Coffee With The Lord

Solomon, David’s son, one of the greatest kings of Israel and Judah… Here’s what the Bible says about him… (Just read it again this morning)…

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all other men… and his fame was in all the surrounding nations… And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.” (from 1 Kings 4:29–34 ESV)

Did you get that? “GOD GAVE SOLOMON WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING BEYOND MEASURE!” It was not simply self-generated or gotten! It was not simply the result of “smart parents or genetic superiority”! It wasn’t the result of the schools he attended or the degrees he held from prestigious universities. Deep within, Solomon knew it was not the result of his efforts or personal intellect… in fact, after he had assumed the throne, one night the Lord appeared to him in a dream at night, and God said to him…

“Ask what I shall give you.”

And Solomon said, “O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

And the Bible says… “It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will also lengthen your days!” (from 1 Kings 3.1-13 ESV)

Boy, I never want to forget this lesson! Anything I am… anything I achieve… anything I have… any wisdom I exhibit… is the blessing of the Lord! And it all begins with putting the Lord first and honoring Him in my life! (Check out Proverbs 9:10!)

I don’t want to be simplistic… I know there are suffering, oppressed people in unspeakable bondage to others. I also know there are individuals who are trying desperately to gain freedom from societal, emotional, even expectational prisons. And it’s not an easy thing to overcome sexual addiction or chemical dependency…

But Jesus said something that is unspeakably wonderful… something absolutely incredible and hope generating… if you believe it!

He said… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free! … So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (from John 8:31-39)

Last night I learned quite a spiritual lesson that made the passage I read this morning all the more meaningful (didn’t realize it at the time – but it made a lot of sense this morning)…

It was time to go to bed, so I turned off the light in the living room of our house and headed for the bedroom in the dark. (Sharon, my wife, had already gone to bed, and turned off the light in the rest of the house.) So here I am going through a totally dark house, fumbling around, hands out in front of me trying to protect myself from running in to something, doing my best to remember where things were the last time I walked through the house! I kicked a few things, stumbled a bit, just about ran into the kitchen table and a granite counter top… Got the picture?

Then I read these words this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…

“Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)

That’s quite an assertion… quite a promise! But, I’d have to say I’ve found it true! Knowing Jesus has kept me from fumbling around in a morally and spiritually dark world! I see people all the time trying to make it on their own – feeling around in front of them trying to figure out what is right and wrong – trying to avoid making big mistakes with their life. Hoping they won’t run into something and hurt themselves and their reputation. Hoping that by the time this life ends for them they’ll get it right and everything will turn out alright.

Just gotta say, following Jesus has changed all of that for me… He’s given my life purpose and meaning. He has been a reliable guide! He has brought “light” for me in a dark world… He has become “the light of life”! And I am convinced… absolutely convinced, that He can be that for every living person! For heaven’s sake, don’t stumble around in the dark! Let Him be the “light of life” for you today! Follow Jesus! That’s what I’m going to do!