Coffee With The Lord

An uplifting and powerful thought that Sharon and I shared together this morning during our devotions…

“GOD’S GRACE IS A BIG BUCKET! EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS IN IT! (AND ITS RESULT? PEACE!!)

The Scripture that prompted that thought? A common apostolic greeting in the epistles… “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” (2 Thessalonians 1:2 and others)

And a “hymn” to reinforce the truth… “Wonderful Grace of Jesus!”

“Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!

“Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost;
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost.
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

“Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled;
By its transforming power,
Making me God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and Heaven, for all eternity;
And the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

Refrain
“Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!”

Songwriters: Haldor Lillenas / Lari Goss

Some of you will remember the instructions you received from your Mom as you prepared to leave for a date, or go on a trip, or when you left to go to college… One tidbit of final instructions after another (in “rapid fire”)! … “Remember!… Don’t forget!… Now be sure… Be careful!…” 

Well, I read a passage this morning written by Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration designed to prepare us to live the way God want us to in “community” – “in the last days” before the Lord returns… (I counted 7 general instructions)…

1. HONOR AND ESTEEM HIGHLY YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS!

“Respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you! Esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

2. GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER!

“Be at peace among yourselves.”

3. HELP EACH OTHER ALONG AS YOU LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!

“And we urge you, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with them all.”

4. DON’T TRY TO GET EVEN FOR WRONGS YOU’VE EXPERIENCED – INSTEAD DO GOOD TO EACH OTHER!

“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another – and to everyone.”

5. BE A PRAYING, PRAISING, …A GRATEFUL CHRISTIAN… ALL OF THE TIME!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

6. WELCOME THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ACTIVITY AMONG YOURSELVES – TEST AND AFFIRM ONLY WHAT IS GENUINE!

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good.”

7. STEER CLEAR OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WOULD DISPLEASE THE LORD!

“Abstain from every form of evil.”

Good stuff it seems to me! And I sure don’t want to do with these what I sometimes did with Mom’s advice… “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!” (and then ignore what she said). I want to be READY when He comes!

Today’s post from my time of “coffee with the Lord” is from an ol’ guy who’s been “around the block” a few times in ministry (as a pastor, denominational leader, and educator for over 55 years)…

When you hear these words… “I HAVE A WORD FROM THE LORD”… you may be hearing something that is true and valid – but on the other hand you may be hearing something that someone “concocted” out of their own prejudices, passions, and pride! In fact, both Jeremiah and Ezekiel have extended passages warning about those who make such claims falsely and threatening them with God’s judgment!

But NOT SO with Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (the passage of Scripture I read this morning in my devotions! It is a great inspired and hope producing “WORD FROM THE LORD” directly from Him through Apostle Paul – it is A SURE WORD that certainly will be fulfilled!

So I urge you to read the following “WORD FROM THE LORD” carefully, ponder its message, consider its impact, and allow it’s encouragement to lift you in hope regarding your certain future as a follower of Jesus – dead or alive!!!

“I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers [and sisters], about those who are asleep [have died], that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. FOR THIS WE DECLARE TO YOU BY A WORD FROM THE LORD, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, AND SO WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS!” (From1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV)

So take heart – be encouraged – This is a “SURE WORD FROM THE LORD” that will be fulfilled!! Hey, read your Bible, the time is near!!!