Coffee With The Lord

Here’s the “Necessary Food” Bible readings for January 2: Genesis 2:4-25; Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 1:18-25 and Romans 1:8-15.

I was especially challenged today by the reading from Matthew today. But I can almost hear it now… Dr. Bartel, the Christmas story again?! I mean, we just finished taking down the Christmas tree and decorations!

Well the Matthew 1:18-25 passage reminded me of a “salvation” (or rescue) event in my life. Many of you know I am a devoted runner. Several years ago, I purchased a wonderful Garmin GPS tracking watch. Problem is, after several months of fooling around with the settings on it I really messed things up and nothing I tried to do made the situation better… only worse! Finally, in desperation, I called customer support and in a few minutes the Garmin representative solved the problem and got the watch running properly! …“Saved!”

Ever mess things up in your life? And what was the solution? … Admitting you had a problem (i.e. “repentance”) and appealing for help and trusting someone that could solve the problem (i.e. a “savior”).It was like that for me… I had messed things up in my life …as they say, “royally!” My self-will resulted in bondage and sin. I needed help – I needed a Savior! The Bible describes the human problem (including “my problem”) this way… “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!” (Romans 3:23)

So where does the Christmas story found in Matthew 1 come in you ask… In the middle of the human dilemma, called “sin, God sent an angel to the virgin Mary, and informed her she would supernaturally have a baby – the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ! He also appeared to Joseph, who was engaged to be married to Mary, and reassured him, “Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bring forth a Son, and YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS! All of this happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us!’ … And she brought forth her firstborn Son and called his name Jesus [“Savior”]!” (From Matthew 1:18-25)

That’s right… after we had “messed things up… ‘royally’ with self-will and sin, God sent His Son, our Savior, to “save us from our sin!” I remember vividly the day I became painfully aware of the “mess” I had made of things with my sin! I acknowledged my sin, asked God to forgive me, and trusted Jesus as my Savior! He did what I could never do on my own… He took the “mess” I had made, forgave me, and “saved” me, transforming my life, and giving me “abundant life” (John 10:10)! I’ve never been the same! It worked for me – and it will work for you! Thank God for Jesus Christ, our Savior!!!

It’s January 1 – 2021 has dawned… A new year! New challenges! New opportunities! Who knows what the new year will bring! Just some of the thoughts that ran through my mind as I celebrated “Coffee with the Lord” this morning.

My Bible reading for today, January 1, using the “Necessary Food” Bible reading plan included: Genesis 1:1 – 2:3; Job 1:1-5; Isaiah 1:1-31; Matthew 1:1-17; and Romans 1:1-7).

The introductory passage in Job especially impressed me today… you need to read it! I trust and pray that during the coming year I, by the grace of God, will exhibit the same godly character as Job (regardless of what life brings – and that’s the message of Job)!

1. A life that is “blameless” – Job lived above accusation!

2. Job was “upright” – what he was in behavior and lifestyle flowed from inner righteousness and integrity.

3. He reverenced (or “feared”) the Lord!

4. He avoided anything that was evil – He “turned away from evil” – in other words he was scrupulously righteous.

5. His lifestyle was made even more remarkable and attractive because he enjoyed God’s favor and blessing (He was the greatest of all the people of the east”).

6. He was a spiritual leader at home, exhibiting an ongoing concern for the spiritual welfare of his family.

What a man! I desire to live that kind of life in the coming year (and beyond)! Oh Lord, help me!!

Jokes and humorous (or perhaps not so humorous) observations abound about the discomfort and difficulties of 2020… and here we are today, it is December 31, the last day of this painful and problem-filled year!  People are hoping desperately that 2021 will truly usher in a “NEW YEAR!” 

Listening to the forecasters it’s clear they are “hedging their bets” on that happening!  In fact, some very high-ranking authorities are urging caution… its like they’re saying, “don’t get your hopes up – yet!

But that won’t stop people from saying it – “Happy New Year!” – with optimism (albeit with fingers crossed).

But based upon my Bible reading this morning at the close of 2020, our hopes and wishes for a “New Year” in 2021 – our desire to leave the pain and discomfort of 2020 behind for the prospects of 2021 – aren’t worth comparing to what will transpire when the Lord comes and makes “ALL THINGS NEW!  That will be a “New Year” (no, more than that – a “New Forever!”) “on steroids!”

Here is the declaration right out of the Bible: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more!  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold the dwelling place of God is with man He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, no crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away!’  And He who was seated on the throne [God Himself] said ‘BEHOLD, I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW!” (From Revelation 21:1-5)

Read the whole account of it in Revelation 20:11 – 22:21 for yourself – it’s a great, uplifting read at the end of this year!  Heaven!  A prepared place for a prepared people – people who have been “born again,” people who “overcome,” people who have their name “in the Lamb’s book of Life, Jesus followers, righteous people!  On the other hand, those who reject Christ, and live self-willed, rebellious lives are excluded and face a frightening eternity.

Listen, I’m as ready for the pain and problems of 2020 to pass as you are… I’ll admit it – because of the hope I have in Christ, I’m ready for 2021 to come – I think the future is bright!  You can say “Happy New Year” to me hopefully if you want to… but if you really want to make my day, remind me of my future as a Christian… tell me “Happy Forever!” – “all things new!”