Coffee With The Lord

If you were to give an award for “Excellence in Marketplace Ministry” that honored someone who “exemplified excellence in the workplace or a profession in such a way that God was highly honored by their activity” who would you give the award to and why?  Think about it… weigh all the key factors – excellence, integrity, diligence, interpersonal skills, appropriate witness, church involvement, family life, etc. 

What prompted this inquiry?  Apostle Paul’s urging in Ephesians 6:5-9,.. A passage written to Christian “servants/slaves” and “masters” in the ancient world. 

Tragically, not all “professing Christian” employees or work supervisors/employers serve in such a way – with such diligence, excellence, and integrity – that God is honored!  The ones who do not only are a positive witness as Christians but win the approval of God! 

You want to know who I’d give such an award to?  I’d give it to my son-in-law, Dr. Timothy Dresselhaus, a devoted Christian, wonderful husband and “dad,” a man with a long history of service within the Church, and a skilled physician who serves others with devotion, diligence, and excellence.  Kudos to people like Tim!  They are a blessing to us all, a credit to the cause of Christ, and honored by God! 

“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man…  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”  

One more time… Who would YOU give such an award to?  (Think about it!) … And if you’re an employee, a professional, or a supervisor/employer don’t you want to honor God by what you do? 

Sometimes when I’m having my time of “coffee with the Lord” – reading and reflecting on God’s Word – I come across a passage that I just feel nothing much more needs to be said!  Today that happened for me when I read this passage in the Psalms – Psalm 112.  After reading it I simply jotted these words in the margin of my Bible:  “Oh, I want to live in such a way that I reap these benefits and blessing!” 

Here it is (and after you read it for yourself I think you’ll see what I mean!)… 

“Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears [or reverences] the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.” (From Psalm 112:1-9 ESV) 

A number of years ago I was introduced to a wonderful book that proposed a way to enrich my marriage as well as the relationship I had with our children.  The book was “The 5 Love Languages – The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman.  Its premise is, if you want to effectively let someone know that you love them, don’t utilize your preferred or dominant language of love, but determine the love language of the person you want to communicate your love and utilize it.  The 5 love languages Chapman identifies are… Words of affirmation, quality time spent, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. 

Those who have utilized the principles Chapman suggests, testify to its powerful effectiveness.  In fact, the principles proved so effective I utilized a companion book, “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” in a graduate course I taught dealing with motivation theory entitled, “Energizing People for Performance.” 

Powerful stuff!  And the principle of the “love language” books – that effectively communicating love is not about our preferred way of saying “I love you,” instead it is about the preferred way of the person we desire to communicate of our love to. 

And in the case of my devotions this morning that person was God!  Here’s the phrase from Ephesians 5:1-13 that brought it to mind… “Try to discern what pleases the Lord!”  In other words, simply saying “I love you Lord” is not sufficient – read your Bible, listen to His voice, and demonstrate your love to Him in ways that He indicates please Him. 

Com’on, read the following passage with that in mind: 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), AND TRY TO DISCERN WHAT IS PLEASING TO THE LORD. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:1-13 ESV) 

Hey, I want the Lord to REALLY KNOW that I love Him!  Don’t you?