Coffee With The Lord

Just let me make this declaration after having read Psalm 16 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord”… IT PAYS TO SERVE THE LORD!!!  I’m convinced I’ve chosen the best way – the only really good way!  Not much comment today… mostly Scripture – it says it all, it says it best!

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’  As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight!

“The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply…

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.  I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.  I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore!” (From Psalm 16 ESV)

One more time… IT PAYS TO SERVE THE LORD!!!

We are in Lent… a time set aside for Christians around the world to prepare their hearts for Holy week – celebrating and remembering the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  This morning my Bible reading included Isaiah 53 – a prophecy about the sacrificial suffering of the “Servant” (Jesus) for the sin of the world.  I’ve got to tell you, as my eyes pored over the words and my heart absorbed what they said, I was speechless!!  I thought of the gut-wrenching portrayal of these events in the movie “The Passion of the Christ.”  The only thing that came to mind was… “Thank you!  Thank you!!  Thank you, Lord!!!”

Here’s what impacted me so powerfully today from Isaiah 53… “Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering…He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all… By His knowledge my Righteous Servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities… because He poured out His life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors.  For He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”

So here I am, sitting with my Bible in my lap, with tears welling up in my eyes and a sob in my heart, with nothing to say to my Heavenly Father, and to Jesus, my Savior, but a heartfelt “Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!”

I read Psalm 14 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” and despaired at the human condition!

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.  The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.  Do all these evildoers know nothing?” (From Psalm 14:1–4)

I read this and recalled that the Bible says, even at our best, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags!”  (Isaiah 64.6)

Then, I REALLY despaired!!  …Until I recalled the wonderful “Good News” declared in 2 Corinthians 5.21… “God made Him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God!!”  All I can say to that is heartfelt “Thank you” to God!!  And Jesus, I’m so grateful for what you did on our behalf!!  Imagine it… Guilty sinners, the “righteousness of God in Christ”!!  Incredible! …Relieved and rejoicing!!