Coffee With The Lord

We have a lot to learn from how the Bible describes the people of God who live just before God’s final and righteous judgment that surely will come upon a wicked, rebellious and unrepentant world…

Here is how the Bible describes it in the book of Revelation…

“I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished! And I saw…those who had conquered the beast (i.e. the “Antichrist”) and its image…

And what do these people who have “conquered the beast and its image do just before God pours out His righteous wrath at the end of time upon an unrepentant, Christ rejecting, Christian persecuting world? They worship!! That’s right! – they worship!! They don’t gloat! They’re not preoccupied with the pain, persecution and suffering they’ve experienced… They’re focused on Him – The Lord! Here’s how Revelation puts it…

“And they sing the song of Moses…and the song of the Lamb saying, ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God, the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear [reverence], O Lord, and glorify your name? For You alone are holy! All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed!” (from Revelation 15:1-4)

As we approach the end of this year and view with dismay a world spiraling out of control because of it’s sin and rejection of Christ. As we see the sad consequences of sin and the evil influence of Satan in so many places in our nation and around the world. As injustice seems rampant, innocent people suffer, and Christians bear the brunt of the hatred of those who reject Christ… Rather than become preoccupied with the problems and the persecutors – and become eaten up by bitterness and anger – may we learn from our brothers and sisters at the very end of time and do what they do… May we look upward and worship Him!!

Help me Lord! Help me to make their song, my song, as we approach the end of time and the close of another year!

This morning I read about a healthy practice that Ezra, the priest, established in Israel following the exile… The public reading of Scripture accompanied by it’s exposition/explanation! It’s still a healthy practice – an uplifting/edifying practice – a practice I’d like to recommend! Most churches today could profit by doing it as a regular part of their worship. Apostle Paul urged Timothy, as a young minister, to practice it the church he was responsible for… “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching!” (1 Timothy 4:13)

Here’s the account of Ezra’s practice from the Bible… (As you read it picture what was going on)…

“Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard… And he read from it… from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose… And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people… and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord.. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (from Nehemiah 8:1-12)

So what’s so powerful about the public reading and exposition (explanation and application) of Scripture? Paul knew! This is what he said…

“ALL SCRIPTURE is breathed out by God (i.e. it is “inspired”) and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man (or woman, youth or child) of God MAY BE COMPLETE, EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK!” (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

Hey, if the public reading and exposition (explanation and application) of Scripture was good enough for Ezra in Old Testament times and Paul and Timothy in New Testament times… It’s good enough for me! And it should be highly recommended for modern church leaders today!

Tomorrow begins the week of Christmas… In my Bible reading today, this was one of the passages…

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life! Whoever does not have Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)

This Old Testament prophetic passage pointing to Jesus also came to mind…

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end!” (Isaiah 9:6–7)

Got me thinking… From eternity past into eternity future… The Jesus story! A manger and beyond!

Think I’m going to reflect on each of the following themes about Him during Christmas week (Don’t know though… I may begin Christmas day instead and end on December 31 – What a way to prelude the New Year!). Stay tuned…

1. His miraculous birth
2. His sinless life and selfless ministry
3. His redemptive death
4. His victorious resurrection
5. His exalted position to the Father’s right hand
6. His promised return
7. His eternal kingdom and universal reign