Coffee With The Lord

I don’t do this often, but I thought you might enjoy… A “coffee with the Lord” blast from the past (the passage was part of my Bible reading today)…

Hey, the Lord loves “Scrooge McDuck” too (in the Bible his name is Zacchaeus)!

You know them… the little guy in our culture who is a cheat! He’s ripped off a multitude of people. Evil as can be! He’s the one with that inner office that nobody can get to without going through a thousand others who do his dirty work for him… He never answers his phone unless he’s forced to. A wicked little snip – greedy as can be – all he can think about is money. Heartless little hunk of humanity! The guy you love to hate.

God loves him! Jesus knows where he is! Jesus knows his name! Jesus knows how to get through to him! Jesus is not out to get his money – He cares about him!!

I read about this guy in the Bible this morning during coffee… Here’s the story – check it out…

“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said. ‘Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.’ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner!’ they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’” (Luke 19:1–10 NLT)

So here’s my advice… Don’t allow your heart to hate this guy, like the religious crowd of Jesus’ day! And don’t be a party to those who criticize the Christians who try to reach out to him with the gospel! Instead pray for him! The Lord knows “the tree” he’s in and how to get through to Him! The Lord loves Him too! Remember: Jesus “came to seek and save those who are lost!

I guess it’s because I served as a “pastor” for many years that I admire spiritual leaders who authentically exhibit and exemplify a “pastor’s heart” so much! The fact is, anyone who has ever experienced authentic “pastoral ministry” has a deep appreciation for this important “gift” God has given His Church (cp. Ephesians 4:11-13). I’m not talking about a pastoral model that seeks primarily to be the church’s CEO or COO… but one who functions as a spiritual “shepherd” – leading and caring for “the flock of God!”

Paul, in the New Testament, although an “apostle”, exhibited a “pastor’s heart!” I read about it this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“Since we were torn away from you for a short time, in person, not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face… For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? You are our glory and joy! Therefore, when we could bear it no longer…we sent Timothy [Paul’s protégé – the young man Paul mentored], our brother and God’s coworker in the Gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by the afflictions they are facing… When I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” (from I Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:5)

There it is – the “heart of a pastor!”: Caring! Concerned! And checking up on the spiritual welfare of those he leads! Listen, if you have been fortunate enough… No, I better change that… If you’ve been blessed by God to have such a spiritual leader you know their value! Pray for them! Express your appreciation for them (both verbally and in tangible ways). And most of all, respond to their leadership, for they “keep watch over your soul” (cp. Hebrews 13:7, 17)!

Hope you’re feeling spiritually secure “in Christ” today! It’s no fun feeling like you could slip up and lose your salvation at any moment with the slightest error, subtle temptation, or assault from the “Enemy” (Satan). It’s called “eternal insecurity,” and the good news is you don’t have to live that way! If you know the Lord and have experienced His salvation you have a “Divine Keeper!”

I’ve got a few verses from the Bible, God’s reliable word, that I depend on – no, more than that, I “bank on” in this regard…

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man! But 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.” (But just in case you get a bit “cocky“ in your “security, better read verse 12 too!)

Another important “security passage” – Romans 8:31-39 – it ends this way… “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (and then lists a bunch of things we might think could), but then declares, “No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! … Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

One more: Romans 14:4 – “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand!”

And I could provide others… But this morning I came across one in Psalms during “coffee with the Lord” that should buttress you sense of “spiritual security!” Here it is…

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever! As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore! For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.” (from Psalm 125 ESV)

After I read that Psalm this morning I jotted these words in the margin of my Bible… As God’s child I’m stable, secure, protected and defended by God Himself!