Coffee With The Lord

Having served as the pastor of several congregations over the years I can tell you of some of the painful divisions and disagreements that can occur among God’s people – that group Apostle Paul refers to as “the body of Christ!”  Those divisions and that divisiveness grieve the heart of God and drive caring pastors to their knees in prayer!  Perhaps your church (or one you are aware of) is experiencing such division right now…

So this morning, during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read these words in Romans 15:5-7 and turned them into my prayer (and the vision of my heart) for every congregation worshipping together on this “Lord’s Day” morning…

“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! …  Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God!”

That’s God’s desire for the congregation you’re a part of!  That’s my prayer today!  That is the vision I hold dear today for every Christ-centered, Bible-believing, Holy Spirit empowered congregation!

(Oh, and I’m aware the pic that I used to illustrate this prayer and vision is not sensitive to the reality during the scourge of COVID-19, and the need for “social distancing” and health precautions required… But one day, with God’s help and healing, it will!)

Radical Discipleship: Living as if no one and nothing mattered MORE than loving, serving, and following Jesus!

The challenge of Jesus: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.“ (Matthew 10:37–39 ESV)

I know it’s radical… But I’ve chosen to live that way!

“Freedom flaunters” … I know you’ve seen ‘em if you’ve been a Christian a while. They lock onto the passages in the Bible that speak of “freedom in Christ” and “living under grace and not law” and push the envelope of what they see as their “Christian rights.” They have scruples about nearly nothing and they flaunt it. Their attitude is “Hey, I’m gonna do what I please! I’m free in Christ! If what I’m doing bothers you… deal with with! I’m living under “grace” – not law!” They could care less what a brand new Christian with a sensitive conscience feels. In fact, they’re just apt to make catty remarks and poke fun at them. “Freedom flaunters” – an inconsiderate, insensitive, lot…

Apostle Paul dealt with this issue it in his epistles on several occasions… I read one of them this morning. In this case the issue was scruples about food and drink but it could be any of several others… Here’s what Paul said in the Bible…

“Do not for the sake of … destroy the work of God! It is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he (or she)… It is good not to … do anything that causes your brother (or sister) to stumble… If your brother (or sister) is grieved by what you… you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by what you… one for whom Christ died! (From Romans 14.13-23 ESV)

How can I say this? … IT’S NOT ABOUT US! “For Christ did not please himself!” (Verse 3 of the very next chapter!) Oh Lord, help me to be sensitive to others! May I never be a “Freedom flaunter!”