Coffee With The Lord

Panic sets in!  You hurry to someone you think should know – someone who needs to be aware – someone you hope can take charge and help.  And you cry out to them… “Did you know?  Are you aware?!”  And they respond with a calming voice, “Yes, I’m aware – it’s under control!”

Listen you may feel anxious thoughts overwhelming you today!  You don’t know where to turn or who can help you.  You wonder if the Lord is aware of your situation… You cry out, “Lord are you aware?  Do you know what I’m going through?”

He speaks through His word… “Yes, I know – I’m aware – it’s under control”

How do I know?  This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read and reflected on Psalm 139:1-6 and I heard Him say it…

“ O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

You discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

So if you’re anxious, fearful and about to panic, here’s my advice… Read Psalm 139:1-18 today – reflect on it’s message and listen closely… I believe you’ll hear the Lord say it to you… “Yes, I know – I’m aware – and believe Me, it’s under control!”

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IS ON THE INCREASE IN OUR WORLD TODAY…China, Iran, North Korea, Somalia., Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Iran are all reported as areas of extreme and violent persecution of Christians. More than 360m Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith! (Source Open Doors 2023 World Watch List). In fact, persecution of Christians in America is on the increase, which should concern us greatly!

This morning in my Bible reading I was reminded of this painful reality with Apostle Paul’s words of assurance to the persecuted Thessalonian church in the 1st century. When we hear of persecution (or experience it) the temptation is always retaliation (which violates the teaching and spirit of Jesus as well as the gospel – Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-28; Romans 12:14-21).

Yet there arises within us a legitimate cry for “justice!” Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1 assured the persecuted believers in Thessalonica that God will take care of the “justice” issue, freeing them up to be redemptive in their relations to their persecutors. Here is what Paul assures them of…

“God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They [your persecutors] will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints…” (2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 ESV)

In the margin of my Bible this morning I jotted these words: “Wow! I would not want to be an unrepentant persecutor of Christians on that day! God is just!”

It is interesting to me, however, that the one who under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 before his conversion and repentance was a persecutor of Christians! (1 Corinthians 15:9-10) Thank God for his forgiveness and grace!

But Apostle Paul does not finish this passage in 2 Thessalonians, here! He goes on to assure the persecuted Christians there with these wonderful words… “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you [the persecuted], and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ!” (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 ESV)

Oh what a prayer!!! Today I pray it for persecuted followers of Jesus everywhere in our world!!!

One of the neat things about large convocations (like the General Council for the Assemblies of God) is renewing acquaintance with a lot of old friends… former classmates in college, colleagues in ministry (and for me, just a lot of my former students). I love it!! (I endure the business sessions … but love the “fellowship”!  There are wonderful opportunities for conversation, reminiscing about “old times” together, catching up on where people are now and what they’re doing, as well as hearing the great stories of what God is doing through their ministry and in their lives…

Thought about all of that this morning as I read how Apostle Paul opened his second letter to the believers in Thessalonica…

We ought always to give thanks to God for you … because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we boast about you for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 ESV)

That’s the report I want to hear from my old friends… Faith growing! Love for one another increasing! Perseverance and faith evident in all that life brings!

I not only expect to hear that kind of report from and about them… I want that to be the report that they hear from and about me!!

COM’ON, LET’S “BUILD ONE ANOTHER UP” SHALL WE?!!