Coffee With The Lord

After today’s reading in the Bible, I want to go on record about something…

If you see me and want to get my attention or address me… Just call me “LeRoy” or as a fellow Christian, “Brother…”  I prefer “Dad” from my children or “Grandpa” from my grandchildren.  And if you can’t remember my name I’ll even respond to “Hey, You!” 😉

Pride is an insidious thing… We defend it by insisting that others give “honor where honor is due” (and I’m not arguing with that – in fact I support that idea)… I’m just talking about what I insist on personally… And I’ve got to admit, arrogance can slip in, and before long it’s all about us, our rights, our position, and our achievements.

Jesus spoke about those who “do all their deeds to be seen by others” and “love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues (their houses of worship) and elaborate greetings in the marketplace” and those that “love to have people call them ‘Rabbi…’”

He went on to say…  “You are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.  And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.  Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ.  (And here’s the rationale…) The greatest among you will be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8–12 from the NET Bible)

So one more time… Just plain “LeRoy” will work for me… or “Brother…” (or if you can’t remember just call me “Hey, you!”  (And if you’re teaching your children to be respectful of other’s… Hey, it’s your call 🙂

Do you know a person of influence?  What level of access to do you have to them?  Do you have to send a letter? Can you get a response from them with an e-mail?  Could you pick up the phone and call them?  Would you have to go through a secretary?  Do you have their personal cell number?  Would they respond to a text message that you sent them right away?  Would they have time for you if you just dropped by to see them?  Do they ever pick up the phone just to call you?

Good questions eh?  Everyone needs to know a person of influence!  They can help you when you have a problem.  They can get things done!  They have connections!  When they speak or act things happen!  I know a humble pastor in a foreign country with restrictive laws about proselytizing.  He answered a question a person asked him about becoming a Christian… it was a setup!  He was jailed.  Fortunately he had a person in his church who knew the king of that country and had influence… That person appealed to the king and he was released.

Common people – ordinary people – humble people often have no one of influence to help them!  What a tragedy!  Without help, they can be victimized and oppressed!  Blessed is the leader – the person of influence – who understands their God-given role to be that of helping those without a voice, without power, without protection, and without influence!

Good news!  Those who worship the Living God – those who are Christ followers – always have a Person of influence they can appeal to!  I read these wonderful words today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” …

“This is what the High and Exalted One says – the One who rules forever – whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged!’” (Isaiah 57:15 the NET Bible)

The New Testament assures the humblest Christ follower that “we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness!” (Ephesians 3:12).  Because of Jesus – in His name – I can enter the heavenly throne room without fear and approach the King of Kings and Lord of all Lords with the unashamed cry of a needy child… “Heavenly Father!”  (“Abba!” … Daddy!)

Avid readers love their books…  If asked, in a moment they can give you their short list of favorites.

Well, at the top of my short list is the Bible!  No, more than that… the Bible for me is a book of a completely different kind… It may have human writers, but behind it all is the “inspiration” of the Living God!  He is its ultimate source – prompting, guiding and superintending the entire writing process so that what we have in Scripture (another word for the Bible) is the infallible, authoritative, completely reliable Word of God!

I’ve got a short list of other stuff to be sure… But the Bible?  No other piece of literature like it! … GOD’S WORD!!

How do I feel about the Bible?… In my Bible reading this morning during “Coffee with the Lord” I read Psalm 19 and part of it “took the words right out of my mouth!” … In fact, I’d like to post them today, not simply as David, the psalmist’s, words… but as MY personal tribute to The Bible…

“The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life! The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced!  The Lord’s precepts are fair and make one joyful! The Lord’s commands are pure and give insight for life!  The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever! The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just!  They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb!  Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there and those who obey them receive a rich reward!

Gotta tell you, I don’t just like the Bible… I LOVE the Bible!