Coffee With The Lord

Ever been tempted to do something that might harm or hurt another person? If so, Romans 13:8-10 is a good passage to read and think about… I read it again just this morning during “coffee with the Lord” … Here’s some ideas from that passage…

• Owe someone some money and really don’t want to pay it? … Show love, and pay it!
• Tempted to be unfaithful to your wife (or husband) and “fool around” with someone else? … Love your spouse with all your heart and be faithful!
• Has someone really been bugging you so much you’d almost like to “kill ‘em? … Don’t do it! Show them love instead.
• Have you been tempted to take something from someone else that doesn’t belong to you? … Leave it alone – it’s not yours! Love will keep you from stealing!
• Does someone have something you really want and your desire for it is “driving you nuts” (and even influencing your attitude to them)? … Love them and get your eyes and heart off their stuff!

And I could go on… The dynamic of authentic, godly love will solve those problems!

You think it’s not in there (in Romans 13.8-10)? Read it! Here’s what it says…

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”

So I guess this is what I ought to say to the Lord this morning… “Thanks, Lord… I needed that! Help me live every moment, in every situation, to show those around me authentic, godly love – the kind of love God has for people and the love Jesus exhibited by dying on the cross for our sin!

Read these words yesterday during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” … thought about them, reflected, and said to myself, I’m grateful that I’ve done that – certainly not perfect yet, but rejoiced at being “transformed!”

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship! Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Then today I read the passage that follows… felt conviction, and jotted this in the margin of my Bible… Oh, help me Lord to live this way… every day… In “my Rome!” Check it out…

“Let love be genuine!

Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord!

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer!

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another!

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.!

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!” (Romans 12:9–21 ESV)

See what I mean? You too, huh? Help me Lord to live like this in “my Rome!” More transformation needed!

A heartfelt season of praise and worship taken right out of the Bible from my time of “Coffee with the Lord” this morning… You may want to make it your worship expression as well!

“Oh Lord, You are my God! I will exalt You! I will praise Your name! You have done wonderful things! Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth!”

My response? Yes I will!! That’s the God I know and serve!!

Then what He does…

“You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat!”

And what the Lord will do for those who love and serve Him! ,,,

“He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces! The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth… For the Lord has spoken!”

And ultimately?

“And it will be said in that day; Behold this is OUR God! We have waited for Him and He will save us! This is the Lord; we have waited for Him! We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation!”

Wow!! Provoked my ongoing worship and praise throughout the day! Taken from Isaiah 25 (Vss. 1, 4, 8-9 NKJV).