Coffee With The Lord

DUMB! DUMBER!! DUMBEST!!! That’s all I’ve got to say about the person II read about in the Bible this morning!

I’m an ol’ Montana farm boy, raised in the mountains, and know just a little about hunting, fishing and trapping… I KNOW you don’t set a trap, build a blind, or leave a fish hook exposed if you expect to trap, kill or catch anything!! Sometimes animals of prey are smarter than some people!!!

Proverbs 1.8-19 addresses that very topic… Here’s an excerpt…

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction! Do not forsake your mother’s teaching! … If sinful men entice you do not give in to them! If they say, ‘come along with us… cast lots with us; we will all share the loot’ – do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths! For their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. HOW USELESS TO SPREAD A NET WHERE EVERY BIRD CAN SEE IT! These men lie in wait for their own blood – they ambush only themselves!” (NIV)

Now before, I get too carried away about others… I think I need to remember the times I watched someone build a moral trap and then I walked right into it… Yup! I did it!! Dumb! Dumber!! Dumbest!!

I needed to pray passionately and personally this line of the “Lord’s Prayer” (or better “the Prayer Jesus Taught His Disciples to Pray”)… “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one!” (Matthew 6.13) I also need to remember this word of warning (and assurance) from the Bible… “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind! God is faithful! He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear! But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it!” (1 Corinthians 10.12-13 NIV) And one more just for good measure… “Flee youthful lusts! Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart!” (2 Timothy 2.22)

HEY, DON’T BE DUMB!!

“PALAVER” – Your word for the day…

Webster defines it as “a long parlay between persons of different levels of culture or sophistication; idle talk; to talk profusely or idly.”  You might refer to it as a lot of “hot air” – a long and extended argument that produces a lot more heat than it does light.

I have a friend (who will remain unnamed) who never saw an animated argument he didn’t like.  He seems to gravitate to discussions filled with controversy.  He likes it when voices raise, conflict ensues, accusations are leveled at one another, people are called names and things are said that wound and hurt others… I mean the guy really seems to enjoy it!  He likes it so much he looks for opportunities and issues like that and brings them up in a conversation whenever he gets a chance.  What really is troubling is that those discussions are often over religious practices, the work of the church and theology.  I wish he’d stop it!!  I’ve told him so… but he doesn’t seem to listen!  Oh, you know this guy?  Not the same guy?  Another just like him?  Lord, help us!!   More than one?!!!

I read a passage from the Bible this morning that addresses this issue (and problem)…

Apostle Paul urged Timothy to “stay in Ephesus so that you can command certain people” not to engage in those kinds of discussions.  Here is what he said about them…

“Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work – which is by faith.  The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  Some have departed from these and turned to meaningless talk… they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” (from 1 Timothy 1.3-7)

Don’t know about you, but I’m a little edgy about hanging around someone who always wants a good argument!  I feel much more at home in a sincere conversation with someone characterized by “love, a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith.”  I want to talk about the Lord, his provision, Christian living and the cause of the Gospel in that kind of way, don’t you?!  I’m praying for my friend… (and looking for the right opportunity to talk to him lovingly about his problem.)  I ADMIT, I’M TIRED OF “PALAVER!”

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly! Let [God’s people] be glad in their Maker; let them rejoice in their King! Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody to Him with tambourine and lyre! For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory! … Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands! … O Praise the Lord!” (From Psalm 149:1–9 ESV)