Coffee With The Lord

Yesterday, I highlighted from my Bible reading Apostle Paul’s tribute to ordinary people who were not rich (and may even have been poor) yet gave generously to others out of a heart of love …

Then this morning I read these words in my Bible in the very next verses and it brought to my knees in thanksgiving and worship…

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich!” (2 Corinthians 8.9)

I had just finished reading that verse and another came to mind… “He [our Heavenly Father] Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him graciously give us all things?!” (Romans 8.32)

Someone has framed it this way… G-R-A-C-E!

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

What an absolute, mind-boggling, display of generosity – it tops anything we might do!  I’m incredibly grateful!!  Oh, may my giving in some small way reflect both my Heavenly Father’s and my Savior’s gift!!

Sometimes it just seems like evil has the upper hand!  Those that belittle righteousness, mock the reality of God, and scorn those who seek to follow Christ often seem to have the wave of public opinion going their way.  Godly, biblical values are spurned in public policy and those who embrace them are labeled as bigots.  In fact, sometimes it may seem like God Himself has “cast off His people” as a consequence of their own compromise and sin…

Ever feel like that?

Today I read a Psalm that seemed to put some of those thoughts into words and turned them upward in a prayer…

“O God… REMEMBER your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed… REMEMBER!…  How long O God, is the foe to scoff?  Is the enemy to revile your name forever? … Yet God You are my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth! … REMEMBER how the enemy scoffs and foolish people revile your name! … Arise, O God, defend your cause! … REMEMBER how the foolish scoff at you all the day!” (taken from Psalm 74.  Read the whole Psalm.)

These are some of the words I uttered to God this morning as my prayer… “Oh, Lord, REMEMBER!”  Why not make them yours as well.  I don’t want to be a victim… I want to make a difference, I want to be an intercessor!

Ever felt this way? …

“It’s just not fair!  They’re as “pagan as pagan can be” and they get all the breaks!  Here I am, trying to do what is right – seeking to honor God – and they get richer and richer, everything seems to fall their way, and I struggle every day and “the harder I try to get ahead the ‘behinder’ I seem to get!”  It’s just not fair!!!

Listen to what the Psalmist said in Psalm 73, and see if you don’t relate…

“Truly God is good…to those who are pure in heart!  But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped!  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… Behold they are always at ease and they increase in riches.  All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence!

“But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end…  When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward You!”

And then the Psalmist’s resolve – His “NEVERTHELESS,” in the face of what seemed so unfair to him…

“NEVERTHELESS, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory!  Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You!  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!”  (From Psalm 73:23–26 ESV)

Listen, I don’t have all the answers to “why the wicked prosper!”  I’ll leave that (and their future) in the Lord’s hands… But I can tell you this… I want the Psalmist’s “NEVERTHELESS” to by my “NEVERTHELESS!”