to honor and heed!!

 ^“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight… Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me… You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”  (From Psalm 51)

Materialism is a trap – a delusion.  We think we “can take it with us” … fact is, we can’t.  The only thing that really matters is what endures beyond the grave – eternal values!! 

Thought deeply about that today as I read this passage this morning during “coffee with the Lord”!  (Some posts just don’t need much comment 😉

 “Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike:  My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding…

“Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me— those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?  No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay.  For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.  Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.  People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish…  

“This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings… But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.   

“Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them… People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.” (from Psalm 49 NIV)