Coffee With The Lord

During “Coffee with the Lord” today  I was reminded of an important Spiritual leadership lesson (an important lesson for those who would speak “prophetically” as having “a word from the Lord”)…

We need to be careful when we venture to speak for God – when on His behalf and in His Name, we deliver a message to others that “seems right” to us… Nathan, the prophet, made this mistake with David the king, and God corrected him for it.  Here’s the account of it from the Bible…

“After king David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord is under a tent!’  Nathan replied to David, ‘Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you!’  But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: ‘Go and tell my servant, David, this is what the Lord says: You are NOT the one to build me a house to dwell in… I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you! … I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons… He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.  I will be his father and he will be my son.’” (From 1 Chronicles 17:1-15 NIV)  

First of all, what David had in mind “seemed right” – and Nathan judged it to be a noble desire!  So he gave a word of affirmation – a word of encouragement that seemed appropriate… the problem was, it wasn’t what God had in mind!

It seems to me, therefore, before I venture to “speak for the Lord,” I should pause and listen and seek to find out what the Lord desires to say – what He has in mind.  I’m all to ready to “speak for Him” when He may have something else (something even “better”) to communicate.  I’M GOING TO TRY TO DO MORE “LISTENING” – AND AVOID PRESUMPTUOUS SPEAKING (especially when “speaking for the Lord”)!

I just finished writing a “final test” for a course I’m teaching at SAGU.  Got some students who are in “deep anxiety” over the prospects of taking it and doing well!  Final tests always become an object of concern for students who care… They’ll review their notes, go over the text, listen for clues for the exam from the prof, and engage in long nights of study for the “big day!”

But this morning during my devotional time that I call “coffee with the Lord” I read of another “test” that has my attention… Here is what the inspired writer had to say about it…

“Blessed is the person who remains steadfast under trial, FOR WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (From James 1:12 ESV)

This is what I jotted in the margin of my Bible after read that this morning: “Help me Lord – strengthen me, fortify my resolve, may I prepare myself with the resources You provide, help me withstand the temptation of giving into trials, may I stand true and strong for You under pressure!  I want to receive ‘the crown of life’ at the end of my journey – my ‘personal final text!’”

My Bible reading this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” included the prophet Habakkuk.  Have you ever felt the way he felt as you reflected on what has been happening in the world?  Here are Habakkuk’s words…

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! ‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry, but you do not come to save.  Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.  The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.”

Sound familiar?  Does the scene he described seem all too familiar?  Habakkuk could have been describing the state of things we wrestle with and struggle to understand!

But then God speaks…

“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it…”  (From Habakkuk 1:1-5 NLT)

Listen, God’s got it all under control!  We need to trust Him in difficult times!  The message of Habakkuk is, God even uses wicked nations to work His will and fulfill His purposes!

I don’t know about you, but I needed to hear that today!