Coffee With The Lord

No fear!  Not ashamed!  Bold – not intimidated!  These need to be more than just bumper sticker slogans!

That’s the kind of people God wants, and the Holy Spirit produces, in a culture that is increasingly anti-Christian and a world where followers of Christ who openly live out and share their faith are persecuted!

I know you’ve seen them… wounded people, cowering souls, who almost seem ashamed of themselves – afraid of almost everything, reluctant to look up, fearful of speaking up and terrified of getting involved in any cause…

God’s presence and transforming influence in a life doesn’t produce that kind of person!  His grace is at work within lives, where He is invited, to produce wholeness, health, integrity, love, joy, peace, and hope… and confidence!

I just read it this morning… “The Spirit God gives us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner [Apostle Paul speaking to Timothy].  Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God… This is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day!” (From 2 Timothy 1.7-12 NIV)

In another place Apostle Paul put it this way… “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes!”  (Romans 1.16)

ARROGANCE IS SIN!  BUT A CONFIDENT, BOLD CHRISTIAN, WITH A HEALTHY SELF-CONCEPT IN CHRIST IS A GOOD THING!  We need to be Spirit-filled, grace transformed, oozing love, walking in faith, and living out the mandate of Christ to take the gospel to all people – all nations!  Lord work within me by your Spirit to become that kind of Christian!

We live in a culture often driven by greed and materialistic pursuits – a culture with values filled with real risks for authentic, devoted followers of Christ!  Against that background I read these wise and inspired words from Apostle Paul during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…

A WARNING TO BE HEEDED:  Be alert to the risks of materialism, greed, and love of money!

“Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desire that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils!  It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pangs… Flee these things!”

A BLESSING TO BE EXPERIENCED:  The blessings of godliness with contentment!

“Godliness with contentment is great gain! … If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content! … Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith love steadfastness and gentleness!  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”

THE CHALLENGE TO THOSE BLESSED WITH WEALTH:  To practice generous stewardship with the resources God provides:

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy!  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed!”

(All of this from 1 Timothy 6:6-19 – check it out for yourself!)

Oh Lord, in a culture often driven by money and materialism, may I never forget and heed these wise words!

I was participating in a gathering of Christian leaders and my anger and frustration were mounting.  The conversations had been about how to better do the Lord’s work.  But there were a couple of participants in the group that were dominating the conversation and it was clear they were using the opportunity for self-promotion!  Every time they chimed in it seemed like everything they said seemed to be about them.  It seemed clear they wanted to be thought of as the most experienced, the best informed, the most intelligent and talented in the group.  I left the circle of conversation disgusted and angry… and I was not alone, the comments of others who were there read the signals the same way… They were very much into self-promotion!

Then I went home and experienced the Lord’s conviction… It seemed like the Lord whispered to my heart as I stewed over the previous experience… “LeRoy, have you ever been guilty of the yielding to the temptation to subtle self-promotion?  Have you ever forgotten about exalting Me and shifted the focus to yourself – your opinions, your perspective, your gifts, your abilities, your wisdom, your agenda?”  Ouch!  That hurt!  But I had to admit to the Lord that I’d been guilty!

I’m not talking about self-respect here… self-respect is a healthy thing and is anchored in our awareness that we are God’s creation, God’s child, and have something we can contribute to the cause of Christ and meeting the needs of others with the gifts and abilities God has given us…

In my Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of the great example John the Baptist provides for us all and the important principle his words teach us…

Some of the followers of John approached him one day and tried to pit him against Jesus… They said to him “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness – look, he is baptizing and all are going to him!” (Temptation for competition and self-promotion enter right there!  John could have yielded to it – but he didn’t… He knew who Jesus was!)  Instead John resisted and taught all of us who follow Jesus and serve Him a great lesson…

“John answered, ‘a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven!  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ (in other words he understood who Christ was and who he was… He had a healthy understanding of his role – in fact he referred to himself in the passage simply as “the friend of the bridegroom.”)  Then John declared an important principle and he taught us an important lesson by his example… HE DECLARED, “HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE!” (from John 3:25-30)

Oh, I’ve got to tell you; I want to overcome the tendency – the temptation – to self-promotion!  I want to live a Christ promoting, Christ exalting life!  Don’t you?  In the inspired words of John… “HE MUST INCREASE – I MUST DECREASE!”