Coffee With The Lord

You’ve met them… kind, generous, self-giving Christians – ordinary folk who have been touched and transformed by the example of Jesus, who gave “an inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

What an example of the “grace gospel” they are!  You never forget them and they make an indelible impression on you and everyone they meet!  Deep within you want to be like them!

And the interesting thing is – as common and ordinary as they seem to be, they are a wonderful promotion for the Gospel and authentic Christianity – they’re the “real deal!”

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read an Old Testament passage that makes a strong case for being that kind of person!  (Now we’re not simply talking about money here, or other possessions – self-giving service is included!”)  And the passage (really worth a read) is Deuteronomy 15:1-18.

Here’s a few points from the passage that impacted me this morning…

• You can “bank upon” God’s blessing and provision upon those who are obedient and generous!
• Poverty among the people of God would be eliminated!  (And even when and where need pops up…and it will – generosity and self-giving service would meet the challenge!)
• And there’s a warning: Don’t scheme for self-benefit and gain in what you do!  God’s watching!
• And a healthy motivating reminder:  Remember when YOU were facing great challenges and struggled with daunting need!
• And verse 18 ends like this… “SO THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BLESS YOU IN ALL YOU DO!”

But oh, I can hear it now… “That’s an Old Testament passage.  It isn’t binding on New Testament  followers of Jesus!”  Well, I’d submit that the principle certainly is!  How’s this for New Testament teaching? …

“The point is this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully!  Each one must give as they have decided in their heart – not reluctantly or under compulsion – for God loves a cheerful giver!  And God is able to make ALL GRACE abound to you, so that having ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS AT ALL TIMES, you may abound in every good work! … He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food WILL SUPPLY AND MULTIPLY YOUUR SEED FOR SOWING AND INCREASE THE HAVEST OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!  YOU WILL BE ENRICHED IN EVERY WAY TO BE GENROUS IN EVERY WAY, which will also PRODUCE THANKSGIVING TO GOD! [Oh, and one more time] Thanks be to God for His inexpressible  gift!” The gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior and the salvation He offers! (2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ESV)

Hey, take it from me… I WANT TO LIVE THAT WAY!!

Almost didn’t post this “Coffee with the Lord” reflection from my Bible reading yesterday … Then I felt the “nudge” of the Holy Spirit urging me to post it… So… I’m convinced someone of my FB friends needs its message!!!

Lamentations in the Bible describes a desperate time! Jerusalem had been completely destroyed! The temple had been desecrated and demolished! The streets were filled with the consequences of brutality and violence! They thought it could never happen to “the holy city” – but their sin and rebellion had brought it upon them!

The lesson? In desperate times (both personally and nationally) we should cry out to the Lord! He will come near and speak, calming our fears… and He will act! The writer of Lamentations in the Bible came to believe that! Here is what he did…

“I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea! ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’ You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life. You have seen the wrong done to me, O Lord; judge my cause. You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me. You have heard their taunts, O Lord, all their plots against me… You will repay them, O Lord, according to the work of their hands!” (From Lamentations 3:55-64 ESV)

My conviction? In troubled times we should do what the writer of Lamentations did (we might even use his words)!

As a runner I understand the significance of these words…

“You were running a good race. WHO CUT IN ON YOU to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!” (Galatians 5.7-8 NIV).

“CUTTING IN” on another runner is discourteous and unfair! (It is also common fare in highly competitive, “dog-eat-dog” races). If detected and flagrant it can result in the disqualification of the offending runner. That is why Apostle Paul goes on to say… “The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty!” (vs. 10) Interpretation? … God, the ultimate judge (“race official”) will take care of the situation… He’s the one capable, able and entirely fair… He’ll dish out the penalties. You just take care of the running!

I had an interesting, demanding, and effective cross-country coach in high school… Coach Crumpton. He had an interesting philosophy in situations like that… Here it is – only two words – “NO EXCUSES!” If another runner cut in on you, almost tripping you up, causing you to stumble (or even fall), his approach was, “don’t whine, don’t let it happen, and if you happen to stumble, don’t lay on the course writhing in self-pity, get up as quickly as you can, try to make up the difference between you and the offending runner, but even if you can’t… “NO EXCUSES!”

Seems like good advice to me for the Christian race.