Coffee With The Lord

Just a post of a personal nature today in “Coffee with the Lord”…

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to teach God’s Word, the Bible!  I used to joke about the fact that, at SAGU “I’d do it for nothing (but don’t tell the president!).  If ANYTHING “cranks my engine” it’s seeing “the light come on in someone’s eyes” with the awareness of a new personal discovery or insight into God’s truth.  I just love it!  I believe I was created to teach!  (Now I enjoy preaching as well, don’t get me wrong, and have taught preaching classes for years… but I LOVE TO TEACH!)

This morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I came across a verse in Psalm 119 that summarizes so much about why I love to teach the Bible. Here it is…

“The unfolding of Your words give light – it imparts understanding to the simple.” (vs. 130)

That’s why I love to teach the Bible… God’s word “GIVES LIGHT!”  It reveals truth – it illuminates or makes truth personal and clear to us.  Earlier in this same Psalm is a verse that puts it this way: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (vs. 105)  Anyone who knows me, knows that I passionately believe this assertion about the Bible… “The Bible is my all-sufficient guide for faith (i.e. my relationship with God) and daily living!”)  I’ve urged students, over the years, to write those words in the flyleaf of every Bible they own!

So here’s what good Bible teaching does… “It IMPARTS UNDERSTANDING to the simple” (i.e. the uninformed, the impressionable).  Here’s what 2 Timothy 3:15-17 says: FROM CHILDHOOD you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you WISE FOR SALVATION through faith in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is breathed out by God and is 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.” … It’s effective “cradle to grave!”

How do I want to teach?… I want to “UNFOLD His word” to those I teach – to open it up, to explain it simply and clearly, to structure learning experiences that will bring insight and those “Aha” moments or discovery experiences that result in life transformation!

Those are just a few reasons why I love to teach the Bible!  I PLAN TO GIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE TO THAT NOBLE TASK however, whenever and wherever I can!! … And I pray a special blessing and anointing upon all those are involved in teaching ministry (whether it is to children, youth, adults or a special grouping of people anywhere in the world)!

I’ve been reading Psalm 119 the last several days as part of my Bible reading during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” … Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a poem or song in tribute to the splendor, beauty, perfection, practicality and power of the Word of God.  I picture it much like a huge, precious, beautiful multi-faceted diamond… each way you turn it and consider it, the facets brilliantly reflect the glorious truth of God’s word!!!  Stunning!  Sacred!! Spirit-inspired!!!

Here’s a prayer that the verses of Psalm 119 prompted today.  The words are taken directly from the Psalm and I prayed them today…

 “… O how I love Your law!  You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word!  Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!  Sustain me, my God, according to Your promise, and I will live!  Do not let my hopes be dashed… Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all Your precepts right, I hate every wrong path!”  Psalm 119:113–116, 127-128 NIV)

That’s the way I feel!  That’s what I want, O Lord!!

Just sharing a glimpse of this wonderful Psalm – a song in tribute to God’s wonderful Word!!!

Just a “Sip” from my time of “Coffee with the Lord” today…

Joshua’s challenge (and ours)… “Now therefore fear [reverence] the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness! … And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve! … But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! (From Joshua 24:14-15 ESV)