Coffee With The Lord

This morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I read one of the longest chapters in the Bible – Deuteronomy 28 (68 verses). It is also a chapter that leaves you with mixed emotions. It describes in detail the blessings and the curses that are assured if God’s people Israel abandon fidelity and obedience to God’s revealed will as they prepare to enter “the Promised Land” …

Com’on take the time, give it a read, and let the impact of it’s contents impress and influence you!

Here’s how it starts out… “If you will faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voiced of the Lord your God! (vss.1-2) …

And then a bit later… “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you! … All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes that He commanded you (vss. 15 & 45)…

Hey, it’s not just the Old Testament… obedience is a big deal throughout the Bible – in the New Testament as well!!!

I would have to say that one of the biggest changes that came over my life when I received God’s gift of salvation through Christ, and was “born again” (John 3:3-7) is my desires changed. I stopped desire to “do my own thing – pursuing my own self-will and desires – and experienced a deep and abiding desire to do God’s will and please Him!

In fact, after reading Deuteronomy 28 this morning, I jotted this in the margin of my Bible: “Oh Lord, May I take this passage seriously! May I always seek to obey, honor and please You!”

If I faced a crisis, there are some people that I would want praying for me! They are people of spiritual passion and power. They are people who over the years have demonstrated they are on talking terms with God. They are people of faith and character. Who would you want praying for you?

The apostle Paul wouldn’t be a bad choice! At the beginning of his letter to the churches in and around Ephesus we catch a glimpse of an apostle’s heart. Reports had reached his ears about the character of these churches and the challenges they were facing. Some things Paul heard about were encouraging. Other things, however, concerned him. These things drove Paul to his knees in unceasing intercession for these congregations! Then after praying (perhaps even while praying) Paul wrote this letter. We’re fortunate to have Ephesians 1:15-23 as the written record of Paul’s “apostolic prayer!” (Read it for yourself today… I did.)

Sometimes spiritual leaders, faced with church problems, are tempted to reverse Paul’s order. They quickly fire off letters impulsively, hot with passion. But when we do that, we are always at risk. A healthy spiritual safeguard is to first bathe our concern in prayer and then deal with the problem. Prayer provides the objectivity, the spiritual perspective, and the opportunity to hear from God before responding.

Notice how Paul prayed…

First of all, his prayer was rich with thanksgiving – saturated with thanks – for the believers and congregations in and around Ephesus.

Secondly, Paul prayed God would give them a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that they would know Christ better! (vs. 17)

Next, he prayed that they would be able to grasp the grandeur of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. (vs. 18a)

Then he prayed that they would become fully aware of their glorious inheritance as sons and daughters of God. (vs. 18b)

Finally, he prayed that they would experience, grasp, and appropriate “the immeasurable greatness of God’s power! (vss. 19-21)

Hey, believe me… If we experience those things – if we really get a grasp of those spiritual realities – it will solve a lot of problems! So here is my prayer today – a prayer I pray along with Apostle Paul – “O Father, open the eyes of our heart to grasp this!”

I was born and raised in one of the most beautiful places in the world… Western Montana! I enjoyed places like The Mission Valley (just a beautiful, majestic range in the Rocky Mountains), Flathead Lake (largest freshwater lake West of the Mississippi river), Glacier National Park (I call it “The Alps of America”) every day. Looking back and reflecting on it, I didn’t appreciate what I saw and experienced enough as a boy. Now when I go back to visit I relish and savor everything I see… And as a Bible-believing Christian the experience provokes worship to the Creator/Sustainer God and my Heavenly Father!

Thought about all of that as I read Psalm 104 this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord!” Here’s just a taste of that Psalm (worship poem/song) from this mornings reading… ENJOY! WORSHIP!

“BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL!

O LORD MY GOD, YOU ARE VERY GREAT!

YOU ARE CLOTHED WITH SPLENDOR AND MAJESTY, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.

You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills;

They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.

From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

You make darkness, and it is night.

Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.

These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.

MAY THE GLORY OF THE LORD ENDURE FOREVER; MAY THE LORD REJOICE IN HIS WORKS!

I WILL SING TO THE LORD AS LONG AS I LIVE; I WILL SING PRAISE TO MY GOD WHILE I HAVE BEING!

MAY MY MEDITATION BE PLEASING TO HIM, FOR I REJOICE IN THE LORD.

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL! PRAISE THE LORD!”

(From Psalm 104 ESV)