Coffee With The Lord

Imagine trying to place a personal call to the President of our country.  They probably wouldn’t put your call through.  Or visualize going up to the White House gates, shaking them and ordering the guards to let you in.  They would probably put you in a little white van and make you wear a funny looking jacket as they haul you away.  But One who is greater than the President will accept you and make you a part of His family.  You can call upon the Lord anytime and He will answer.  You can go to His house and you’ll be invited in.  You’ll not be an outcast; He’ll make you a citizen!  You won’t be a stranger; you’ll be a member of His family!

Those thoughts came to mind today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” as I read Ephesians 2:11-22 in the Bible… Here’s a taste of what it says…

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders… In those days you were living apart from Christ… You lived in this world without God and without hope.  But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ… Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.  So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family! … Through Him you are being made part of the dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”  (From Ephesians 2:11–22 NLT)

Have you had the privilege of being introduced to any very important, influential people? Who were they? Perhaps you had a few minutes with them… but how well do you really know them? Even some of your friends… How well do you know them? … Their likes, their dislikes, their inclinations, their history (successes, failures, family, etc.). I mean do you REALLY know them?

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read an “apostolic prayer” that addressed the issue of WHO I WANT TO KNOW BEST – know personally – know intimately!!! … I want to know God! I want to have a deep and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! Don’t misunderstand me… I want to know my wife and children personally and deeply… but even more than them I want to know the Lord!

Here was Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Christians in and near Ephesus (and I believe his prayer for all believers regardless of when or where)…

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, MAY GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND OF REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened… [and then these things were his specific requests]…

1. That you may know “what is the hope to which He has called you.”

2. That you may know the “riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints”.

3. And that you may know what is the immeasurable greatness of His power in us who believe.”

(From Ephesians 1:15-23)

Now I have a feeling that getting and grasping all of that will take a lifetime! It’s what every good Christian leader wants and prays for those they care about and lead! It’s what the Apostle Paul wanted for every Christian. It’s the yearning of our Heavenly Father, and our Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ, and it’s what the Holy Spirit produces as a longing in our hearts! Oh, and as I read about it in my time of “coffee with the Lord” this morning, I jotted this in the margin of my Bible… “Oh, Lord do it – fulfill it – in me! I want to know you as no other – deeply, personally, and intimately! And Lord, I want it for all my “brothers and sisters in Christ!” I want it each of you that are reading this today! Oh Lord, give us “THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND OF REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD!”

“Just a Sip”… but Oh what an incredible “sip!”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (and then what follows is just a representative list of some of the wonderful blessings we have “in Christ!”) Ephesians 1:3 ESV