Coffee With The Lord

Today, I am confident there will be a number of people who begin anew a spiritual journey with Jesus! For some it will be a brand new beginning … the Bible refers to it as “NEW BIRTH” (a spiritual “coming alive” through God’s forgiveness, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit)! What an experience! For others, something happened that caused them to drift and lose their way – they made some bad choices and neglected their relationship with God. Today for them with be a new beginning – a fresh start in following Jesus… a RE-VIVAL of faith in Christ. Regardless, it’s a wonderful beginning – something to celebrate!

I’m aware of the fact that what matters most is that we finish what we begin. Beginnings don’t matter if we don’t finish. But we can’t let that keep us from celebrating beginning! There is something wrong when no one cheering at the starting gate at a marathon. We need supporters cheering wildly at the beginning and the end of the race.

Thought of all of this as I read these words in my Bible this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”… God’s people had experienced a long hiatus of exile in Babylon because of their sin. The temple (and Jerusalem) had been destroyed. Now they were returning home … the challenge that faced them was A “NEW BEGINNING”…

“All the people assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose… Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burn offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening… This was even before they had started to lay the foundation of the Lord’s temple… The construction of the temple of God began in mid-spring, during the second year after they arrived in Jerusalem. The work force was made up of everyone who had returned from exile… When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s temple…with praise and thanks they sang this song to the Lord: ‘He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!’ Many of the older priests, Levites and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.” (From Ezra 3 in the New Living Translation)

It was just a beginning … but it was a beginning!! TODAY LET’S CELEBRATE EVERY NEW SPIRITUAL BEGINNING! I intend to be cheering for those who decide to follow Jesus at the starting gate… AND THE FINISH LINE! (Check out Luke 15.4-7… “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

“Dear friends… Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, ‘Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation!’ … Don’t overlook this fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come! (From 2 Peter 3:1-10 CSB)

My Bible reading today during “Coffee with the Lord” left me so impressed by the godly leadership skills of Hezekiah in the Bible…

When facing the crisis of a siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, he consulted with his officials and military staff, strategized, and did what he could to deal with the situation (2 Chronicles 32.1-5)… That’s always good practice!! Do what can be done!

Then Hezekiah encouraged the people he led to trust God! The Bible says, “He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” (2 Chronicles 32:6–8) What a wise and godly leader!

But Sennacherib, king of Assyria, scoffed at Hezekiah, taunted him, and demeaned the Living God … The Bible says, “He spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other people of the world – the work of human hands.” (2 Chronicles 32.9-19)

Finally, Hezekiah went one step further … He did what every godly leader ought to do in a crisis… HE PRAYED and got others to join him in prayer! “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword. So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all others. He took care of them on every side.“ (2 Chronicles 32:20–23)

So here are 4 key leadership lessons from Hezekiah when facing an incredible crisis…

1. Do what can be done – collaborate with good people, strategize, and take constructive action.
2. Encourage those you lead not to listen to those who ridicule the Living God, but urge them to join you in trusting the Lord in the crisis.
3. PRAY (and solicit the prayer support of other praying people)
4. Finally, exercise faith – trust God to act in powerful ways!

Good stuff!! Don’t you want to lead in a crisis like Hezekiah did?!