Coffee With The Lord

Devoted Christ-followers are challenged in the Bible, not to conform to the broader culture, but to LIVE TRANSFORMED LIVES WITHIN THE BROADER CULTURE – TO BE “COUNTER CULTURAL”! Tragically – sadly – all too often we do not do a very good job of that.

This is especially true regarding sexual behavior and practical Christian living. I tremble at the degree to which professing Christians are allowing themselves to be intimated by sexual mores of the broader culture and allowing the broader culture to set the agenda for what is considered acceptable behavior sexually and sexual orientation.

The apostolic witness is very different from that… Apostle Paul’s letter to new Christians in Thessalonica is an example…

“Finally, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God… that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles (i.e. the broader culture) who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother (or sister) in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For GOD HAS NOT CALLED US FOR IMPURITY, BUT IN HOLINESS. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you!

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. For that indeed is what you are doing… But we urge you to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs (i.e. business), and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 ESV)

THERE IT IS… THE WILL OF GOD NOT ONLY FOR FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS, BUT FOR CHRISTIANS TODAY! SEXUAL PURITY, CHRIST-LIKE LOVE, AND PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING. Not conformed to the broader culture – but Holy Spirit empowered counter cultural living! Not conformed – but transformed.

Here’s how Apostle Paul put it in another well-known passage: “I appeal to you brothers (and sisters), by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12.1-2)

The heart’s desire of a true Spiritual leader: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…so that He may establish your heart blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus will all His saints!” (1 Thessalonians 4:12-13 ESV)

Two interfacing passages today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” that make a very important point and teach a powerful truth… Psalm 130 and Luke 18:35-43

If you see answers to prayer as “spiritual entitlement” you just don’t understand the way God works! We are ALWAYS the recipients of mercy and grace! Our appeal is always based upon those two things and the Lord’s character – “His steadfast love!” We never “demand” – but we are encouraged to “appeal!”

Consequently, let me give a word of caution to my “faith healer” / “faith formula” friends from an ol’ guy who has regularly prayed for the sick to be healed (James 5:13-15) and seen God graciously answer with miraculous healing. Healing in Scripture is NEVER a matter of “spiritual entitlement!” Instead, most often it is the gracious response from God to this cry uttered in faith… “HAVE MERCY UPON ME…!”

Check out the following Psalm and then compare it with the Scriptural “case study”…

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! Oh Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my PLEAS FOR MERCY! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared! I wait for the Lord! My soul waits, and IN HIS WORD I HOPE! … Hope in the Lord! For with the Lord THERE IS STEADFAST LOVE, and with Him is plentiful redemption!” (From Psalm 130 ESV)

And then read and reflect on the “case study” I read this morning during my devotions… Luke 18:35-43 (and believe me, not the only one in Scripture!)…

It is the story of “a blind man sitting by the roadside.” His urgent appeal? “Jesus, Son of David, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” People tried to quiet him, but “He cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, HAVE MERCY ON ME!” No sense of “spiritual entitlement” here!!! Jesus heard his cry and responded to him, healing him! In fact Jesus told him, “Recover your sight, YOUR FAITH [expressed in an urgent appeal for MERCY] has made you well!” And he followed Jesus “glorifying God!”