Coffee With The Lord

Maybe you will identify… It was dumb, I was young, what I did was stupid and impulsive!  I worked hard – tried to be a diligent and effective employee, but the act was “spur of the moment”; it turned out badly; and I regretted it…  The next thing I knew I was standing outside the bosses door… sweating and very nervous!  This could cost me my job and it could hurt my reputation!

I stepped inside the door, poured out my story, and apologized… AND HE SMILED AT ME!!!

I read Psalm 80 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” and that event came to mind…  The situation described in Psalm 80 is similar… and 3 times in the passage this refrain appears (and believe me, I identify!)…

“Restore us, O God; may your face shine [or smile] upon us, that we may be saved!” (vs. 3)

“Restore us, God Almighty; may your face shine [or smile] on us, that we may be saved!” (vs. 7)

“Restore us,, Lord God Almighty; may your face shine [or smile] upon us that we may be saved!” (vs. 19)

Oh, how good it was that day long ago to receive the bosses smile of favor!  And how incredibly wonderful it will be on that “final day” to see the Heavenly Father’s smile of favor! (… And even now, after I’ve poured out my heart in repentance for my sin, He assures me of His smile of favor!)

King David knew it – and depended upon it!  His prayer?  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me!  Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me!  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me!” (Psalm 51:10-12 NIV)

And another place – the New Testament: “If we confess [acknowledge] our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!” (1 John 1:9)

Just smile Lord – just smile!

Some people take God’s sovereignty too far… They make Him directly responsible for EVERYTHING!  My problem?  Carried that far, it makes God even responsible for that which is sinful – things that violate the very principles that He instituted.

Methinks a much better approach theologically is that within the scope of God’s sovereignty is an area God Himself has identified for human responsibility.  It is an area of contingency… an area where human choice has an impact… an area where our decisions make a difference…  an area where prayer, obedience or disobedience, influence outcomes!

Because He is God, however, and exists within eternity, and is omniscient (all-knowing), God operates with what theologians call “foreknowledge!”  He knows “the end from the beginning.”  But to know is not necessarily to control! … For example, I recall talking to a friend at a wading pool for a few moments and instructing my little son, who had just gotten dried off and dressed, not to get in the pool and get wet.  I heard a sound behind me and didn’t even have to turn around… PJ was in the pool!  But my knowing did not mean I controlled his actions.

Today I read an account in Scripture during “Coffee with the Lord” that beautifully illustrates the point I am making… Jesus had predicted His disciples would “fall away” because of Him.  Peter, filled with good intentions, vehemently insisted that he would never fall away and deny Jesus!  Jesus knowing Peter, however, and speaking from foreknowledge, predicted that he would deny Him three times “before the cock crowed twice.”  Later, in the courtyard of the high priest, in response to the comments of a servant girl, he denied that he knew the Lord.  And the rooster crowed!  And again when those standing nearby accused him of being a disciple, Peter invoked a curse and denied the Lord… And it happened – the rooster crowed again… And Peter broke down and wept bitterly.  (From Mark 14:26-31 and 66-72)

Now, here’s the deal… Jesus is and was divine – both God and man – He knows all things!  He knew Peter, He knew what Peter would do, and He knew even how many times the rooster would crow and in what circumstances.  But, Jesus (who is God) did not control Peter’s actions… Peter’s failure was Peter’s failure!  Peter accepted responsibility for it and wept!  And Jesus accepted Him and forgave Him!

The lesson?  God knows us inside-out!  He knows the end from the beginning!  He knows, but He does not control us!  He has decreed a place for our choices, our decisions our obedience or disobedience, in His eternal plan and purpose!  We are responsible for our actions and decisions!   He listens to our prayers!  He loves and forgives us when we make bad choices – He did for Peter.  Praise the Lord!

Here’s some wise advice… Don’t blow your own horn!

Here it is from my Bible reading today: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord! For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends!” (From 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 ESV)