Coffee With The Lord

WOW! What God is able to do in the lives of the unfaithful and apostate – the backslider who has abandoned faith, godly living, and God’s love!

I read about it this morning in Hosea’s prophecy during my time of “coffee with the Lord” … And “WOW” IS ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY!

In the inspired words of Hosea, God’s chosen people, Israel is described as a “prostitute” – No, worse than that… they are like a “spiritual slut!” (they gave themselves to sin, idolatry and evil without asking anything in return!) In fact, they actually sensually solicited sin and those who promoted it! The Lord’s command for Hosea to marry a prostitute (“Gomer,” have children by her, experience her unfaithfulness… and then receive her back in love illustrates God’s message.

God speaks through his prophet in Hosea 2:19-23 and says, “I will betroth you to Me forever! I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, and in steadfast love and in mercy! I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness! AND YOU SHALL KNOW THE LORD! … I will have mercy on “No Mercy,” and I will say to “Not My People,” ‘ You are My people!’ ; and He shall say, ‘You are my God!”

Now the “Prodigal Story” in the New Testament (Luke 15:11-32) is a wonderful story of God’s love, mercy and grace! But I’d have to say this account in Hosea rivals – or even surpasses it!

If your personal story is similar to Hosea’s description – or if you have a family member or friend who has turned their back on God and plunged deeply into sin – THERE IS HOPE! Jesus declared it, “Whoever comes to me I will NOT cast out!” (John 6:37) And 1 John 1:9 assures us, if we confess [acknowledge] our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!” … One more time – WOW!!!

PEOPLE CAN AND WILL DISAPPOINT YOU – even those we call “friends” can fail us. Paul said, “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them.” He expected support, companionship, encouragement, and even testimony on his behalf … he stood alone, they all forsook him.

In one of his lowest moments – a time of extreme disappointment and loneliness… THE LORD WAS FAITHFUL!  He continued… “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” Everything that people failed to provide the Lord supplied – where friends failed him, God fulfilled him!

AND MORE… GOD RESCUED HIM!! “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom! To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen!! (2 Timothy 4.16-18)

From feelings of abandonment to renewed confidence because of the faithfulness of God! Lord help me remember Paul’s testimony of Your faithfulness in my lowest moments and depend on You to replicate his experience in Your own way in my circumstances!

Andre Crouch, great contemporary Gospel singer, popularized a song with this title and message… “THROUGH IT ALL – THROUGH IT ALL! I learned to trust in Jesus – I learned to trust in God!”

This morning in my Bible reading during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I read the lyrics of an even greater song, written by King David, with a message much like that of Andre Crouch’s song. It’s found in 2 Samuel 22 (cp. Psalm 18) in your Bible. I’m going to just give you a taste of it in this post… But believe me, the entire song – the entire chapter in your Bible – is worthy of reading, reflection, and response! Here’s the “taste” of it I was talking about…2 Samuel 22 (ESV)

“David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul…

He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior… I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies!

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called… He heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears.

“He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

“This God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him! For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge, He has made my way blameless! He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. Your gentleness has made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip! You equipped me with strength for the battle!

“The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation! … For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name! (From 2 Samuel 22 – A song of David)

And from Andre Crouch (his testimony and song)…“THROUGH IT ALL – THROUGH IT ALL! I learned to trust in Jesus – I learned to trust in God!”