Coffee With The Lord

From sinner to saint… Is it really possible? Can an individual who has just “scummed life up” become a true “saint” – an authentically righteous, devoted follower of Jesus?

There are people who doubt it. There are others who, believe it or not, could care less… “Live and let live” is their mantra.

I read a wonderful passage today written by Apostle Paul to individuals who lived in a very wicked, immoral city – ancient Corinth – a city whose name had actuality become a byword for immorality…

First of all… It does matter! This is what he said…

“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT)

People like that – people who practice sin – will not get to heaven! In fact the Bible is clear… the only other option is “the other place” – a place of torment.

But Apostle Paul is equally clear about something else in the very next verse… Sinners – people with “scummed up lives” – can change, can be saved, can become authentically righteous!

“Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed! You were made holy! You were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!” (1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT)

Oh what a wonderful truth! What an awesome reality! God can do it! God can do it for someone you know and love! God may have done it for YOU… and I know you’re forever grateful! (Oh yeah… and it DOES matter!)

The British Crown Jewels… Wouldn’t even know where to begin describing their value, their uniqueness, their splendor, their beauty!

I was reminded of that as I read one of the “crown jewels” of Scripture today… Isaiah 55!  So much elegant, powerful, treasured beauty there! … Stuff to savored, enjoyed, treasured, embraced, appropriated, heeded!!!  I won’t include it all in this post… Only enough to whet your appetite and perhaps “blow you away” with its beauty and power…  My advice?  Take your time, savor every sentence and word, let the Holy Spirit shine upon its message, enhance its truth and make its gems glisten!  (I’m still in WOW mode! … could you tell?)

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love…

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands!”

(from Isaiah 55 ESV)

Conscientious parents scold their children for bad behavior!  They won’t tolerate a display of angry envy and resentment when someone else is honored, when they are given a gift, or receive a generous act of kindness.  The tragedy?  Sometimes adults (even the very parents who did the scolding) behave in the very same away that they would not tolerate in their children.

Thought of that as I read the parable Jesus told of the landowner who paid his workers who labored in his vineyard… The story goes that he went out very early in the morning and hired some workers looking for work in the city square, agreeing on their wages for the day… About 9 a.m. he went back and hired some more, and then again at noon, 3 p.m., and again at 5 p.m.  Time came to settle up with those he had hired… And he paid them all the same amount – the amount he had agreed upon!

I can just imagine the outcry… the complaining!  This is how the Bible describes it…

“Each one received the standard wage!  When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, saying, ‘These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day!’  And the landowner replied to them, ‘Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for the standard wage?  Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you.  Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’” (Matthew 20:10–15 NET)

I don’t know if you’ve ever struggled with the insidious evil attitude of envy, resent or anger when God blesses someone else, they are honored, or when they prosper… I have to admit the evil head of the “envy monster” has risen a time or two in my life!  I’d scold my children for that!  Oh God, cleanse my heart from that attitude!  May I learn to “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice!” (1 Corinthians 12:26)  May I learn to accept what I’ve been granted with gratitude and rejoice when God blesses another with His wonderful “grace gifts” – “one grace on top of another!” (John 1:16)