Coffee With The Lord

In my Bible reading today I was reminded of who I really am without the Lord… Believe me, not much to brag about!  A farm kid from Western Montana, near two little itsey-bitsy towns (Ronan and Pablo), pimple-faced kid from a graduating class of about 40… never out of the state until 18 years of age… I could go on…

Fortunately, God blessed me with some wonderful Christian parents (Ewalt and Vera Bartel)!  Home for the Bartel boys was a safe and welcoming haven.  Lots of farm chores and fun country living!  Was introduced to Jesus as my Savior at a very early age… then “baptized (empowered) by the Holy Spirit.”  I attended a little Assemblies of God Church (never ran over 70 people in its best years).  Had wonderful, nurturing pastors; faithful, loving Sunday school teachers; and was given an opportunity to discover and use my God-given gifts to build and bless others in a small rural church…

Blessed!  Fortunate!  But certainly nothing to brag about… I guess if I wanted to, I could be ashamed of my humble roots…  I’m not!  I’m just very grateful!! 

God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams… Years of fruitful pastoral ministry, over 36 years teaching and administration in a Bible university, denominational church leadership, world travel in ministry… Thank you Lord!!

My Bible reading this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” reminded me of all of this…

“Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters… Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.  God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST IN HIS PRESENCE!  He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘LET THE ONE WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD!’” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31 the NET Bible)

So I’ve got some friends whose lives were a real mess before they met Jesus, turned from their sinful past, and trusted Him to “save” them (i.e. to transform their lives)… Alcoholics, drug pushers and addicts, adulterers, homosexuals, murderers, thieves, spouse and child abusers… I could go on…

What changed their lives?  Turning from their sin and trusting Jesus Christ to transform their lives… The power of the “gospel” (The message of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for their sin, His burial, His resurrection (to give them new life), and His ascension back into heaven as their Divine, heavenly advocate!  A message that many mock and ridicule as “foolish” – but a message that has a wonderful track record of “deliverance” and transformed lives!

Apostle Paul wasn’t ashamed of it… neither am I – nor are those who have experienced the “power of the Gospel!”  Apostle Paul declared: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes!” (Romans 1:16)

To those in Corinth, a city known its sin and debauchery, Paul expressed it this way (I read it just this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord): “For the word [i.e. the message] of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God! … Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?   For since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through its wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jew and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men!” (1 Corinthians 1:18-25 ESV)

Transformed lives through Jesus Christ – embracing the message that He died for our sin, was buried, and rose from the dead to impart transformation and eternal life to those who believe on Him!  Hey, it works when social programs, therapies, reform programs and prisons fail!  The message of the gospel – the power of the cross – trumps the wisdom of this world!  I’m not ashamed!… I can give you the names of lives transformed…

I always find it helpful to “pray Scripture” – to make the very words of the Bible my prayers to God!

The Psalmist was frustrated with the wicked – their behavior and sinful lives grieved him deeply.  He didn’t know what to do about it except pray!  Here’s his prayer… I made it mine today!  His words became my prayer words on this “Lord’s Day”…

“Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning!  Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray!  O Lord, in the morning hear my voice!  In the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch…

“I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house. I will bow down … in the fear [the “reverence”] of You.  Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness! … Make Your way straight before me! …

“Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You!  For You bless the righteous, O Lord!  You cover them with favor as with a shield!”

(Adapted from Psalm 5 for personal prayer)