Coffee With The Lord

Sometimes Christians act like little children – “tattle tales” on a playground – they run to their teacher and say… that group or person over there (as they point emphatically with their “spiritual” finger) don’t believe exactly like we do, they don’t play by the same “spiritual” rules, they’re not doing the Lord’s work just like we do it! Someone needs to stop them!! They’ll ruin everything!!”

How do you think the Lord responds when we act like that?

Good question! Do you think He says, “Thank you for that important information! You’re exactly right! I’m going to go over and put a stop to what they’re doing right now ‘in my Name’ and on my behalf!! Or does He respond with a rebuke to the “Tattletale” – just like a good parent or teacher sometimes does on the playground?

Well, fortunately we’re not left in doubt… There is a situation just like that described in the Bible…

“John spoke up, ‘Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group!’ Jesus wasn’t pleased. He said ‘Don’t stop him! No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not our enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving someone a cup of water in my name is on our side! Count on it – God will notice!’ On the other hand, if you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t! You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck!” (Paraphrase of Mark 9:38-42 from The Message)

I just gotta say, I don’t want to behave like a spiritual “tattletale!” Somehow I don’t think the Lord has changed his attitude about it. I admit, there are some things that really matter – like the truth of “the Gospel” or the clear teaching of Scripture on a subject! But simply complaining that a fellow Christian isn’t in “our group” or differences in “ministry style” or making a big deal about minor differences of opinion in doctrine, won’t win the approval of the Lord.

The point? Don’t be a “Spiritual tattletale!” It won’t work with the Lord!

You’ve got to get this picture… The king has returned from conquest!  He has been the mighty victor – the enemy has been defeated!  The streets are filled with cheering people as he rides into the city.  The aroma of the spoil of the victory fills the air … some of sweet and pungent spices from far-away places – other odors, not so pleasant, the smell of death.

That is the scene behind 2 Corinthians 2.14-16 – one of the passages I read this morning during “coffee with the Lord”

“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.  Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.  Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.  To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”  (New Living Translation)

We lived in enemy territory under the dominion of a tyrant king.  But Jesus, our Savior, engaged the battle to deliver us, and He won!  We – those He has redeemed and rescued – are the spoil of his conquest.  Our lives produce a fragrance in His victory parade.  To those who accept His victory and sovereign rule our lives and testimony bring hope … we produce the fragrant odor of life!  To those who resist His reign in their lives, however, there is the ominous odor of death.

I want the liberating victory of Jesus to be evident in my life!  I want the fragrant odor of His conquest in my life’s battles to bring hope to those around me!  And I’ll pray fervently for those who are rejecting the Gospel – the “Good News” of His victory over sin and Satan… I certainly prefer the odor of life to that of death!!!

Integrity is a big deal!  People who are true to their word and keep their promises, even under duress are not plentiful – but they are valuable!  They can be trusted!  Tony Dungy, great NFL coach and committed Christian emphasizes its importance (see pic).

The Psalmist, David, posed this question and made this strong affirmation:  “Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle [enjoying the potent, profound presence of God]?  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart… Who swears to his own hurt and does not change! … He who does these things shall never be moved!” (From Psalm 15)

In my Bible reading this morning, Apostle Paul had given some assurances to the Christians in Corinth about his intention of visiting them.  He was concerned that when he gave an assurance of what he intended to do that he fulfill it, and not be viewed as one who vacillated. He wanted to be true to his word!  Most of all he wanted His word to be like that of God and His Savior, Jesus Christ… True!  Dependable!  Not qualified or vacillating – “yes and no at the same time!”  Inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul declared, “All the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Christ! – In Him they were always ‘Yes!” (From 2 Corinthians 1:.15-20)  God keeps His word!

Listen, I want my integrity to mirror His integrity, don’t you?!