Coffee With The Lord

My Bible reading today included Psalm 109… and believe me, it’s a “toughy!” It’s identified as one of the Bible’s “Imprecatory Psalms” which are known for calling down calamity, destruction, judgement, and God’s anger upon those who are the vicious enemies of God’s people. As such, “Imprecatory Psalms” are often considered less than righteous responses to wrongs suffered… less than Christlike in tone and expressive of New Testament standards.

After reading what David had to say in Psalm 109 today I wrote these words in the margin of my Bible… “This Psalm is a toughy! I’ve not experienced what prompted David to express what he did here, but I’ve underlined in its verses how I want to respond when I face similar circumstances”…

“In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer! They reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love! … But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf [with my adversaries & enemies] for your names sake. Because Your steadfast love is good, deliver me! For I am poor and needy and my heart is stricken within me! … Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! … Let them curse, but You will bless!” (Selected from Psalm 109)

Then I added these words in the margin of my Bible…. “And to those words from Psalm 109 I want to heed the urging of the following verses from the New Testament (you really need to read them all)… Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:14, 17-21; 1 Corinthians 4:12b-13a; and 1 Peter 3:9.” They urge us to “bless,” “pray for,” “forgive” and show “kindness and love” to those who wrong, persecute, and take advantage of us! It’s the better way, the overcoming way, the Kingdom way and the Heavenly Father’s way – the “THE GRACE WAY!“

“I urge you to WALK in manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

It’s not enough to simply “raise your hand, step to an aisle, go forward and pray a prayer” to be forgiven, and thus be “born again” or experience “new birth.” “DISCIPLESHIP” should be the result and outcome of “new birth!”

The big question is, are you a “disciple” (i.e. a devoted, obedient, follower of Jesus)? That is why the “Great Commission” Jesus gave His disciples was, “Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe (obey) all that I have commanded you!” (Matthew 28:19-20) It’s not enough to simply “make converts” or tally up “decisions” … we must “MAKE DISCIPLES!” Every Christian Church must be ‘first and foremost” in the DISCIPLEMAKING BUSINESS!

After a person makes a decision to follow Jesus, the next obedient step is to be “baptized” in water. Water baptism is important (even essential) but it is simply the “first step” of DISCIPLESHIP!

Hey, DISCIPLESHIP is a life-long journey! Apostle Paul described it as a “WALK”(a life-long walk)… “WALK” was his favorite word to describe DISCIPLESHIP(not “run, ride, or fly” – “WALK”)!

I was again reminded of this today in my Bible reading…

“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no long WALK as the Gentiles (i.e. the “unconverted”) do, in the futility of their minds… that is NOT the way you learned Christ (the word “learned” here is a Greek form of the words “disciple”) assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus. Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness,” (From Ephesians 4:17-24)!”

Com’on, let’s take a WALK together – the “Christ walk!” DISCIPLESHIP is a WALK… A WALK with Christ, a WALK with the constant help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, a WALKS with fellow Christians… and a WALK all the way from “here” to “heaven