Coffee With The Lord

“Easier said than done!” … is a classic, “tongue in cheek” response people give when they believe they have received a simplistic solution to a complex problem.

However, some thorny problems have rather simple solutions (even if the application of the solution is, as they say… “Easier said than done!” Here’s just a sample…
 “Don’t spend what you don’t have!”
 “Plan ahead… It pays off later!”

Overcoming sin and living a victorious life as a Christian is a bit like that… It really has a simple solution (but the application of it – the doing of it can be challenging – and probably requires an ongoing process of application) … I read about it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” – Romans 6:1-11…

The secret to overcoming sin and living a victorious Christian life is fully identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (and it’s all pictured in water baptism)!
 Jesus died for our sin… And His death is somehow our death to sin!
 Jesus was buried… Our identification with His burial is pictured and realized in our baptism!
 Jesus rose from the dead! And by identifying with His resurrection we are enabled to live new, overcoming lives!

So… “CONSIDER YOURSELVES to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ!” Do that publically and decisively at the time of your water baptism… Then consider His death for your sin – your death to sin; His burial – your burial of your old sinful self; His resurrection – your resurrection to live a new life, overcoming sin by His power and enablement!

Here it is right out of the Bible (read it, reflect on it, believe it, and appropriate it day by day!)…

“So should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead… So you also must consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:1-11 the New Living Translation)

“Easier said than done?” I know – believe me, I know! But I also know it’s God’s Word, it’s God’s provision in Christ Jesus, and it’s God’s promise… and IT WORKS!

A year ago I posted this “Personal Manifesto” – Today I want to reaffirm it!

I am disappointed…disgusted…but not in despair! I read, listen and watch the news and want to vomit! Leaders nationally (both parties) have created a polarized, poisonous atmosphere in this nation of ours. Moral values have evaporated and decayed within the social fabric of our country. Perversion and exploitation are rampant! Insane, destructive decisions are made at both a national, state, and local level. The courts are corrupted. What to do? Despair? NO!!! With God’s help I intend to be “salt and light” within our culture – a positive, Christ-like influence within my community and nation! I intend to share the life-transforming, culture transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ within the contexts He has given me! And I can pray fervently for a spiritual and moral revival in this nation of ours and our world (AND I WILL!)… until Jesus returns! My personal manifesto!!!

It’s been “in-service” time at many schools, colleges and universities! If you interviewed those who teach at those institutions about their opinion of “in-service” you’d probably get a mixed response that would include… “boring!” “Same-o, same-o, same-o!” “Redundant!” I had a friend, well-known for his unforgettable quips, who had this to say about some “in-services”… “Being talked to death is a terrible way to die!” Some, however, would say “in-service” is… “Helpful” – “Interesting” – even “essential!” – And perhaps even sometimes “fun” (believe it or not!) – And “relationally enriching” or “team building”! Hey, “in-service” is important, to have an effective, good, school year!

I wish I could say it’s different about some church services and discipleship classes (but it’s not)! The fact is, they’re not always exciting, they’re not always “fun” … But even when they’re NOT scintillating – even when they don’t produce “goosebumps” – eternal issues are at stake! They contribute to the effectiveness of the Christian “walk” that Apostle Paul talked so much about! In fact, it was Paul’s favorite word to describe the effective Christian life (not “run” – not “fly” – not even “warfare!”) … Just “walk” – “walk out the Christian life – one step in front of another… If you doubt it, grab a concordance and check it out (especially in Ephesians).

So on an average Sunday, or in midweek services, or sitting in discipleship classes, or in chapel services at a Christian school, college or university… don’t get the idea that to be effective everything always has to produce Holy Spirit “goosebumps” to be effective, or “sensory overload” to make a difference, or produce an uncontrollable urge to weep or worship to result in transformation. Miracles happen – but they don’t always happen. Those times come, and we’re grateful for them… But it’s day-after-day – week-after-week – it’s the cumulative effect of God’s word, obedience, worship, prayer, and Christian service that transforms our lives! We “walk!” – that’s right, just plain old “walk” with the Lord! Here it is… for your consideration from Ephesians:

“You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once WALKED, following the course of this world, following the prince of of the power of the air, the spirit that is not at work in the sons of disobedience… But now, we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK in them!” (2:1-2, 10)

“I urge you to WALK in a manner worth of the calling to which you have been called…” (4:1)

“You must no longer WALK as the Gentiles [the unconverted] do!” (4:17)

“WALK in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us!” (5:2)

“At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord! WALK as children of light… and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (5:7-10)

“Look carefully then how you WALK, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (5:15-16)

So I guess it’s a little like “in-service” – Not always exciting, but important! At the outset of this New Year I’ve made up my mind… Gonna WALK with the Lord – Gonna WALK as a Christian!