Coffee With The Lord

I realize the following words were written from an older mentor apostle to a younger man – a protégé of Apostle Paul in ministry…

“Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.  DON’T LET ANYONE THINK LESS OF YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.  Focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.  Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.  Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.  Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” (From 1 Timothy 4:11–16 NLT)

Wonderful advice for young people serving the Lord in ministry…  But I wrote these words in the margin of my Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord” today… YOUR AGE SHOULDN’T MATTER!  I’m 72 and I’ve been a credentialed [ordained] minister for nearly 50 years and Paul’s words still apply to me!

Listen, I want my life, my teaching, and my service to draw people to join me in following the Savior!  I want to be a Holy Spirit empowered “magnet” in my service for the Lord in our world… until He comes!

The past several days I’ve been reflecting on my personal core commitments (and convictions) as a Christian… Here they are…

1. The authority and accuracy of the Bible – the Holy Scriptures. My all sufficient guide for faith and daily living.
2. The pervasive and destructive impact of sin upon creation, culture and humanity.
3. The redemptive and restorative power of the gospel.
4. The centrality of Jesus Christ to God’s redemptive plan.
5. The essential power of the Holy Spirit.
6. The one true God – holy, loving, sovereign, eternal, our creator and Heavenly Father.
7. The Church – the corporate expression of “the body of Christ” in our world and local communities.

They’re not perfect I am sure, and are not comprehensive of all I believe, but they are core convictions that I hold dear as a Christian.  I hope you share them with me… They guide my life and are the basis for my faith and hope.

I was sitting in a lobby waiting for my appointment and picked up a magazine – a travelogue actually. As I thumbed through it I found an article about a wonderful country – a delightful place to live! The pictures were stunning and the description inviting… great scenery, sound economy, mild temperatures, wonderful opportunities…

Thought about that this morning as I read the following description of “a covenant of peace” that the Lord would one day make this His people… In fact, I wrote these words in the margin of my Bible: “Oh what a difference the Lord’s blessing makes! I’d like to live here when the Lord fulfills this wonderful prophetic word!” Wouldn’t you?”

Here’s the description…

“I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods at night without fear. I will bless my people and their home… And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing! The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops, and everyone will live in safety. When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from those who enslaved them, then they will know that I am the LORD. They will no longer be prey for other nations, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will frighten them. I will make their land famous for its crops, so my people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations. In this way, they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them. And they will know that they are my people, says the Sovereign LORD. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” (From Ezekiel 34:25–31 NLT)

Pretty incredible eh? (Especially in light of how God’s people are described as having been treated in the first part of this chapter!)

Hey, come to think of it, if you think this description in Ezekiel is awesome, you should read about the future of God’s faithful people found in Revelation 21-22 in your Bible! It’ll blow your mind! In fact, one passage of Scripture puts it this way, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him!” Just say’n!!!

Hey you don’t have to pick up a travelogue… Pick up your Bible and read it!!!