Coffee With The Lord

Just a bit of a tribute today to skilled, devoted and wise pastors, teachers and writers… Here’s what they seek to accomplish and its wholesome impact upon us… “Besides being wise, the Preacher (or teacher… Heb. “Qoheleth”) also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. Beware of anything beyond these.” (From Ecclesiastes 12:9–12 ESV) My advice? We should be grateful to God for them, their efforts and God-given skills!

I’m from a farm background. I understand how important weather can be – to both sowing and reaping (and I might add the germination, growth and maturation of a crop). I know what it is to see my dad “eye the sky,” listen to the weather forecast… but go ahead, risk it, get the seed in the ground anyway and reap with an “eye on the sky!” Successful farmers have to take some risks! So do investors and entrepreneurs… and so do those who sow (and reap) “the precious seed of the gospel.”

So this is what I read today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” from Ecclesiastes… “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap!” (Ecclesiastes 11:4) … For some people there is always an excuse! Something “might happen” – the “weather forecast” is threatening – things aren’t quite right! Truth is though, in life, and in spiritual matters, to succeed you have to “take some risks!” I jotted these words in my Bible this morning… “Do what you should regardless!” (It’s a key to success in life and in godliness!”

Interestingly, while I was thinking about Ecclesiastes 11:4, Psalm 126:6 came to mind… Here’s the background: “Israel had just come back from exile. They faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives after 70 long years in Babylon. Picture a farmer standing in the field with a bag of seed… does he plant it or eat it (I mean after it’s in the ground, who knows what will happen)! In faith, however – in spite of the risks – he sows! Here’s how the Psalmist puts it: “He who goes out weeping, bearing precious seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him!”

I’m going to keep “sowing” (and “reaping”) REGARDLESS! I’m going to press on, and press through, trusting the faithfulness of God regardless of the “wind and clouds” (or a “forecast”)! I’m going to trust the guidance and faithfulness of God! I believe I’ll “come home with shouts of joy, bringing sheaves with me!”

Ever hear the adage, “EVERYONE IS IN THE SAME BOAT?”

It usually is used to make the point that everyone is facing the same predicament or situation. In other words it has a bad connotation or expresses a dangerous state of affairs for everyone!

However, it can be argued that if the situation was really bad or dangerous, “everyone being in the same boat” could reflect a rescue or salvation from drowning and death.

The adage came to mind this morning as I read 1 John 1:5 – 2:2 during my time of “coffee with the Lord.”

First of all, the passage argues that we’re all sinners! WE’RE “ALL IN THE SAME BOAT” – religious and irreligious, “saved” and “lost,” evangelical and Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, or “whatever” – even atheist! “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God!” (Romans 3:23)… And “The wages of sin is death!” (Romans 6:23) We’re all in trouble – “EVERYONE IS IN THE SAME BOAT!” – WE ALL NEED A “SAVIOR!”

Here’s how the passage declares it… “If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is no in us! … If we say, ‘We have not sinned,’ we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us!”

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE CAN “ALL BE IN THE SAME BOAT!” – we can all experience salvation from sin through the Lord Jesus Christ! Here it is from the same passage: “If we confess our sin [acknowledge it and ask God to forgive us] He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness… I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Heavenly Father – Jesus Christ the Righteous One! He Himself is the atoning sacrifice our sins, and not only for ours, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE OF THE WHOLE WORLD!” (From 1 John 1: 8 – 2:2 CSV cp. John 3:16-17) … PRAISE THE LORD,,,“WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT!”