Coffee With The Lord

Want to know what will make your pastor (or any authentic spiritual leader for that matter) happy? Philippians 1:27 – 2:5 does an excellent job of expressing it. (Here’s what it says in the Message paraphrase…)
“Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ… Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God… If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself… (and it wouldn’t hurt to read the rest of the passage)!”
I served as a pastor for many years. I’ve seen enough “cat fights,” petty disagreements, self-seeking strategies, and pickiness! Praise God for the people who exemplify a Christ-like Spirit! Every pastor loves ‘em! Every congregation needs ‘em! They’re the kind of people that fill a pastor’s heart with joy!

I’ve got to watch out for materialism, greed and covetousness in my life!  So do you!  We live in the kind of culture that tends to emphasize those kinds of values!

Jesus warned against that kind of thing… He said, “Take care – be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions!”

Then He told this insightful story about a guy that was very successful in business and made a lot of money.  Wanting more, he decided to expand his business even more.  He wanted to be fabulously wealthy!  He desired to pile wealth up for himself and the personal satisfaction it would bring. But one day God spoke to him… God said, “You fool! Tonight you die! Then who will get all of the things you’ve piled up for yourself?” (personal paraphrase of Luke 12:20)

Good question!  That’s why the Bible makes this point in the very next verse… “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God!”

I want my priorities to be right in light of eternity!  I don’t want to be a Scrooge McDuck with my finances and a pauper in my soul and my relationship with God and others!

A big challenge for our children (and grandchildren) today? … Remaining morally pure in a corrupt culture! And it’s not just a “youth” problem … it’s the challenge we all face. Things once thought unthinkable by “religious folk” are now approved in the name of tolerance. Media flaunts relaxed morals and things the Bible calls “perversions.” The ancient directives regarding sexual morality in Proverbs, the teaching of Jesus, and the epistles are explained away as the relics of another era. The burning question for committed Christians is, how to remain “pure in heart” and “blameless in behavior” in a permissive culture?

Well, there are several Biblical answers to that question that we could address. I encountered an important one in my Bible reading this morning that we dare not forget…

“How can a young man (or woman) keep their way pure? By guarding it according to Your word! With my whole heart I seek You! Let me no wander from Your commandments! I have stored up (some versions say ‘treasured up’) Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You… In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches! I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” (from Psalm 119:9-16 ESV)

Anything that parents (and grandparents) can do to encourage Bible reading, Bible memorization, and/or Bible study by the youth in their family, it seems to me is a good idea (and as important as their kids taking their vitamins, eating healthy, getting the exercise they need and/or having the vaccinations they need). And for brand new, born again followers of Jesus (AND those of us who have been following the Lord for awhile)… we desperately need the Psalmist advice as well! Time spent internalizing God’s word is a healthy hedge against evil!

If I begin to neglect “coffee with the Lord” I can begin to tell it. I’m really glad for the time I spent with God’s word today!