Coffee With The Lord

It’s so easy to get SIDETRACKED… we start to do something or go somewhere – something captures our attention, and before long we’re SIDETRACKED and may not remember what we came to do or where we were going in the first place!  And it can and does happen spiritually!

I don’t know how to break it to you… Following Christ and religion are NOT the same thing!

The religious practices can be extremely rigorous, seasons of fasting and prayer can be abundant, rituals and liturgy can be impressive… but you may not be following Christ!  You may be SIDETRACKED!  In fact, it may all be a self-righteous, pride generated show.  You may be challenging your mind with philosophical thought – even religious philosophical reflection.  You may delve deep into religious studies of all kinds – Christian and otherwise – and know nothing of the life-transforming power of the risen Christ!

Hey, religion won’t cut it!  ONLY JESUS CHRIST can save you from sin, give you eternal life, and transform your NOW and TOMORROW!

How do I know?  I read it in the Bible this morning… I’ve experienced it… and I’ve observed what CHRIST – CHRIST ALONE – can do it lives of others.  You doubt me?  You should read what Apostle Paul said about this to believers in ancient Colossae (and it’s still true!)… I challenge you to take some time today and read it for yourself – Colossians 2:1-23 (read it all!)

Here’s a taste of what Apostle Paul had to say on the issue…

“IN CHRIST are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!” (vs. 3)

“IN HIM (Christ) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily!” (vs. 9)

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses…God made alive together WITH HIM (Christ), having forgiven all our trespasses… He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them IN HIM (Christ).” (vss. 13-15)

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath… Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about their visions… These things have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh!” (from vss.16-23)

And finally, Paul summary advice on the subject of getting “SIDETRACKED”… “Therefore, AS YOU RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, so walk IN HIM, rooted and built up IN HIM, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving!” (vss. 6-7)

God helping me, I’m going to keep my focus ON CHRIST ALONE and not get “SIDETRACKED!”  “On Christ the solid Rock I stand – all other ground is sinking sand!”

I had a math teacher in school who was a whiz with mathematical computations.  She would pose a problem, write it on the board, and ask us to solve it.  I’d do my best.  Now I was certainly no math whiz but I felt I could get around ok with mathematical equations.  After we’d try, then our math teacher would go to the board and begin solving the problem… urging us to compare what we had done with her approach and solutions.  She’d approach the end of the problem and with a flourish turn around and say… There!  Is that what you got?  Did you see how I did that?

Problem was… her answer was NOT what I had gotten… AND how she got her answer was NOT the way I had gotten mine!  I was almost always ready to argue with her answer… Although I hate to admit it, her answer was ALWAYS right and mine was usually wrong.

I really don’t know how many perplexing problems of life I’ve tried to solve on my own.  Did my best too!  More than I’d like to admit my humanly devised solutions to life issues turned out to be wrong.  Then in frustration, I’d go to God’s word, and discover that from a biblical perspective my answer was all wrong… it was my best effort, but it was wrong! 

Often God’s solution was counter-intuitive!  He said trust – I just tried harder!  He urged obedience – I rejected that and used my own solutions.  And then the arguing would begin.  I’d reject His answers – His solutions – and try something else.  Same dead end!  Same frustration!  Wrong!!

This is what I read in the Bible this morning… “The sum of Your word is truth!  Every one of Your righteous rules endures forever! (Psalm 119:160)

Think I’m ready to acknowledge what the Bible says to be true… “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways declares the Lord!  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thought than your thoughts!” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I am always deeply impressed by the “heart” of a true spiritual leader!  Once again in my Bible reading today I read a passage that articulated the values and concerns of such a person – in this case the Apostle Paul.  Here’s what he wrote to the church in Colossae…

“I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you (and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face), that your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 2:1–5 ESV)

Here are the key things that impressed me today about authentic spiritual leaders…

1. The deep, deep concern they have for the spiritual welfare of others
2. The desire they have for love to dominate the relationship of those they lead, “knitting together” their hearts
3. The longing they have for God’s people to come to know Christ in a personal, deep, intimate way (because “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are found in Him)!
4. The concern they have that those they lead not be deceived and deluded by false doctrine (even if it comes couched in “plausible arguments”)
5. The joy it brings them when they see “good order” and “firmness of faith” in Christ Jesus among those they lead.

As a boy growing up I was privileged to have had two pastors who evidenced these kinds of passions.  Today I honor them… Pastor Leon Mitchell (deceased) and Pastor Kenneth Peterson.  Thank you, gentlemen for being that kind of spiritual leader (“pastor”) and evidencing those kinds of values!  Listen, if you have (or have had) that kind of spiritual leader you have been blessed indeed!

Oh… one final word:  Just reporting – I passionately want to be that kind of spiritual leader!