Coffee With The Lord

I’m a “fan” AND “follower” of Jesus! I not only admit it – I’m prepared to proclaim it! In fact, I’ve devoted my life, to the best of my ability and His enablement, to doing it daily!

In the “gospels” in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) there periodically are places that serve as summaries of the life and ministry of Jesus. I read one such summary this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”… It’s located in a strategic place – at the end of Matthew 4 and just before “the Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5. Here’s what the “summary” records about Jesus…

“And Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues [places of study and worship] and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them! And great crowds followed Him!” (Matthew 4:23-25 ESV)

Hey, what’s not to like about a guy like that – the “God-man” – Jesus Christ! He not only announced the coming of the “Kingdom of Heaven” – His life and ministry demonstrated it! Nothing was too hard for Him! And Hebrews in the Bible declares that “He is the same, yesterday, today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8) His “Kingdom message” (check out the chapters that follow – Matthew 5-7) would transform the world if embraced and followed by those who claim to be His followers. His invitation – His call (more like a summons) to follow Him is powerful (read the passage before this one – Matthew 4:17-22)! But if you respond to His call, your life is forever changed – and for the better! Following Him beats following any political leader or celebrity “all hollow!” It’s the trail that results in life-transformation and ultimately leads you to “eternal life!”

I’m so glad that I said “yes” to Him when I heard His call deep in my heart! The trail has not always been easy, but He’s been right there with me all the way! I’d decide to follow Him all over again! Don’t you sense Him calling you? Seems to me, it would be a great way to begin 2021! Why not join me on the journey? What an adventure!!!

“Digging Deeper” Bible studies with Dr. LeRoy Bartel RESUME Tuesday, January 12, 3 p.m. CST via Zoom Webinar. The theme for Tuesday’s Study… “The Emerging Leader: Joshua – Into the Promised Land” … the passage? Joshua 1:1-18. Use the link below to join the study… A “Discovery Bible Study” – interactive and inductive.

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How to be “right with God”… This is a supremely important issue!

I was having my time of “coffee with the Lord” today and part of the assigned Bible reading in “Necessary Food” (the Bible reading plan I developed) was Romans 3:21-31.  Every time I read this portion of Romans I realize just how far short we all fall of God’s righteous standard… I mean, how can a person be “right with God?”

God has declared, “As He who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy!’” (1 Peter 1:15-16; cp. Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7)  But the sad verdict we face is “There is none righteous no, not one!” (See the extended indictment in Romans 3:10-18)

Trying to be righteous and pleasing to God by scrupulously trying to keep a list of rules (“Law”) won’t cut it either… all that makes you is prideful and self-righteous (which is sin)!

God’s righteous demand – and my inability to meet it leads to a dilemma… My guilt is real and as a result I experience something called “conviction!”

There is “good news” however… and Romans 3:21-31 describes it!  Guilty sinners can be “right with God” – how they can have the righteousness that God requires through faith in Christ…

“But now the righteousness of God…is revealed – the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe!  For there is no difference; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [and all can be] justified [i.e. made ‘right with God’] freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth as a propitiation [a Divine satisfaction – an atonement] by His blood through faith, to demonstrate… that He might be just and the justified of the one who has faith in Christ.  Where is boasting then?  It is excluded! … Therefore, we conclude that a person is justified [made ‘right with God’] by faith apart from the deeds of the Law!” (adapted from Romans 3:21-31)

What a deal!!!  This is really “good news!”  Though faith in what Christ accomplished when He died on the cross for our sins, guilty sinners can be “right with God!”  Just take it from one guilty sinner to another, I’m eternally grateful!  I sincerely hope you’ve taken advantage of God’s offer through Jesus Christ!