Coffee With The Lord

I know how it is… I’ve had it happen… the alarm goes off, you look at the time, the bed is so warm, you say to your sleepy self, “just a few more minutes” … then you wake up with a start!! You look at the clock again and with alarm realize you have to get to work or you’ll be late!! You jump out of bed…

Got the scene in your mind? … I read about a similar scene that deals with my life as a follower of Jesus this morning…

“You know how late it is! Time is running out! Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed! The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” (Romans 13.11-14 New Living Translation)

The Lord’s coming!! I’ve got an appointment with Him … Got to be ready to “meet Him in the air”! Don’t want to doze off and be sleeping when the trumpet sounds!! Don’t want to goof off and start living sloppy and sinful!! He’s coming for those who are up, alert and ready to meet Him!!

Willful, rebellious children are a challenge and disappointment to loving, nurturing, caring parents.  I don’t know how many discouraged and frustrated parents of those kind of children have sighed deeply in my presence and uttered these words, “I guess they’ll just have to learn the hard way!”

I think God often feels that way… In fact, I am sure of it based upon the Biblical record.  In fact, I read a chapter this morning in my Bible reading this morning in which God expresses those exact sentiments through His prophet Isaiah!  Here are the Lord’s own words (from Isaiah 30)…

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out…without asking for my direction… They are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord.” (vss. 1-2, 10)

And the fact is, their Heavenly Father stands ready to instruct, guide, help, and deliver those who will turn to Him!  He tells them…

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy On of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’  But you were unwilling! … Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts himself to show mercy to you.  For the Lord is a god of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him!” (vss. 15, 18)

Oh, I don’t want to be one a rebellious and self-willed, child of God, refusing my loving Heavenly Father’s direction, determined to go my own way!  Instead, may I listen carefully to His direction, follow His leading, and experience His grace and blessing!  May I avoid the pain of “learning the hard way!”  If and when He disciplines me may I cling to His steadfast love and benevolent purposes for my life (see Hebrews 12:5-11)

Just a word of caution to all my Christian friends who are politically engaged…

I read the following inspired words of Scripture this morning from Apostle Paul (who incidentally lived and ministered within a power hungry, repressive, pagan political system)…

​“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment… Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good… Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience… Because of this you also pay taxes… Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (From Romans 13:1-7 ESV)

Might be a good idea to read that over again… slowly – and reflect on its implications for Christ followers in the present political environment!

To ignore Apostle Paul’s inspired directive here is to hurt our testimony and disobey God’s word!  Granted, there is a time for “civil disobedience” – Scripture teaches it.  But it must be in response to a governmental demand that Christians violate the clear teaching and requirement of God in Scripture… and it must always be done respectfully (but firmly), appealing to those who are in authority (example: Daniel and his colleagues – the three Hebrews – Daniel 1, 3 and 6)… And to those who are tempted to “make their case with a strident voice,” when it becomes necessary to resist, the advice of a Christian leader I respect seems appropriate… “Lower your voice!”

In any case, I wrote these words in the margin of my Bible after reading Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 13:1-7 this morning… “Lord, in the present political environment this is challenging!  Help me to be obedient to what this Scripture teaches!” … and then I dated it for myself in the margin.