Coffee With The Lord

On this New Years Day during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage during my Bible reading that convicted me of times I may have drifted into mindless worship, empty liturgy, meaningless ritual… you know what I’m talking about – “just going through the motions” in worship.  When that happens God is not pleased – it is an affront to our Lord and Savior!  In fact, it can be (and often is) just plain hypocritical!

Here’s the passage, spoken to God’s people, that brought me conviction…

“Hear the word of the Lord! … Give ear to the teaching of our God! … ‘What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.  When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts?  Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.  When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen!” (Isaiah 1:10–15 ESV)

I NEVER want to “just go through the motions!”  I never want to cover up lukewarm spirituality or a sinful life with half-hearted participation in worship or acted out sincerity.  Here are the very words of Jesus our Savior on the issue… “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [i.e. from the spirit / energized by the Holy Spirit] and truth [truly, authentically, in keeping with Truth] for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth!” (John 4:23-24 ESV)

I gotta tell you I felt some conviction this morning as I thought about the character of some of my worship! … But I rejoiced at the Lord’s assurance to the guilty worshippers in Isaiah 1…

“’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool!” (Isaiah 1:18)  Praise the Lord for His forgiveness!

Just let it be said, with His help and the reminders He brings by His Spirit, I intend to “Worship Him in Spirit and truth!”

Well, Praise the Lord!  I finished reading the Bible through again in 2021… Have read it through every year since age 17… Now I’m 74.  Has been a tremendous blessing in my life… “The Bible is my all-sufficient guide for faith [my relationship with God] and daily living!”

So it just seemed appropriate today to give five (5) brief observations from my journaling – one for each passage I read today as I finished reading the Bible through – a part of the “Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan” I developed a number of years ago… (An observation from the Old Testament Historical Books, Biblical poetry, the prophets and Revelation, the Gospels and Acts, as well as the epistles).

I sought to focus on devotional observations appropriate as we leave 2021 and enter the New Year…

From the OT historical books… I finished reading Esther and was overwhelmed with the truth that regardless of opposition, danger and circumstances, God is sovereign and has the ability to turn what appears to be bad (even fatal) into blessing!

From Biblical poetry… Sharon and I will have been married for 54 years on May 12.  She is a wonderful wife, and daily I am seeking to be a devoted and loving husband.  We’ve been through a lot together as many of you know.  I don’t know how many years we will ultimately have together… but I know this: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it!  If a person would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly condemned!” (Song of Solomon 8:7)

From prophecy (the book of Revelation)… “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with me… the Spirit and the bride say ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ … Surely I am coming quickly! AMEN! Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (from Revelation 22)

And from Acts (NT historical books)… Apostle Paul is in Rome, imprisoned and in chains but continuing to serve the Lord, regardless of circumstances, with the gospel!  “Paul received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence!”  Paul you are my spiritual hero!  Faithful regardless!

And then this wonderful benediction and doxology (and word of assurance) from the epistles – the little book of Jude:  “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy – to God our Savior, who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever!  AMEN!!!” (Jude 24-25)  He has brought us though this year and years before it – He will “keep us” bring us through “faultless” regardless of what lies ahead!

Have a God-blessed New Year!  (I’m starting through the Bible again tomorrow! … Gonna be GOOD!”)

I’ve had some pretty awe-producing (the word is “awesome!”) audio/visual experiences in my life (after all, I was raised near Glacier National Park – the “Alps of America” – see the pic)!  You’ve probably had some awe-inspiring experiences as well.  They leave you breathless!  You never forget them!  And if you’re a Christ-follower and God-believer you always experience a heightened sense of worship, praise, thanksgiving, faith and a determination to live your life for the glory of God!

Apostle John had such an experience!  He, assisted by the Holy Spirit, attempted to describe his experience and put it into words for us.  Get this: He was NOT located in one of the world’s favorite vacation spots at the time of this experience – He was on Patmos, which at that time was a very barren island in the Aegean Sea used to isolate and exile prisoners (Revelation 1:9).

That’s what makes John’s experience to significant and noteworthy!  It is as though God pulled back the heavenly drapes and allowed John to see, hear and experience a heavenly reality!  Don’t get me wrong… what John saw was REAL!  The language he used to describe it… Well there are really no adequate words for it – it was “out of this world” – but REAL!  In fact, the words he used to describe it really require your understanding it was REAL, but also your imagination!

Now here’s where I want to stop and challenge you… Pick up your Bible on this next to the last day of 2021 (a very challenging and difficult year) and read the passage I read this morning – Revelation 21:1 – 22:6.  Read it slowly… read it reflectively… read it with your “imagination on”… But read it like it’s REALITY!  Finally, read it like you’re right there with John on Patmos… Then do what I did, underline a few really significant things, jot a few reactions… And above all respond to the God behind that reality (worship, praise, thanksgiving, prayer and commitment)!

For what it’s worth, here are a few comments I jotted in the margin of my Bible this morning…

“Wow…  what a day that will be!!!  Beyond imagination!!!”

“Oh Lord, help me!  I want to be an “overcomer!”

“Imagine it… the curse of Genesis reversed (Genesis 1-3) – Eden restored (no, more than that – Eden on steroids!!!)”