Coffee With The Lord

An adage we sometimes hear when a son follows in his father’s foolish and sinful ways is… “LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.” Sometimes it turns out that way (and more often than we would like to admit – almost becomes a trend) – BUT, PRAISE THE LORD, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY! And the account of Josiah in 2 KINGS 22-23 IN YOUR BIBLE PROVES IT!

Josiah’s grandfather was the incredibly wicked king Manasseh… followed by the equally wicked Amon… You would expected compounded wickedness in Josiah, wouldn’t you, given his legacy?

But no!! The Bible says Josiah “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.” (22.2) And then what follows in the Bible is one of the most thorough records of spiritual reform anyone initiated and led in all of the Bible! Josiah didn’t just “kind’a – sort’a” lead the nation in reform! He did it with dedication, conviction and thoroughness … like a “spiritual pit bull”. (I mean, read it in your Bible! You’ll be impressed!!) In fact the final analysis of Josiah’s reign in 2 Kings 22.25 reads like this… “Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since!”

Wow! Gives me hope!! Sons do NOT have to be like their weak and wicked fathers – a generation can experience revival and be transformed by godly leaders and God’s grace! My prayer? Oh God, turn around the wickedness of our generation! Help a generation of young godly men and women to arise that “beat the odds” and lead our nation back to God and righteousness!! …

Then later this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read this from Proverbs 21.21… “WHOEVER pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness and honor!” Oh God, give us a generation of young leaders like that with the heart and convictions of Josiah!”

A wonderful “sip” from my time of “Coffee with the Lord” this morning

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor… One who oppresses the poor to increase their wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich – both come to poverty!” (Proverbs 22:9 & 16 NIV)

I’ve run a few marathons over the years … each of them was different … each of them was long (26.2 miles long in fact!). I especially remember my 2ndmarathon … White Rock Marathon right here in Dallas. I started the marathon with high hopes… Things were going pretty well, training was adequate, legs had been hardened over the previous 6 weeks with long training runs. But at the 20 mile marker I was beginning to really hurt… felt like I couldn’t go another step! An old bicycle injury was causing my right knee to “bark” at me, just like a dog! I decided it was time to “have a serious conversation” with my body! It was NOT going to tell me what to do! … I was going to inform it that I was going to finish this road race!… Anyone running next to me had to think I was crazy… In a rather loud voice I informed my body of that fact… I pushed through the pain, kind of limping along, got past the pain and finished the entire race “with a sprint”!! Incredible elation and personal victory!!

Thought of that this morning as I read these words from Hebrews 10.32-36 NIV:

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. YOU NEED TO PERSEVERE SO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD, YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT HE HAS PROMISED.”

Just take it from this ol’ guy… The victorious Christian life is not like a sprint…it’s more like a marathon!! (The 1st Century Christians referred to in this passage understood that!) I urge you, hang in there, push past the challenges (even the pain). Trust God to provide the strength you need. Reach deep within, depend on what you’ve built into your life though your day-to-day Christian living. Believe me, you’ll find “a 2nd wind”, God will be faithful, He’ll help you, He’ll empower you by the Holy Spirit, and I believe you’ll “finish with a sprint”! It will be worth it all!