Coffee With The Lord

There are those passages in the Bible that speak with a “punch” – with “Apostolic authority” (“Apostolic” with a capital “A” – not a small “a”). Apostle Paul was not “fooling around” when he wrote what he did to the “Christians” in the churches in and near Ephesus – he was “inspired” and spoke directly to the issues, influences and challenges they were facing as “the body of Christ” – the Church in his day and time.

The passage where Apostle Paul addresses His concerns is Ephesians 5:3-12 – a part of my Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord” (you should take time to read it for yourself)…

And nothing has really changed… The challenges and evil influences the Church faced as “the body of Christ” within the Roman culture are in many ways replicated in ours! The temptation today, as then, very often would lead us to compromise in the area of moral purity and distinctive, transformed living in thought, speech and action.

So here goes my attempt to re-present Paul’s challenge…

The expectation:

Christians should be “new and different people” – transformed by faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Moral purity is expected from them in sexual matters, speech, humor and the expression of their desires… The “mores” (the evil practices of the broader culture) “should not even be named among them” according to Apostle Paul). Instead “thanksgiving,” holy living and the pursuit of “what would please the Lord” should characterize those who claim to have been “born again!”

And the warning?

“You may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous [and note that this covetousness is in a “moral purity” context] – i.e. “lust”) has no inheritance in the king of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the son of disobedience. Therefor do not become partners with them!” (vss. 5-7)

The expectation and the warning is pretty clear wouldn’t you say? GOD HELP US TO BE A “NEW AND DIFFERENT” PEOPLE BY GOD’S POWER AND GRACE!

I walked into their house – dear friends of ours – and a sweet, clean, scent captured my attention. I commented how pleasing it was and my friends pointed over to a heated scent producing receptacle in their kitchen on the counter. Very pleasant – very nice! In fact, Sharon, my wife commented upon it as well and asked about the particular scent and the apparatus they had used and where it might be purchased. Not only was the scent enjoyable, the fact that the experience occurred in the home of a dear friend made it even better!

That experience came to mind this morning as I was reading the following verses during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…

“Be imitators of God as beloved children! AND WALK IN LOVE, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)

Ask any Christian, they’ll tell you that reflecting on what Christ did on their behalf when He offered Himself as the sacrifice for their sin on the cross is one of the most precious “Spiritual scents” imaginable! Love motivated His sacrifice – He did it because of LOVE! “For God SO loved the world” … that He sent His Son and Jesus freely offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sin! (John 3:16)

And we’re urged in Ephesians 5:1-2 to “imitate” Him – we’re urged to make self-giving love a lifestyle – “Walk in love” like Christ did! Can you imagine the “sweet Spiritual aroma” we would create in our world and to our neighbors? Incredible!!! They’d be asking, “Where did you get that aroma?!”

I don’t know about you, but I want live that way! I want the “LIFESTYLE OF LOVE” TO BE THE FRAGRANCE I SPREAD EVERYWHERE… JUST LIKE JESUS!!!

How many times have I re-lived the various aspects of the story found in Luke 8.22-25 in the Bible?! …

“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.   ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’”

And me? … At what I believed to be His direction, I was going places, doing things – my “life-boat” was just rocking along quietly, gently… things seemed to be going alright …

Then suddenly, something was terribly wrong!!  A life-squall swept down upon me!!  I was in great danger!!  If things don’t change – if help doesn’t come, I think I’ll perish!!  And  I panic!!

I cry out to Jesus!!  Lord help me!!  I’m going to perish!!

He hears!!  He comes!!  He helps!!  He acts and rescues me!!  Then he asks me the probing question… “WHERE IS (WHERE WAS) YOUR FAITH?”

The great challenge I face in life’s storms? … Will I trust Him?  Will I depend on Him?  Will I recognize that with Him in my life… NOTHING is out of control!!

Gotta tell you, He’s ok with me coming to Him with my concerns!!!  How do I know?  The Bible says so!   “Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in EVERY SITUATION, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.” (Philippians 4.6-7 NIV)

Yes, I’ve experienced the various aspects of this miracle story in my life personally many times!!  And each time, I’M AMAZED… “WHO IS THIS?!  HE COMMANDS EVEN THE WINDS AND THE WATER, AND THEY OBEY HIM!”