Coffee With The Lord

A daily prayer of mine… “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer!” (Psalm 19:14)

Many of you who are a regular part of the “Coffee with the Lord” group know of my commitment to the value of spiritual disciplines (Bible reading, reflection-meditation, prayer, worship, thanksgiving, FASTING, etc.).  These are essential elements in a life of spiritual health and vitality. 

Having said that, I think it is a terrible mistake for a Christian to focus on spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, worship , AND FASTING and neglect issues of practical Christianity like “social justice” and compassionate concern for the essential needs of others!!  In fact I just read about that in the Bible this morning…

Isaiah 58:3–9 ESV)

“’Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

“Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.  Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.  Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?  

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’”

So, here’s the deal for me… I want to be faithful in the spiritual disciplines the sustain my personal spiritual life, but I never want to ignore the practical expression of my faith in God by neglecting issues of “social justice” and “compassion ministries”!  I want a full heart for God to play itself out in a generous and loving life… Don’t you?!

I’m so grateful for the leadership, guidance and help of the Holy Spirit! The New Testament refers to Him as the Divine “Paraclete” (the “Helper”) … and believe me, we need one!!!

In my Bible reading this morning I read the following wonderfully mysterious passage – a wonderful promise to God’s ancient people Israel as they journeyed toward the Promised Land – the Divine destiny God had promised them…

“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him… for my Name is in him. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries!” (from Exodus 23:20–22 ESV)

For us on our life journey, I believe that promise has its equivalent in the promised Holy Spirit! Consider the following words of Jesus…

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ever the Spirit of truth… He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you! … The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you… I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you… When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you!” (From John 14 and 16)

Just let me say, in my journey as a follower of Jesus through this life and onward toward my eternal future in heaven, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE GUIDANCE, LEADERSHIP AND HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!! Aren’t you?!