Coffee With The Lord

So grateful for the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of ministry as an “ordained minister” in the Assemblies of God (53 total years of ministry actually) last night at “The Oaks” in South Dallas. In retrospect, here are a couple of personal Biblical anchors that have served me well over the years…

“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 ESV)

“I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 ESV)

I recommend these “life verses” for anyone involved in ministry!

Some things you just learn to depend upon – they seem to be inviable laws… For example, I went to bed last night fully expecting to experience sunrise (in fact I checked Google last night and the sun was to rise at precisely at 6:20 a.m. CDT… I’m a morning runner). Went on a 5 3/4 mile run this morning and not once did gravity fail me so that I floated away (in fact there was an incline or two on the run that because of gravity harassed me). I expected to find fresh air to replenish my lungs and invigorate my body on my run… and sure enough it was there in good supply. Things we depend upon… Laws it you please.

There’s another one though that’s really important – a spiritual law! Over the years I’ve learned to depend on it. Just as inviable and dependable as the others. I could take the time to document how pervasive the assurances and declarations of it are in Scripture, but that would be a project much too time and space consuming for this reflection. Just let me assure you it’s comprehensively and abundantly distributed through both Old and New Testaments! This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of it as I read one of my favorite Psalms – Psalm 103… That dependable quality – That reliable “law” of God’s character – His “steadfast love” (His “Hesed” is the Hebrew term)!

Here’s how it’s expressed in Psalm 103…

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit [death], who crowns you WITH STEADFAST LOVE AND MERCY, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s… The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger AND ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE… He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, SO GREAT IS HIS STEADFAST LOVE TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. BUT THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” (From Psalm 103)

New Testament you ask… Is it a New Testament spiritual character “law” of God? Here’s what Apostle Paul declared…

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. I am sure that neither death not life, nor angels nor rulers, no things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!” (From Romans 8:35-39)

Wow! In a world filled with so much bitterness and hatred, I’m certainly glad that God’s “steadfast love” is dependable. As they say “You can bank on it!”

It may be a visit to the doctor and a diagnosis that you (or someone dear to you) received… It may be a letter you received from an attorney, a bill collector, or the IRS that is lying on your desk that concerns you… It may be the troubling telephone call you just received or a conversation that didn’t turn out right… Or something else that filled you with anxiety, dread, and deep concern.

There’s a Psalm for that!  In fact this morning I read these words as the traditional introduction to Psalm 102 in my Bible:  “A prayer of one afflicted when faint and they pour out their complaint before the Lord.”

Psalm 102 is an earnest prayer from someone facing a crisis!  My advice?  If you a facing any of the situations that I described at the beginning of this devotional reflection… turn the words of Psalm 102 into your prayer!  Here’s a few verses from the Psalm I think may be appropriate:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord!

Let my cry come to You!

Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!

Incline your ear to me!

Answer me speedily in the day when I call!” (Psalm 102:1-2 ESV)

That’s just the introduction to the Psalm!  Check out the rest of it (and use whatever is applicable to your crisis and concern as your prayer).  You can’t beat “praying the words of Scripture!”  They’re inspired by the Holy Spirit!