Coffee With The Lord

One of the wonderful things about following the Lord is that we can expect very good outcomes to what appear to be bad events. Our tendency is to judge things by our immediate circumstances – and at best to assess how good or bad they are for us by the near future… God, on the other hand, has an eternal perspective! Even when our Heavenly Father disciplines us His intention for us is good if we cooperate with what He is trying to do, respond properly, and obey.

This morning I read a passage that made just that point to the children of Israel who were about to be disciplined by the Lord and go into exile in Babylon… Jeremiah had just been shown a vision of two baskets of figs…
Jeremiah was asked, “’What do you see Jeremiah?’ He answered, “I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten!’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘I, the LORD, the God of Israel, say: ‘The exiles whom I sent away from here to the land of Babylon are like those good figs. I consider them to be good. I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. I will give them the desire to acknowledge that I am the LORD. I will be their God and they will be my people. For they will wholeheartedly return to me.’” (Jeremiah 24:4–7 the NET Bible) A very good outcome to a bad situation if they responded properly! On the other hand, the outcome for those who persisted in going their own way, disobeying the Lord, and not responding properly was not good as the following verses indicate!

Reading this today reminded me of Hebrews 12:9-11 in the Bible…

“We have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but He (our Heavenly Father) does so for our benefit, that we may share His holiness. Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.”

I am so glad I believe that those who follow the Lord can expect good outcomes to bad circumstances! I’m glad I believe even the Lord’s discipline is designed to produce good things in our lives!

Incredibly busy day… Got up really early… No time to have breakfast or lunch… went from one meeting to another all day… Got home and was really famished… Wonderful meal prepared by Sharon… delightful, satisfying conversation with her… Nothing much better…

I thought of that today as I read the following verses from Psalm 63… especially as it relates to my deepest hunger and thirst for God!

“O God, you are my God! I long for you! My soul thirsts for you! My flesh yearns for you! …as in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you, and witnessed your power and splendor. Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you. For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands! As if with choice meat you satisfy my soul. My mouth joyfully praises you, whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours. 7 For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice. My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me!” (from Psalm 63:1–8 the NET Bible)

How did the old worship song express it? …

“The world may try to satisfy
That longing in your soul.
You may search the wide world over
But you’ll be just as before.
You’ll never find true satisfaction
Until you’ve found the Lord,
For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

“Only Jesus can satisfy your soul.
Yes, only He can change your heart
And make you whole.
He’ll give you peace you never knew,
Sweet joy and love and Heaven, too.
For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.”

This morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I was reminded that little things – simple things – matter to the Lord!

We tend to minimize their importance in what we view as “the grand scheme of things” – God doesn’t. We overlook them and neglect them – God notices. We marginalize them – God rewards them! We look for a celebratory cup of wine – God looks for a simple cup of water.

My hearts cry today? Oh Lord may I learn this lesson that you taught your disciples… “I tell you the truth! Whoever gives a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward!” (Mark 9:41 the NET Bible) Many of the vaunted “big and grand things” I cannot do… a cup of water I can do. Help me never excuse my inaction with my inability to deliver on “the grand thing!” May I do what I able to do as a simple act of kindness and mercy “in His Name!”

His promise? “It will never lose it’s reward!” That’s enough for me!