Coffee With The Lord

Bad situations can have good results for Christ followers!

That’s the message the Apostle Paul conveyed to his dear friends, the Christians in Philippi, regarding his imprisonment in Rome! In fact, as unpleasant (and unfair) as the experience was for Paul, God used it to get the gospel into Caesar’s household! Paul actually began to view being in prison as “my imprisonment is for Christ.” He went on to say, “I am put here for the defense of the gospel” (actually terminology soldiers used to describe being “stationed”, “on duty”, or “under orders”). The point? Paul realized that, as unpleasant as his imprisonment was, God used it for His glory and the spread of the gospel! (Philippians 1:12-18)

Several years ago, a dear friend of mine made a terrible mistake and was led into a unwise (and illegal) business deal. He realized it after he had been entrapped, tried desperately to get out of the deal and attempted to make it right. However, a “pit bull prosecutor” pressed a lawsuit and my friend ended up in prison, much to his dismay and shame. He realized something however – God could use the situation for His glory! He determined to be a witness within the prison and was mightily used by God to lead many fellow prisoners to Christ and minister hope to their families. When I heard the stories of how God turned a terrible situation into good and the glory of God, my eyes flowed with tears and my heart was filled with praise!

Another story… I had a friend that was diagnosed with cancer. We all prayed for healing fervently… but it did not seem to come. My friend determined to be a witness for Christ and an agent of hope during his treatments and hospitalization. As a result of his loving witness and indomitable hope many came to know the Lord in a personal way. He walked the halls as an “ambassador for Christ” and a suffering chaplain. He lived for Christ (and died for Christ)! Which reminds me of Paul’s words in this passage… “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that will full courage – now as always – Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!” (Philippians 1:20-21)

I want to live with that conviction… and when I die, I want to die with that conviction! Don’t you?

Oh, I want to be an obedient, wholehearted, follower of Jesus!! That is the “blessed” life! Those who live that way enjoy the goodness, the generosity and grace of God! I read the following words from Psalm 119:1-8 this morning during “coffee with the Lord” and embraced them while my whole heart…

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways!”

And then the prayer that I made my own today…

“Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!”

I want to live that way, don’t you?!

This word… “LOVE” – has all kinds of associations, applications and usages (many of which have nothing to do with authentic love)!
“I just ‘love’ that dress, that activity, or that cuisine!” They made “love” to each other (…maybe or maybe not – could be nothing but biology, hormones, even victimization of another human being). Does “love” make promises of fidelity and faithfulness to a spouse and then break them with an adulteress affair? Does someone confess “love” to a friend and then “knife them in the back” with innuendo, gossip and libel? Does “love” abandon someone and forget them in an institution simply because “circumstances have changed”?

There’s a Bible word I came across in my Bible reading this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” that is a favorite for describing God’s love – real love! The Hebrew word is HESED and is often translated “steadfast love” in the Bible. It’s “covenant love” – NOT “fly-by-night” love, flimsy love, fleeting love, only “feeling love”! It’s the kind of love God has for us and Apostle Paul said this about it…

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? Or distress? Or persecution? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or danger? Or sword? … NO! in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, no rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:35-39 ESV)

That’s the kind of love I read about today in Psalm 118…

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love (His HESED) endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love (His HESED) endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love (His HESED) endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love (His HESED) endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man… I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation… You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love (His HESED) endures forever!” (from Psalm 118)

I don’t know about you, but I want to experience that kind of love! I want that kind of love change how I think about love! I want to exemplify that kind of love! Oh Lord, may Your “steadfast love” become more and more the kind of love I demonstrate!