Coffee With The Lord

What an awesome person Jesus was (and is)!!  I wish I had been alive when he was active in ministry!  But I can read about it in the Bible and marvel (and for that I am grateful).  I’m also grateful for the privilege of prayer – because of that we at least have a kind of “FaceTime” together daily.  One day though, I’ll have the opportunity to meet Him face to face and we’ll have a long conversation … I’m looking forward to it.

Back to the awesomeness of Jesus… I read this in the Bible this morning…

What Jesus did (imagine it…)

“Jesus went throughout all their cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.”

What Jesus saw and felt…

“When he saw the crowds He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Nothing has changed really, has it?  The “crowds” are still like that!  And Jesus?  He feels the same about the lostness and suffering of humanity!  

And the analysis of Jesus? 

He said, “The laborers are few; pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest! (And then in the very next verse … next chapter…) And He called to Him his disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to hear every disease and every affliction… These Jesus sent out…”  (Taken from Matthew 9:35 – 10:1 ESV)

What a Savior!  What a heart for people!!  I want to be like Him, don’t you?!  I want to heed Him, I want to obey Him!  I want to participate in His ongoing mission and ministry in our world today!

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)