"Look Up!"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(a repeat from 2010)

"Look Up!"

   In order to "Get up" and "Show up," as considered in yesterday's message, born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must "Look up!"

  "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous… Seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for us" (I John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25).

   When we look to the Lord Jesus, we see the One who enables us to arise from sin and continue our walk with God.  There is never an excuse for unbelief and disobedience, and no temptation is greater than our capacity to overcome through Christ (I Corinthians 10:13).  However, no believer perfectly overcomes in this present life.  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8).  Thus, we all have times when we must get up.  The knowledge and understanding of our Lord's forgiveness, cleansing, and faithful determination to continue the good work which He began in us when we believed encourages and enables our restoration (Philippians 1:6).  "Look up!… Get up!"

   When we look to the Lord Jesus, we also see the example of showing up.  He perfectly fulfilled His redemptive responsibilities during His earthly mission.  "It is finished!" He declared as He died for our sins (John 19:30).  Moreover, He also shows up at the right hand of our Heavenly Father to execute His ongoing Heavenly ministry of intercession for us.  "Who is he that condemneth?  It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34).  Remembering and affirming such blessed faithfulness in our Savior strengthens us to arrive at our various venues of responsibility to honor our Lord and bless others with His grace and truth.  "Look up!  Show up!"

   Our Lord eternally intercedes for us to maintain our standing and walk with God.  Thereby we can arise and continue after times of sin and failure.  He also exemplifies and enables our faithfulness by showing us the way, and then walking in us to empower our journey thereupon.  "Walk, even as He walked… I will dwell in them and walk in them" (I John 2:6; II Corinthians 6:16).   Thus, we get up and we show up by looking up, or as the writer of Hebrews declares…

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

(Hebrews 12:1-3).

Weekly Memory Verse

   In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

(I John 4:9)