Coffee With The Lord

This is a “Coffee with the Lord” repost… I felt the “nudge” of the Holy Spirit this morning that someone needed to see this and would be helped by it… My Bible reading (Philippians 4:2-3) today – July 9, 2022, prompted this repost…

Two key church leaders, Euodia and Syntyche, had a significant disagreement or serious conflict. These ladies were probably charter members of the congregation in Phillipi. They had worked together with Paul, probably in the founding of the church. But something had come between them! An issue had gotten so big that they could not agree with each other – even “in the Lord!” It was apparently not a doctrinal issue that divided them, but a personal one.  It might have been any one of the petty issues that Satan capitalizes on to divide congregations: A position in the church, a decorating choice, a construction issue, perceived favoritism with children, an overlooked invitation – you name it, Satan can use it!

There was only one adequate solution. These two ladies needed to be reconciled to each other! Paul first appeals to their mutual relationship to Christ (i.e. “agree…in the Lord!”). Then he asks a third, well-known, and mutually respected spiritual person in the church to serve as a peacemaker to help bring them together. Some scholars believe the word translated “loyal yokefellow” (Syzygus) is actually a proper name. Without help, their continued disagreement and malice toward each other would have a destructive impact on the body of Christ!

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My story… We had a misunderstanding. Another Christian brother felt that I had wronged him. I felt like he had abused other people and had tried to destroy a ministry. We separated. We didn’t talk to each other for a long, long time. Contrary to popular opinion, time didn’t solve the problem – it never does. One day my telephone rang. It was a respected mutual friend. He appealed to me to make a phone call and seek healing in the relationship. I heeded his appeal, humbled myself, and made that call. Forgiveness was sought and given, and the destructive wound was healed! Thank God for a Syzygus!  

Perhaps you know of a relationship that has been damaged and severed because of a wrong or misunderstanding.  Right now you feel the sweet nudge of the Holy Spirit to be a peacemaker – a “Syzygus”… Why don’t you prayerfully seek the right words and the timing of the Holy Spirit and do as He directs… You know, don’t you, that the Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5.9 NIV)?

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that brought back fond memories (and not so fond memories) of running my first marathon in Arkansas.  At the time the distance seemed “eternally” long (26.2 miles).  The weather was warm and it grew warmer… And as I ran my body grew more and more tired!  I’ve got to tell you, I wanted to quit, give up, and use the “sag wagon!” … But I didn’t – more than my desire to quit was my desire to cross the finish line!  So I “pressed on” and finished my first marathon (I’ve finished several since then)!

But there is a longer and much more important “race” that I’m running… It’s the “faith journey” on the way to heaven, and crossing the “finish line” successfully is vitally important!…  Here’s how Apostle Paul put it:

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, BUT I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own…  One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL for THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!” … OUR CITIZENSHIP [our goal – our “finish line”] IS IN HEAVEN, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself!” (Philippians 3:12-14, 20–21 ESV)

Hey, the journey – the “race” – is very long, and sometimes we get tired and discouraged and want to give up!  But we “press on!”  We don’t give up – we set our focus/our affections upon “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!”

Thinking back to my first marathon – the finish line was worth it!  But “The upward call” – the hope of Heaven will be infinitely more worth it!  Take it from me, I intend to “press on” regardless!!

I enjoyed “Coffee with the Lord” this morning… Here’s just a wonderful “sip!”

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.  You are good and do good; teach me your statutes! … It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.  The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces!” (Psalm 119:67-68 & 71-72 ESV)