Coffee With The Lord

There are some wonderful passages that speak of a future day for God’s people… Isaiah 54 is one of those passages! Always worth an encouraging read! I am aware it was originally inspired to and through the prophet Isaiah to God’s people Israel who were suffering terribly at the hands of a pagan nation for their rebellion and sin… But its message applies to God’s people today (and in the future) who will face suffering! I read it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” and jotted this in my journal… OH WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE FUTURE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE!!!

I am placing words from it here today for your reflection and encouragement…

“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy!… Enlarge the place of your tent… For you will spread out to the right and to the left… Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth…

“For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back…

“’For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back! In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,’ says the Lord your Redeemer. ‘To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed!’” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

“’Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you!

“’No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.” (Adapted from Isaiah 54 NIV for reading and reflection)

All I can say is “Wow, Praise the Lord!” I’m looking forward to that day!!

I’ve worked on a few construction projects and encountered different building superintendents… Some are aloof, simply show up occasionally, examine things, give a few orders, scold a bit and disappear. Others jump right in there with you, give you a sense of “team,” offer some suggestions, make the tasks enjoyable and applaud progress… you never have the sense of them “not being there.”

In the task of Church building, I believe the Lord is the second kind of “building superintendent” or “site superintendent!” We are “God’s fellow workers” or as another translation puts it, “laborers together with God. (Check out 1 Corinthians 3:9-17)

The Lord is building His church – the “temple” where He manifests His presence! It is a big important project! The firm, strong foundation is Jesus Christ! We participate in the building process – He uses us!

We need to give Him our best and build with things that endure! He’s no slouch and wants our best. What we do – what we have done – will be tested! Is it enduring – can it stand the test?

Apostle Paul, “a skilled master builder,” inspired by the Holy Spirit gives this warning: “Do you not know that you (plural in the Greek – “You all”) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him! For God’s temple is holy, and YOU are that temple!”

But hey, take it from me, no one better to work with (and under) than God! He makes me want to give my best effort and invest quality workmanship in the “Temple” He’s building!

Sometimes, as time passes we forget things that are important and we need reminders.  I wish we’d never forget, but sometimes we do.  Where did we put that item?  What did that person tell us?  What was that telephone number?  How did I do that?  When did that happen? … You’ve had a few “forgets” too, I can see! J  What’s frustrating is they tell me it gets worse as you as you get older! J

Thought about all of that as I read these words from the Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“Listen to me! … Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He!  I am He who will sustain you!  I have made you and I will carry you!  I will sustain you and I will rescue you! … Remember this! Keep it in mind!  Take it to heart! … I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.  I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please… What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do!’” (from Isaiah 46)

God said that!  I can’t afford to forget it!  (And most of all, I’m very grateful for the reminder!!)  Don’t let me forget this Lord!!