Coffee With The Lord

I don’t know what the Lord has done for you – what He has accomplished on your behalf.  It may be an incredible story of His power and grace.

But, you may be one of those people who does not find it easy to talk publicly about what has happened to you.  On the other hand, sharing personal experiences with others may not be difficult for you at all.  In either case there is great value in “giving the Lord credit for what He has done!”  It honors Him, it encourages others, it gives them hope, and it acknowledges WHO ought to receive the credit for the victories in your life…

David, the psalmist said, “I proclaim Your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips… I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly…”

In the same Psalm he testified and said… “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new son in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him… Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done – the things you planned for us!  None can compare with You!  Were I to speak and tell of your deeds they would be too many to declare!”  (From Psalm 40)

So here’s a word of encouragement…  If you are timid or reticent, please speak up anyway!… We need to hear what God has done for you!  If you’re not inhibited at all… please give God the credit for what He has done.  Where?  “In the great assembly” (and to anyone God gives you the opportunity to share it with today).  Here’s one person who will be listening…

Now here is an awe-inspiring and sobering thought from my Bible reading today…

“Now you (“ya’all” in Texas 🙂 are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12.27 NIV)

Here’s my definition/description of the Church –what Apostle Paul called “the Body of Christ”…

“We are His hands!  We are His feet!  We are His voice!  We are to be His healing presence!  And our task is to re-present/represent Him in our communities and around the world without distortion in the power of the Holy Spirit both personally and collectively.”

Tall order isn’t it?!!  (We can only do this through His enablement!)  I mean, think about it… Paul called the CORINTHIAN CHURCH (an imperfect – even dysfunctional – church in many ways) “the body of Christ”!!

Sometimes the beauty of something is best seen in comparison or contrast… That was the way it seemed this morning during my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” (and apparently it was the way King David experienced it when he was inspired to write Psalm 36)! … The ugliness of humanity’s wickedness just accentuated the splendor of God’s perfection and beauty! (You should read the whole Psalm for yourself!)

I admit it… The literary beauty of parts of this Psalm blew me away!  Oh how great and good God is!!!  Read, reflect and let your imagination revel in this description of our God…

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds!

“Your righteousness is like the mountains of God!

“Your judgments are like the great deep!

“Man and beast you save, O Lord.

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

“The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

“They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

“Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”

 (From Psalm 36:5–10 ESV)

Incredible eh?  Just makes you want to worship!!!  (I’ll let you read the contrasting description of humanity’s evil on your own 😉 )