Coffee With The Lord

I marvel at Apostle Paul’s ability to capture every authentic Christ follower’s personal testimony!! I know his expression of it in Titus 3:3-7 tells my story! I think you’ll admit it’s your story too!

“For we all were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” (from Titus 3:3–7 the NET Bible)

If we were asked to share your story – your testimony – of God’s redeeming grace in your life, I think we all could use this as a text and an outline to tell our “salvation story” from! Thank you Lord for what you’ve done in my life!

I am always impressed, when I read Apostle Paul’s letters, at his deep concern that the daily lives and behavior of Christians not harm the spreading of the gospel and hinder the positive influence that Christians have on their neighbors and the broader culture. He seems to be saying to followers of Jesus… “Be a nice person and a good citizen because you are Christian and represent Jesus Christ!”

For example, this morning I read these words that Paul wrote to Titus, a church leader in Crete (a tough place to serve the Lord) during the first century…

“Remind them (Cretan Christians in the first century) to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.” ( from Paul’s letter Titus 3:1–2 the NET Bible)

Now, that’s just practical good advice for Christians today who want to influence positively their culture for Christ! … Here’s my paraphrase of it…”Obey the law and show respect to your leaders! Do good! Watch your mouth! Be a positive influence in your community and not a ‘rabble rouser!’ And remember, kindness and courtesy go a long way toward influencing others for Christ!”

Lord, help me to be that kind of Christian!

“Grace” is not something you say before a meal. And from a biblical perspective “Grace” isn’t a blue-eyed blond either. Even saying that “grace” is “God’s unmerited favor” given to unworthy sinners is only half the story. It is that… but it is more than simply that… It is also God’s rich and ample provision (you could even say, abundant and profuse) of everything we need in order to please Him, do His will and fulfill his purposes! One biblical writer put it this way, “His divine power has given us everything necessary for life and godliness!” (2 Peter 1:3) Wow!!

All of that came to mind as I read these words from the Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good. (from Titus 2:11–14 the NET Bible)

Think of it! Not just God’s grace sufficient enough to save every human being on the face of planet earth because of what Jesus did for us! But grace at work within our lives training us to live Godly lives in a pagan culture and wicked world! Grace adequate to free us from every kind of lawless tendency so that we are eager to please the Lord in everyway! One word for that… Wow! I’m telling you, I need (and want) the full and complete work of God’s grace in my life, don’t you?”