Coffee With The Lord

I’m going to do something a bit different today in my “Coffee with the Lord” post…

Some of you are aware that a number of years ago I developed a Bible reading plan I entitled “Necessary Food” based upon Job’s words in Job 23:12 (“I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food!”) Using the plan you read a passage from each of the main parts of the Bible daily (Old Testament historical, poetic, prophetic, the Gospels/Acts, and the epistles) and following it you finish the Bible in a year. I journal during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” and some of those comments are developed further into my “Coffee with the Lord” posts…

Well today I thought I’d just give you a sample of today’s journaling using the “Necessary Food” passages for today – May 4. Hope they’re a blessing!

Numbers 20

The challenge grumbling people pose to a spiritual leader! Frustration and anger surface and can lead to unrighteous and disobedient responses to divine direction. God honored his leader Moses before the malcontents, but punished him for his disobedience – sad consequences! An important lesson for spiritual leaders – manage your emotions!

Psalm 73

When you don’t understand why the arrogant wicked prosper, go to the sanctuary – God will help you gain perspective!

Jeremiah 35

The Rechabites, living as a sojourners in Jerusalem, yet honoring the legacy and heritage of their spiritual forebearers! Seems to me an Important message for us in the time we live with its temptations and challenges to compromise our spiritual heritage and godly values!

Mark 12:13-27

People have spiritual questions – some are honorable and genuine, others not – God knows their heart and motives of people. He can provide discernment and appropriate answers! Look to Him – look to His word for direction and appropriate responses!

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Generosity and compassion – a wonderful “grace gift” among godly people! I’ve seen it expressed over and over again over the years! It purges self-interest and greed from the human heart! It is the transformative power of God at work in the human heart! Oh may we see expressions of it more often among God’s people!

Oh, and if you’d like a free pdf copy of “Necessary Food” for your Bible reading, just e-mail me at leroybartel@gmail.com and I’ll send you a copy.

You’ve seen them – and so have I – those wonderful, godly, gracious individuals who under great pressure, pain, and even persecution just exemplify Christlikeness in every way! “SAINTS” IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD! Graciousness describes them … And God’s grace is how they do it! I aspire to be like them!! I read Apostle Paul’s words this morning in 2 Corinthians 6.2-10 and prayed, “Oh Lord may those words be true of me!!

“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:3–10 NIV)

Help me Lord!

Spiritual leaders have been (and often are) favorite targets of critical analysis and unjust criticism! It’s been that way for a long, long time… How they dress, their hygiene and grooming, their idiosyncrasies, their spouse, their children, something they say (or fail to say), where they live, what they drive, issues of personal style… You name it, all favorite targets for microscopic evaluation and negativity.

Question is…. Is the Lord pleased about it?

There’s an account in the Bible that was part of my reading this morning (Numbers 12) that should cause caution! In fact, it even involved criticism of a “family member” who was a spiritual leader.

Moses’ sister, Miriam, and Aaron, his brother, had issues with his spouse… “that Cushite woman!” they said. It didn’t stop there either… They were jealous of Moses’ position and influence… “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?”

Moses was NOT the kind of guy who fought back and sought to defend himself! In fact Numbers 12:3 declares, “Moses was very meek – more than all people who were on the face of the earth!”

But God heard their unjust criticism, and it angered Him! … And God defended Moses! “The Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting” and He summoned Aaron and Miriam to come forward! He confronted them and defended Moses (read it for yourself in Numbers 12:6-8) He said, “Why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

The Bible says, “The anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and He departed… When the cloud removed from over the “Tent of Meeting,” behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow!” Aaron acknowledged their sin and pled with Moses to intercede in prayer for Mariam! And “Moses cried to the Lord, ‘O God, please heal her – PLEASE!’” And the Lord did heal her.

So just a word of caution… We need to be careful in our criticism of spiritual leaders! Our attitudes can be more poisonous and lethal than their perceived weaknesses and errors! In fact, our criticism may simply be a coverup for jealousy and envy. And if this account in Scripture teaches anything, it is that God is not afraid to defend His devoted servants (even imperfect ones)!

Believe me, Intercessory prayer is a much better approach! And one more word of caution… Guard your heart – keep watch over your attitudes!!!