Coffee With The Lord

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!”

Ever been given an assignment or sent on a mission for which you felt completely unprepared? I remember it happening to me… I protested, presented my argument, but the person hiring me (who happened to be the “boss”) told me, “don’t worry, I’ll teach you and train you how to do it!” And he did – and I’d have to say his preparation, training, and patience have borne fruit in everything I’ve had to do since then to fulfill God’s call upon my life!

I read a passage this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” that brought that to mind… Who would have EVER GUESSED Apostle Paul was the guy to be selected and commissioned to be “apostle to the Gentiles?” I mean read this personal profile and think about it… Paul said, “I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless.” But then he want on to say… “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ!” (Philippians 3:5-7 ESV)

And the Lord knew what He was doing – and the Lord prepared him! … That’s right, surprising as it may seem based upon his resume and educational background – “APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES!”

So here’s what I read this morning… Paul’s testimony: “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST!” (From Ephesians 3:7–8 ESV)

Hey, I’m a Gentile! I’ve got to tell you, I’m so glad Paul said “yes” to the Savior! And if you’re a Gentile (and not a Jew), you ought to be glad as well! [As an aside, Peter is called “Apostle to the Jews” cp. Galatians 2:7-8.] And the point? If God has redeemed you, and called you – even if you feel unworthy, incapable, and unprepared – He can prepare you, equip you and use you! Praise the Lord!!! Say “YES!” to Him!