Coffee With The Lord

OTHERS ORIENTED LIVING … What a Christ-like, spiritually mature and redemptive way to live!!

The core idea of 1 Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1 (part of my Bible reading today) prompted this brief “coffee with the Lord” reflection today…

You might say, “I have the right to do anything!” …

                But not everything is beneficial!

You may declare, “I have the right to do anything!” …

                But not everything is constructive!

“No one should seek their own good, but instead the good of others! … So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!  Do not cause anyone to stumble.  I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.  Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (From 1 Corinthians 10.23 – 11.1 NIV)

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’” (Romans 15.1-3 NIV)

I’ve got to tell you, I want to live that way!  Jesus, I want to emulate YOU, for the benefit of others!

Can you imagine what “THE VOICE OF THE LORD” is like?

Psalm 29, part of my Bible reading today in the Psalms, describes how King David imagined God’s voice… (Just let me say, you really owe it to yourself to read this entire Psalm… with reverent imagination!)

You see God has spoken from creation onward in human history!

He has spoken through His word – the Bible!

He has spoken through His prophets – His messengers.

He has spoken in creation and in the various events of life… and He still speaks in and through them.

David understood that His voice was powerful! His voice was creative (and at times even destructive)!!

In light of that, David urged us… “Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name! Worship the Lord in the splendor [ie. The beauty] of holiness… Let everyone who hears His voice say ‘Glory!!!’” (From Psalm 29:1-2, 9)

And I stand in awe of His voice! He speaks to me… and I bow and cry out… “Glory to God!!!”

My Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” this morning included 1 Corinthians 10:1-13…

Reading it today reminded me of parenting… Good parents, loving parents, wise parents combine WARNINGS and ENCOURAGEMENT – ADMONITION and ASSURANCES!

Inspired by the Holy Spirit that is precisely what Apostle Paul did in this passage!  He played the part of a wonderful godly spiritual parent to a needy congregation (check out him applying that imagery to himself in 1 Corinthians 4:14-15).

Drawing on the experiences of the children of Israel in the Old Testament, Paul gave his “spiritual children” these “parental WARNINGS”…

“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not  desire evil as they did.  Do not be idolaters as some of them were… We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did…We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did… Nor grumble as some of them did… Now these things happened to them as an example, but were written down for our instruction! … Therefore let anyone who thinks they stand, take heed lest they fall!” (From 1 Corinthians 10:6-12  ESV)

But then the ENCOURAGEMENT and ASSURANCE (In the very next verse)!

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man!  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU  MAY BE ABLE TO ENDURE IT!” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

My response?  Thank you Apostle Paul, my “spiritual parent,” – I need both: WARNING and ENCOURAGEMENT – ADMONITION and ASSURANCE!