Coffee With The Lord

Couldn’t pass this one up – An important reason for Bible reading as a central part of my daily devotions…

From my Bible reading this morning…

“Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope!” (Romans 15:4)

My experience? That is precisely what daily Bible reading – interactive Bible reading (letting God speak to me through Scripture and me speaking to God in prayer) – accomplishes! I experience needed instruction, I’m encouraged in my Spiritual journey, endurance grows, and hope [confident expectation of God’s presence in my life and favor] increases!!!

Glad I spent time in God’s word, the Bible today… and yesterday… and I’m looking forward to spending time doing it tomorrow!

Romans 14:13-23: Limiting “my freedom” for the sake of a fellow Christian

Several statements in this passage haunt me! Here they are…

“Resolve never to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in the way of a fellow Christian”

“If your brother [or sister] is grieved because of… you are no longer walking in love”

“Do not let your good be spoken of as evil”

“Pursue things which make for peace and the things by which we may edify [build up] one another”

“Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of (several things might be named) …”

“It is good neither to … do anything by which a fellow Christian stumbles or is offended or is made weak”

The point? The “law of love” demands that I be willing to limit my “freedom” for the welfare and benefit of a fellow Christian! I must be willing to do that… AND I WILL!!!

Sometime in our lives we will all face things that are terrifying to us – a situation that produces dread in our hearts.

Isaiah 33 raises that issue for God’s people Israel… The “destroyer” in this passage was probably “Assyria”. Assyria, in the ancient world, was the early purveyor of “shock and awe.” Their methods of warfare were notoriously cruel. They raped, pillaged and tortured their victims. God allowed them to be the agent of judgment upon His people for their sin…

In the face of that terrifying situation Isaiah voices a prayer on behalf of a righteous minority in the nation… He cried out, “O Lord, be gracious [merciful] to us!  We wait for you!  Be our arm every morning, our salvation in time of trouble!” (Isaiah 33.2 ESV).

Those words give voice to a prayer that I will need to pray someday in a terrifying situation! Perhaps you’re facing something like that right now! Perhaps it is a dreadful situation of your own making … Perhaps it isn’t. Doesn’t matter… PRAY THE PRAYER!! God will help you! He will sustain you!! He will be “your strong arm each day and your salvation in times of trouble!”