Coffee With The Lord

In a little while, I’ll be heading off to meet with fellow Christians for worship, Bible study, an encouraging message from God’s word, and fellowship. I’ve already enjoyed a quality time of personal devotions that I call “coffee with the Lord” – a time I set aside daily for Bible reading, reflection, prayer and worship. As important as that “personal time” is, however, it is no substitute for what I gain from the corporate experience of gathering with fellow Christians each week – Christians call it “church!”

So many needs!  So many appeals for help!  We just received several in the mail today… and add to that the telephone calls and television appeals!  Going to church tomorrow and there just might be an urgent appeal there… Oh, and someone is knocking at the door right now… looks like another appeal for money… And there was that guy with the cardboard sign on the street corner…

You’ve experienced it… so have I!  It’s easy for our hearts to get hardened!  And then we receive the reports of those who lack accountability, are wasteful, and even deceptive and “crooked.”  If we’re not careful we can become skeptical and stingy!

It’s appropriate to “check ‘em out” and practice wise stewardship… But becoming stingy is a “spiritual no – no!”  I don’t want to be like that!  When Jesus came into my life He transformed me!  He took out “the heart of stone” and replaced it with a loving, caring heart!  Selfishness was replaced with a generous spirit!

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read what Apostle Paul told Titus, a spiritual leader in the 1^st century…

“Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need and not be unfruitful.” (From Titus 3:14)

Seems like really good advice for Christians today to me!  And it doesn’t always require money!  Sometimes it’s just effort and involvement – doing what we can to help out – sweating a little, getting a bit dirty, using our time and effort to be a blessing and meet a need.  But sometimes it requires some money too – a generous spirit!  Hey, Jesus is the one that said that two small coins is more than a big check if that’s all you have (cp. Matthew 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4 and II Corinthians 8:12)  Self-giving and generosity is fun for a Christian who has experienced a transformed heart!  I want to live my life  like that, don’t you?

Have you ever been overcome with deep feelings of compassion and sympathy for someone going through a trial?  You couldn’t help yourself… when you heard of their loss, saw their pain, and sensed their deep sorrow the feelings just welled up within you!  Tears came, you choked up, you could hardly talk – you just wanted to put your arm around the hurting person you cared so deeply about, do what you could to help them, and comfort them!

There’s a story like that in the Bible about Jesus!  Lazarus, his dear friend had died, Jesus had not been there when it happened. Mary and Martha, Lazarus’s sisters were grieving, hurt and suffering!  Here’s what the Bible says about the deep feelings Jesus experienced, “When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was DEEPLY MOVED in His spirit and GREATLY TROUBLED!  He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’  They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ [And then what follows is the shortest verse of Scripture in the Bible – but one filled with unspeakable depths of feeling and comfort] Jesus wept!” A couple of verses later this aspect of Jesus’ concern is amplified – the Bible says, “Then Jesus, DEEPLY MOVED AGAIN, came to the tomb…” (From John 11:17-44)

Jesus, however, did not just feel helpless in this sad situation.  He identified deeply with their pain and sorrow, but He knew what He was going to do!  He said, “I go to awaken him.” He was aware of who He was and what He could and would do.  He told Martha, Lazarus’s sister, “Your brother will rise again.”  And then He declared, “I am the resurrection and the life!  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die!”  Then displaying the truth of what He had declared, He had the stone rolled away at the grave and He “Cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!”  And Lazarus did!  Their sorrow was turned to joy – their hearts were filled with hope!

Two things need to be kept in mind it seems to me in this story:  First of all, Jesus cares deeply about the sorrow, pain and suffering we experience!  Second, because of who He is, there is hope – He is the resurrection and the life!

As I read this passage today during “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of the words of a wonderful old gospel song…

“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
“Oh, yes, He cares! I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares!

“Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

“Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

–Frank E. Graeff, 1901