Coffee With The Lord

A devotional reflection from my Bible reading using the Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan for today – 2 Kings 8:1-29; Proverbs 18:17-24; Amos 4:6-13; John 16:16-24; Hebrews 7:11-17

Good things happen to kind and generous people!  Go ahead and do what is right and good and let the Lord surprise you with His blessing!!

Those were the thoughts that entered my mind as I read the full story of the Shunammite woman and Elisha the prophet this week…  (You’ve got to read it… it’s amazing!  (2 Kings 4.8-37 and 8.1-6)

This wonderful lady opened her home to the prophet.  She periodically prepared and provided a wonderful meal for him whenever He and his servant would stop by her home.  She even, in a wonderful expression of generosity and kindness, appealed to her husband to prepare a “prophet’s chamber” for them (a hotel-like room for him and his servant to stay and refresh themselves for a few days).

Her generosity and kindness did not go unnoticed!  One day Elisha had his servant approached her and asked this question, “You have gone to all this trouble for us.  Now what can be done for you?”  He offered to do several things on her behalf but she deferred from asking for anything in return (which is just the way this kind of person acts).

The prophet’s servant reminded the prophet she had not been able to have a child.  The prophet prophesied she would have a son in about a year.  And to her and her husband’s delight it came to pass!  But one day, out in the fields, the son fell sick and died.  She was devastated and sent and called for the prophet.  In bitter grief she told the prophet what had happened.  Elisha hurried to their home, went up into the room where the dead child was and miraculously, the child was raised from the dead.

Story not over… Elisha warned the family of a coming famine and urged them to go away for a while so they would be able to survive.  They went away to the land of the Philistines for seven years.  Afterward they returned to Israel and made an appointment to appeal to the king to get their land back.  Just as they arrived, Gehazi, the servant of the prophet happened to be meeting with the king and at his request just happened to be reporting some of the wonderful things God had done through the ministry of the prophet.  Just as he was telling the king about the very occurrence of raising the Shunammite’s son back to life, who should appear for her appointment with the king but the Shunammite!!  Gehazi exclaimed, “This is the woman, my king, and this is her son Elisha brought back to life!”  The king’s response?  He said, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now!”

WOW!!  GOD CAUSES GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO KIND AND GENEROUS PEOPLE! 

Reminds me of a well-known and quoted Biblical principle: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  Lesson one more time… Good things happen to kind and generous people!  Go ahead and do what is right and good and let the Lord surprise you with His blessing!!

A devotional reflection from my Bible reading using the Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan for today – 10/7/2024: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20; Proverbs 18:9-16; Amos 3:1 – 4:5; John 16:4b-15; Hebrews 7:1-10

FOUR “WISDOM TIDBITS” for Monday, the beginning of another week of work (but they’re wise advice for any day of the week, as well)!

“One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” I’m determined to give my very best to any task I’m involved in today! I believe that it is honoring to God! (1 Corinthians 10.31; Colossians 3.17; 1 Peter 4.10-11).

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower, the righteous run to it and are safe… The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall to high to scale.” Wealth is a deceptive source of security. The Everlasting Lord – Jehovah God – is much more reliable and secure. I’ll put my trust in Him instead of riches, which can evaporate through forces and circumstances beyond our control!

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” It’s so easy to have a success or two – a compliment here and there – and get an exalted opinion of your own ability or importance. I’m going to do my best this week to remember without the Lord, I am nothing! Any ability or success I have comes from Him and is achieved with His help.

“To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.” How foolish! Yet I’ve done it more than I’d like to admit! How many times, to my shame, have I been thinking about what I was going to say next, when someone was trying to tell me something really important? I’m going to do my best to give people who are speaking to me my full attention and attempt to listen to their heart as well as their words.

Good advice… “GOD ADVICE!”… at the beginning of another work week from Proverbs 18.9-16!!

A devotional reflection from the Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan for today – 10/6/2024: 2 Kings 5:1-6:23; Proverbs 18:1-8; Amos 2:4-16; John 15:18-16:4a: Hebrews 6:13-20

“His word is good… If he said he’d do it, you don’t have to worry about it – he’ll deliver, and deliver on time…regardless of the challenges or obstacles!”

What a wonderful reputation for ANYONE to have! … And in this case, THE REPUTATION IS GOD’S!

Here’s what I read in my Bible this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…

“When God made a promise to Abraham, He had no one greater by whom to swear, so He swore of Himself, saying, ‘Surely I will bless you and multiply you!” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise! [And believe me, there were some obstacles and challenges! Read Abraham and Sarah’s story in Genesis 12-23] … It is impossible for God to lie! … We have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us! We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain [“the Holiest of All” – the very presence of God Himself!} where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf!” (From Hebrews 6:13-20 ESV)

Hey, don’t fret and worry… be patient and trust Him! What He has promised He’ll deliver!!!