Coffee With The Lord

Whenever I read Matthew 13.1-9 (the parable of the farmer scattering seed and the various soil types) and its explanation (vss. 18-23) I usually pay attention to various types of soil Jesus identified and the difference in fruitfulness.  Today, however, during “coffee with the Lord” I was impressed by the enemies of spiritual growth and fruitfulness Jesus identified… I want to be especially alert to them in my life!!

1) The “evil one” himself, who if he has his way will find a way to snatch away the good seed planted in my heart. (vs. 19)

2) My own lack of “deep roots” so that problems I face or persecution that comes my way will keep me from bearing fruit. (vs.21)

3) The “thorns” – i.e. the worries of life and the lure of wealth and materialism – that choke out spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

I want to be alert to these enemies of spiritual growth and fruitfulness in my life!  I want to hear the message of the Kingdom, understand it, believe it and embrace it and produce a bountiful harvest for my Lord!! (After all, it’s His field, isn’t it!!)

To use an overworked adage, SOMETIMES THINGS SEEM TO “GO FROM BAD TO WORSE” when you’re trusting the Lord… EVEN WHEN deliverance from a bad situation or circumstance is near!  I was reminded of that this morning as I read the account of the Israelites in Egypt in Exodus 5 and 6.

Moses, at the direction of God Himself, had gone to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and said “Let my people go so that they can worship Me.”  Pharaoh’s response?  “Who is the Lord, that I should obey Him – I do not know the Lord! … Why are you taking the people away from their labor?!  Get back to work! … They are lazy, that is why they are crying out ‘Let us go and sacrifice tour God.’  Make their work harder!”

And Pharaoh did make their work harder!  Things went from “bad to worse”!  The people of Israel didn’t understand!  They complained bitterly to Moses!  And Moses, in turn, complained to God!  He said, “Is this why you sent me?  Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not recued your people at all!”

“THEN THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “NOW YOU WILL SEE WHAT I WILL DO to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will DRIVE THEM OUT of his country. ^… I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.  Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.  I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.  And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!'” (From Exodus 6.1-8)

And the Lord did!  He did exactly as He promised!  So this morning if you’ve been trusting the promises of God and yet things seem to be going “from bad to worse” just remember, that may mean that deliverance is near!  GOD IS FAITHFUL!  HE WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE!  The Children of Israel discovered that!  God was faithful… He kept His promise.

Words, over time, when used wrongly can develop distorted meanings.  An example is the word “saint.”  In popular usage (and among some religious groups) it has come to stand for a person of unusual spirituality and holiness – a “super-saint” if you please – someone “a cut above” the ordinary level of Christian.

How unfortunate!  How demeaning! That is NOT the Biblical meaning of the word!!  Biblically, the word denotes high privilege and standing given to ordinary people (sinners if you please) who have come to know Christ personally and experienced His forgiveness, salvation and grace from every strata of society, every race, and every position in life!  I was reminded of this marvelous truth as I read the opening words of 1 Corinthians this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord!”  Here it is from the New Living Translation…

“I am writing to … you who have been called by God to be his own holy people (“saints”). He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”

Now, I want to encourage you to do what I did today… stop for a moment and picture what that verse says!! Let a scene develop in your mind… a group of ordinary people “He has made holy by means of Christ Jesus – all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” – people from every nation, people of every color, background and position in life (rich, poor, educated, uneducated, men, women, children, privileged, underprivileged, famous, infamous, etc.) … SAINTS (because of what God did for them “in Christ Jesus”).  Praise the Lord!!!