Coffee With The Lord

Encouraging words – comforting words – reassuring words for those going through deep trials… I read them this morning tucked away in Stephen’s defense before the Jewish leaders in the book of Acts.  They reminded me of the truth upon which they are based in Exodus.  I believe they will be a blessing to one of my Facebook friends that is a part of the “Coffee with the Lord” group today… Someone out there needs this reminder!

Stephen in his defense reminded the Jewish leaders, “The Lord spoke to Moses and said to him… ‘I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt.  I have heard their groaning and have come to set them free.’” (Acts 7.34 NIV)

And then the account from Exodus… “The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.  God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant … He looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.” (Exodus 2.23-25 NIV)

And then again later, “The Lord said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt, I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them… and bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.’” (Exodus 3.7-8 NIV)

As I read those words today, I was reminded of the reassuring truth in 1 Peter 5.6-7… “Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your care upon Him because He cares for you!”

Don’t know who needed to be reminded of this truth today, but here it is… You may feel forgotten, even abandoned… you wonder if God is even aware of what you’re going through… He is!  He’s aware!  He’s concerned!  He cares!  He will act to sustain you, help you and rescue you!  He did for His people Israel… He’ll do it for you!

As I read my Bible every day I discover that it gets right to the bottom of most issues in our lives…  Like the passage today…

“WHAT CAUSES FIGHTS AND QUARRELS AMONG YOU? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?  You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  (James 4:1–3 NIV)

Core problem… foundational issue in our lives?  Selfishness!  Self-centered living!

How much better to follow this Biblical advice…

“Godliness with contentment is great gain!  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  If we have food and clothing we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6.6-8 NIV)

Or how about… “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  (The secret?) … I can do all this through Him (Christ) who gives me strength!” (Philippians 4.11-13 NIV)

And then this one… “Take delight in the Lord!  And he will give you the desire of your heart!  Commit your way to the Lord!  Trust in Him and He will do this!” (Psalm 37.4-5 NIV)

I’m learning… just like you are!  Oh God work it in my heart… Root out the selfishness – the self-centeredness!  May delight in You and concern for others captivate my heart!!  

HERE’S SOMETHING I LOVE TO DO… TEACH GOD’S WORD!!!  Few things are as gratifying to me as structuring a learning experience designed to help someone discover what the Bible teaches, implement it, and then see the light come on in their eyes as they experience DISCOVERY! and then finally apply the truth to their lives.  I LOVE to see discovery and insight happen!!  I don’t know how to say this appropriately so I’ll just say it… Seeing someone experience an “aha moment” in the study of God’s word “turns me on!” – It’s not heaven, but it comes close!  I love to teach!!!

Yet today, in my Bible reading during “Coffee with the Lord,” I had a sobering moment… The Bible says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers (and sisters) for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness!” (James 3:1 ESV)

TEACHERS HAVE GOT TO BE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE ADDED BURDEN OF NOT ONLY SPEAKING TRUTH BUT LIVING IT!  Teachers have got to realize it’s not enough to explain truth… our lives must model it!  God helping me, I never want distort truth either with my words OR my life!  I want the learning experiences I structure to not only be cognitive (lead to the intellectual grasp of truth) or the love and appreciation of truth (the affective embrace of truth)… I want desperately to be a living case study and example of the truth I teach (a behavioral model leading the way to the discipled life)!

Oh God help my teaching ministry to be more than “Blah, blah, blah” – words, words words and more words.  Help me take others by the hand and lead them to authentically follow in the footsteps of Jesus!  Although it sobers me, I’ll accept the additional responsibility of being a teacher!  I love to teach!