Coffee With The Lord

Authentic Christianity is “counter-cultural” – It is transformational (personally and within the broader culture)!

A Scripture that makes that point powerfully is the well-known “DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, so that you may prove what the will of God is – that which is good and acceptable and perfect!” (Romans 12:2 NASB)

That Scripture came powerfully to mind this morning as I read 2 Timothy 3 during my time of “Coffee with the Lord!” Here’s our challenge as devoted, obedient, Spirit-empowered followers of Jesus in our culture…

First – “DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO [i.e., “pressed into the mold of”] THIS WORLD”

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit said, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people… These people oppose the truth, and are corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. (From verses1-8)

Instead he said, BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND!

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man [or woman] of God may be complete, equipped for every good work!” (From verses 14-17)

So it seems to be the answer for us, our children, and our grandchildren, etc. is to resist the pressure all around us to conform to our cultures values, way of thinking, and manner of life. And instead, fill our minds and hearts with Scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to transform us “inside – out!” Don’t conform – instead be transformed! From “childhood” – through adulthood – until we are “complete, equipped for every good work!”

Hey, it’s one reason I have “Coffee with the Lord” every day!

And here is a devotional reflection I’ve written based on Daniel’s great intercession for his nation from exile in Babylon…

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If you’re concerned about the welfare of our nation and the world and feel compelled by the Spirit to engage in the noble work of intercession let me recommend Daniel 9.1-19 as a pattern prayer! Just read it over again this morning during “coffee with the Lord” and was deeply moved and challenged by its character and contents.

In it, Daniel begins with an acknowledgement of God’s greatness and character.

He then acknowledges the sin and rebellion of the nation (but instead of self-righteously isolating himself from the sin of the nation, he identifies with the nation personally, in true “prophetic” fashion, with the personal pronoun “We” … “We have…”)

He also acknowledges God’s righteousness in all that has happened to the nation because of their sin… “To you, Oh Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame because we have sinned against you.

But then, he returns to appeal to God’s character: “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness.”

On the basis of the character of God he completes his intercession by pleading to the Lord to listen to his prayer, asks God to do it “for His own sake” and once again admits, “We do not present our pleas before You because of our own righteousness, but because of your great mercy!”

He pours out his final appeal passionately with the words, “Oh Lord, hear! Oh Lord, forgive! O Lord, Pay attention and act! Delay not, for your own sake, Oh my God!”

What a prayer! What a pattern for caring Christians in their Spirit-prompted intercession for their nation and world in troubled times! Let’s pray!!!

Today Daniel 9 was part of my Bible reading during my time of “Coffee with the Lord.”

Each year I post this “Intercessory Prayer Guide” adapted from Daniel’s prayer for his nation in Daniel 9:1-19. Please utilize it in your personal intercession for our nation!

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An Intercessory Prayer Guide for Our Nation

Adapted from Daniel 9

“O Lord, You are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill Your covenant and keep Your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey Your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against You and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to Your servants the prophets, who spoke on Your authority to us as a nation – its leaders and its people.

“Lord, You are in the right; but as You see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us who stand under your judgment.. O Lord, we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You. But You are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against You. We have not obeyed You, we have not followed the instructions You gave us through Your servants the prophets. We have all disobeyed Your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to Your voice.

“So now Your promised judgment has been poured down on us because of our sin. You have kept Your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Every judgment You promised as a result of our sin has come true. Yet we have refused to seek Your mercy by turning from our sins and recognizing Your truth. Therefore, You, oh Lord have brought upon us the disaster You prepared. Lord You were right to do all of these things, for we did not obey You.

“O Lord our God, You have brought lasting honor to Your name by rescuing Your people over and over again. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. In view of all Your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn Your furious anger away from our nation and its people. Other nations mock us because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

“O our God, hear Your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For Your own sake, Lord, smile again on us!

“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open Your eyes and see our despair. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of Your mercy.

“O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! For Your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for the sake of Your people and our nation!”

(An adaption of the New Living Translation for personal and corporate intercession for our nation)