Coffee With The Lord

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.

How we get along with “one another” is big in the Bible!!  God cares very much about the “one another” part of our lives (not just the vertical aspect of our lives we express in worship).  In fact, the Bible teaches, that trouble at the horizontal level has a big impact on the vertical! 

Just read a passage this morning that emphasizes a lot of “one another” stuff … (Here’s the inspired list)…

Romans 12:9–21 (NIV)

-Love must be sincere.

-Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

-Be devoted to one another in love.

-Honor one another above yourselves.

-Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

-Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

-Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

-Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

-Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

-Live in harmony with one another.

-Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

-Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

-Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

-If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

-Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath…

-On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…

-Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I’m so grateful that I have a personal relationship with God!  But I don’t want to neglect my relationship with others!!  Gotta remember God cares about it – He cares about both the vertical and horizontal aspects of my life!! 

So here’s what I wrote in the margin of my Bible this morning as a prayer… “Oh Lord, by your Spirit remind me when I am tempted to behave inappropriately to those around me… remind me of my responsibility to these “one another” Scriptures!”  Hey, the Holy Spirit makes God’s word PERSONAL!

In some respects I must be a visual learner or I just have a very vivid imagination! There are passages in God’s word that just trigger a kind of internal video camera in my brain and I can almost visualize in vivid color scenes described in Scripture! This morning during “coffee with the Lord” was one of those times… again! Job 28 is one of my all-time favorite passages in the Bible and every time I read it that video thing happens in my head! I picture a powerful video presentation that moves from one scene to another in this marvelous passage as a wonderful, deep, resonant voice of a capable interpretive reader narrates this passage. Awe com’on, read the passage for yourself and imagine that happening!! Some of you creative sorts with the tools of media that exist today could make this great passage just LIVE!!!

I don’t have enough space here to include the entire passage but I’ll give you the core truth of the passage…

Job catalogs the exploits of humanity – what people search for, accomplish and do. Then he asks, “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth and it is not found in the land of the living…” Job then imagines the various aspects of creation itself answering over and over again, “It is not with me… it can’t be gotten here, it’s value exceeds what I can offer for it!” And again the question is asked… “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ But God understands the way to it! He knows its place! … He saw it and declared it! He established it, and searched it out! He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear (or reverence) of the Lord, THAT is wisdom! And to turn away from evil is understanding!’” (from Job 28 ESV)

Oh what a passage!!! What a noble quest – to discover, to grasp, to embrace wisdom! Reverencing God – bowing before Him in humble worship and adoration is where our quest for wisdom should begin! That attitude not only opens the door to the discovery of wisdom … it is the ongoing attitude that causes all of life and eternity to become one grand revelation of an infinite God and all he has created!

My prayer? Here I am Lord, I love You, I worship You, I reverence you, I open myself up to you in a faith embrace … BLOW MY MIND!!! GIVE ME WISDOM!!!

(A repost from a former “Coffee with the Lord on a favorite passage)