Coffee With The Lord

As a young man growing up, I remember my Dad reminding me, “Son, behave yourself! Remember who you are! (and the implied message was… “You are a “Bartel” – don’t damage our reputation or discredit our “name!”).

The importance of that exhortation is only amplified as it relates to our behavior as “Christians” … (After all, we bear the name of Christ!)! Our lifestyle and testimony is important and it must not be sullied or damaged in any way!

Tragically, in the polarized political and cultural climate where we are called upon to live out our Christian values today, some who claim the name of Christ have fallen prey to vitriolic discourse and rebellious behavior.

The inspired words of Apostle Peter that I read this morning, delivered to his Christian audience in the 1st century sound a lot like my Dad..

“Be subject FOR THE LORD’S SAKE to every human institution… For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, but never using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone! Love the brotherhood [fellow Christians]! Fear God! Honor the emperor [duly appointed political leaders]! Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God!” (From 1 Peter 2:13–20 ESV)

Wow! Ouch!! …Challenging in our present political/cultural climate, eh? How can it be done? Well the very next verses that follow provide the answer… We claim to be “CHRISTians” – follow the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord!

“…For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE, SO THAT YOU MIGHT FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (From 1 Peter 2:21–24 ESV)

My prayer! … Oh Lord, help me always to behave in a way that honors Your Name and expresses Your values! May You, in every way – every day – in every situation, be my example! Remember this saying? … “What Would Jesus Do?” – “WWJD!”

A wonderful word to those who may feel marginalized, excluded, rejected (in this case it was gentile persecuted believers)…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV)

I’m urging those who access my “Coffee with the Lord” posts to read Acts 12:1-19 in their Bible today… that’s right, read it!

Some have used the passage to subtly scold “the church” for their lack of faith (they did not REALLY believe their prayers would be answered – and were surprised when they were)…

I think, however, that is a mistake and an unfortunate conclusion (surprised perhaps, but after all they were praying!)…

This is what I jotted in the margin of my Bible today… The situation you (and others) are facing may seem frightening, even impossible… BUT PRAY! GET OTHERS TO JOIN YOU IN PRAYER! LEAVE THE RESULTS IN THE HANDS OF GOD! – HE IS ABLE TO DO WHAT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE! HE IS GOD!

Please don’t turn this wonderful story of God’s deliverance into a negative indictment! (Philippians 4:6-7)