COFFEE ON THE DOCK

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 (ESV). What does “grace upon grace” mean? It is like the mashed potatoes bowl on a southern dinner table; “honey, there’s more where that came from”. It is like waves at the seashore, “they just keep on comin”. Don’t misunderstand grace, it is not just something nice to have around, it is God’s gift of power to do what we must. There is grace to give, grace to suffer, grace to sacrifice, grace to forgive and be forgiven. Grace is a powerful force to be utilized properly and with great care. It is precious yet supplied in abundance. “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” Zechariah 4:7 (ESV). LORD, pour out Your grace and point me to the mountain of Your choosing. 

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God,” Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV). God’s divine love is pure, not polluted with mixed motives, so it is not only pure, it is purifying. Human love on the other hand is filtered through a swamp of self-centeredness, allowing only a trickle of God’s love to flow through us to others. Divine love is an incredible motivator that activates a host of godly attributes He deigned us to operate in. As I welcome His love it ignites a purification process in me that releases His love to flow more freely from me to the world around me. The key to walking in love is learning to love others through God’s perfect love instead of our own. Father, I desire Your purifying love to surge through me to like a raging flood. Sanctify my motives and wash away the obstacles of pride and selfishness within my heart. 

The Psalmist writes: “You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain,” Psalm 119:118 (ESV). The Living Bible translates the end of the verse: “ They are only fooling themselves.” And Romans 8:14 states: “ For all who are   led by the Spirit of God are   sons [  of God. ”  Our Father has given us His Word and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit as mankind’s best guidance system through life. Attempts to outsmart God by dependence on ourselves or any other source is futile. Turning to other forms of navigation is not only foolish, it is dangerous. He created mankind   “in His image” (Genesis 1:27),   not as His equal . We are designed to “reign in life” (Romans 5:17), but not to reign over the Giver of Life! LORD in Your Mercy grant me forgiveness for my foolish attempts to work things in my own way instead of Yours. Thank You for the divine provision of Your Word and Spirit. 

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another,” Proverbs 27:17 (ESV). One of life’s hard-learned realities is that human interaction is characteristically confrontational. So, it should be no surprise that at some point every relationship confronts imbedded selfishness, fears or other hidden issues within our souls. Interaction with others helps shape us into sharper, better people, however, reacting negatively to the sharpening process will only guarantee it will last much longer than necessary. Confrontation without ensuing bitterness is one of life’s greatest gifts; providing a powerful, regenerative and transformative force of good that will last for a lifetime. Lord, You are the Potter; I am the clay. Make and mold me into the man that pleases you. Thank you for those whom You use to help shape me. 

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed,” James 1:14 (NKJV). The desire to “do the right thing” is very compelling, unfortunately the lure of wrong choices can be equally compelling. Temptation empowered by own weaknesses and under the strategic influence of “the tempter” is effective but God does not leave us powerless. “The  tempter  came to Him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’” Jesus quoted God’s commands from Scripture for each temptation and after three defeats Satan left and angels came and ministered to Jesus. “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist   the   devil , and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (ESV). Our spiritual enemy and his horde of collaborators can be resisted to the point of his “fleeing”, when we surrender to the “Greater One” who lives within us. LORD, Your Word and Spirit grant strength to Your children. Empower me to walk faithfully before you thi...

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you,” 2 Chronicles 20:17 (ESV). I have never been one to back down from a fight that I felt was necessary, but at times I have been drawn into battles that were not for me to fight. On many occasions, just as I was rehearsing my strategy and preparing to go to war the LORD commands me to wait for Him to handle the matter. This is where learning to “stand down” comes into play. At times we must run toward the giant, as did David. But other times, like in the story of King Jehoshaphat, God has us stand firm, allowing Him to take care of the situation. Instead of his best soldiers, the LORD told him to send singers out front. As they praised God the enemies began destroying one another! Praise brought the victory. Father I am Yours. Guide me in battle, grant me good discernment and teach me trust You as Commander-In-Chief. 

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart as you did in the rebellion. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’” Hebrews 3:7,9 (ESV). When we encounter barriers to doing what we to do we reconfigure “truth” to fit our human appetites, placing our feelings and desires as the highest level of authority. God designed us to live with certain inward and outward restraints. When we abandon the safety of Scriptural values, the protection of the Brotherhood of Believers and Spirit-guided accountability, choosing instead a path of self-managed constraint, it is a sure path to destruction. To reject the principles of Truth is to align ourselves with the forces of darkness. Lord God, I desperately need Your Voice of Truth. Corral me into a life of committed surrender where I may run freely and safely under Your constant discipline and care.