Good to the Last Drop... Jesus
by Barrett Vanlandingham
As I was brewing my morning coffee, a commercial jingle from probably thirty years ago wafted through my mind like the aroma I was taking in at the moment. As the deadline for my bulletin article was fast approaching, I couldn’t help but make the connection between a fresh pot of coffee and... Jesus. Do you remember the saying, "Good to the last drop?" It is certainly one of the most successful advertising campaigns ever.
Jesus is also "good to the last drop." In our world today, there are so many uncertainties. By that, I mean people, places, and things you cannot depend on. There is, however, someone you can always depend on... no matter how confused our culture becomes. That someone is Jesus. You never have to wonder whether he has changed his mind on anything. The answer is always no. He is the ultimate constant in the life of every Christian. He is an eternal compass because he always points us in the right direction. You never have to wonder whether he still loves us. The answer is always yes.
In coffee talk, Jesus is...
1) the most satisfying blend. He is the Savior to all kinds of people.
2) the perfect roast. He stayed on earth long enough to experience every temptation.
3) the richest aroma. Just one whiff and your eyes are opened to a whole new life.
4) the smoothest brew. He never changes and always tastes the same.
5) the boldest flavor. He lived with confidence and wants us to do the same.
6) the best ground. His word gives us everything we need. Not too much; not too little.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, thank you for indulging in this article anyway. I guess the most important lesson that any of us could gain from this little exercise, is simply that lessons about Jesus can be found anywhere if you will just look for them. So, why not sip a cup of creativity today and think about ways of including Jesus in everything you think, say, and do.
Holding Unswervingly
by Barrett Vanlandingham
It may have been a beautiful day today (Wednesday) weather-wise, but memories of the ice-storms of 2007 still linger in our minds. And for me, a wealth of spiritual applications have also stuck in my mind in the same way the freezing rain stuck to the roads, power lines, and trees.
One morning on my way to the church building, I re-discovered some things about winter driving: 1) Ice should always be respected. It never pays to be over-confident in your driving abilities. 2) Never have the attitude that you are all-knowing when it comes to sensing exactly the location of all those slick spots that can cause your car to be thrown off track. 3) Keep plenty of space between your car and everyone else's by thinking ahead.
So what does this have to do with our spiritual lives? 1) The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" Sometimes, we forget just how sneaky the devil really is in his ability to cause us to sin. There's nothing that makes satan happier than spotting someone who thinks they have it all figured out.
2) Arrogance opens the door to many opportunities to fall hard. The mature Christian knows to remain humble, no matter how much Bible knowledge he or she has attained. In other words, it always pays to be on the lookout for "ole Scratch" himself, since he has seemingly countless demons in his army with which to wage a war of evil against good. Remember, God always provides us a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
3) We as Christians sometimes like to ride the fence in matters of faith. We often think that as long as whatever we are doing, thinking, saying, or feeling isn't technically a sin, then it must be okay. In other words, let's just live as close to the edge as possible. But, it's good to keep more than a little distance between you and trouble. This makes it easier to stay on the right path when we are in constant fellowship with God and our Christian brothers and sisters (1 John 1:7).
May God bless each of us as we strive to travel on the pathway of righteousness, and “Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:27)