Caffeinated Christian pt 1

I am a coffee lover. I admit it. I love the taste of coffee. More importantly, I love the small “buzz” I get from it. Am I addicted to coffee? Probably. I get headaches if I don’t have at least one cup a day. I frequent a local Starbucks regularly to get my fix. I don’t drink the decaf stuff, unless I want to be only slightly “moved” (decaf still has caffeine, just not as much).

A very dear friend of mine got me thinking about coffee from a new perspective: Christianity. We as Christians are not unlike coffee. Some people like it, some don’t. Some people like us, some don’t. Coffee has a very distinct flavor. It’s usually noticed right away. So is Christianity. There is an aroma to coffee. There is an aroma to Christians.

But what separates good coffee from bad? The same things that separate good Christians from bad. Or should I say true Christians from those that aren’t? How about the saints from the ain’ts? There are several things that make good coffee, each one discussed in recurring devotionals.

1. It must be fresh daily.

Coffee is the best when it’s fresh! People enjoy fresh coffee! Coffee is so gross when it is old. Day old coffee is…disgusting. Now, I’m a little crazy, and will drink cold coffee. When I get Starbucks, it will take me all morning just about to finish it. And I tell you from experience that while I still drink it, the fresh stuff is way better. Also, the beans that you use are best made right after they have been ground for maximum freshness. It doesn’t get any fresher than that right there.

16 These are the Lord’s instructions: “Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” 17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell.
Exodus 16.16-20

This is a great story about keeping it fresh. God hooked up daily. Some people didn’t listen and tried to have some for the next day. They tried to use yesterday’s food for today. And God clearly did not have that in mind. When they tried to eat yesterday’s food, it was rotten! God never intended for them to save it! He had fresh stuff for them the next day!

Our relationship with God must also be fresh daily. We can’t live on yesterday’s word. It has to be fresh, or it gets bitter, like old coffee. We have to keep ourselves in God’s Word on a regular basis if we want to stay healthy as a Christian. God is always ready to teach us, to cause us to grow, but we must be in His Word and in prayer on a regular basis, or we start to lose our flavor. Just as making coffee becomes part of the daily things of life, make time with God and His word part of your daily activities. Keep yourself in His word regularly.

Grow daily or die gradually.