Monday, September 30, 2019

“Our Need For Thanks”

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


"Our Need For Thanks"       



    The Bible commands that we thank the Lord, so much so that the Apostle Paul commanded, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonians 5:18).  Why does our Heavenly Father so greatly desire our expression of gratitude for His presence, provision, and working in our lives?

    The answer lies not in any need He has for our thanksgiving.  If no created being ever offered thanksgiving, God would be no less fulfilled and content.  "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee" declared the Lord through the Psalmist (Psalm 50:12).  We meet no need in our Lord because no need exists in Him.  He is perfectly content in His triune existence as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Thus, when we give thanks, we fill no emotional void in God.  He desires our expressions of appreciation, and according to Scriptural revelation, clearly enjoys them.  However, He does not lack in any way if we fail to offer gratitude.  

   Our Lord's calling to give thanks and our capacity to do so rather meets need in us.  We require a heart of gratitude and frequent expression of thanksgiving in order to live in truth and reality.  Our Heavenly Father supplies our very existence and everything in it.  "He giveth to all life and breath and all things" (Acts 17:25). The realization of such grace surely elicits grateful appreciation in all who see the Heart and Hand that provides "every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17).  In humanity, sin has clouded our vision of how much God gives and how utterly dependent we are for His ongoing bestowal of "life and breath and all things."  When we accentuate such truth by the realization of our Heavenly Father's freely given salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ to undeserving sinners, we recognize how desperately we need to live a life and eternity of utmost gratitude to God.  "O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, because His mercy endureth forever" (Psalm 118:1).

    We greatly honor our Lord when we give thanks, revealing His abundant generosity by our acknowledgement and response to the grace of His giving.  We also please Him thereby, first and foremost because it blesses our hearts and the hearts of others with the light of truth.  God does not selfishly crave our acknowledgment.  He is perfectly fine and fulfilled if He never receives it.  However, we are not at all fine and fulfilled if we do not give consistently give thanks with an ever-increasing awareness of how much God gives, how little we deserve His kindness, and how all things come to us through the grace of Christ's saving work on our behalf.  Indeed, He purchased our next breath with His shed blood, along with every other gift we will ever receive from His nail-pierced hands.  How we need to give thanks for such grace, and how we please and honor Him when we join the Psalmist in his determination to offer perpetual gratitude…

"O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever."
(Psalm 30:12)   
    
Weekly Memory Verse


    "O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, because His mercy endureth forever."
 (Psalm 118:1)


  





















5716

Saturday, September 28, 2019

"Before They Call" Part 4 Existing Grace, Experiential Grace

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


"Before They Call"       

Part 4 - Existing Grace, Experiential Grace


We continue our consideration of the Apostle Paul receiving grace when God chose not to remove Paul's thorn in the flesh.
(II Corinthians 12)
   
    
    One of the best intercessions we can offer in prayer for each other involves the abundance of grace we already possess in Christ.  

    "I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:15-19).

    In Christ, we already have everything we need regarding hope, spiritual riches, and "the working of His mighty power."  This supplies far more than enough to maintain our hearts in peace as we find that which we already have in the Lord Jesus.  Such grace also bears limited implications for earthly needs, although God's present emphasis involves our hearts.  Note that the Apostle Paul taught that God has blessed us with "all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3; emphasis added).  We do not find such promise for physical abundance in the New Testament because the Lord's working to conform us to the spiritual and moral image of Christ requires that we suffer need as well as enjoy blessing.  

   "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness thro1ugh manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Peter :6-7).

   We presently possess all grace in Christ necessary to enable a full heart, even when we experience limitations or emptiness regarding outward needs.  This is the glory of the Lord Jesus, that He can reveal His abundance of spirit where it seems it could not be.  Indeed, the Prince of peace who slept during a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee now rests within our hearts during the tempests of our lives (Mark 4:35-41).  He knows He can lead us through whatever challenge we will face in this lifetime.  His presence is more than enough to reveal peace within us as we trust Him.  However, we must believe that such peace is not only possible.  It is already present in our hearts through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  The Prince is there, or rather, He is here.  We will be tempted to believe otherwise, but the truth  abides.  Abundance grace for our hearts is ours to receive not as a matter of possession.  That we already have.  The matter involves recognition and affirmation of such freely given supply in Christ.  The choice is ours, and the more we affirm existing grace in our hearts, the more we will realize experiential grace therein.   

"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose minds is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee."
(Isaiah 26:3)

Weekly Memory Verse


    "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." 
(Psalm 115:1)


  





















5715

Friday, September 27, 2019

"Before They Call" Part 3 - With the Thorn

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


"Before They Call"       

Part 3 - With the Thorn


We continue our consideration of the Apostle Paul receiving grace when God chose not to remove Paul's thorn in the flesh.
(II Corinthians 12)
   
    
    It was perfectly normal and acceptable for the Apostle Paul to desire the removal of his thorn in the flesh, and to pray accordingly.

    "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me" (II Corinthians 12:7-8).

    Our Lord commands in His Word that we seek Him in our challenges.  "Call upon Me in the day of trouble.  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).  He loves to administer the grace of rescue when such deliverance accords with His working in our lives.  "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles" (Psalm 34:6).  Such grace will one day remove every difficulty as God's grace in the Lord Jesus Christ fully manifests its freely given redemption to all who trust Him.

   "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

   How we look forward to the wonder of such grace!  But presently, we do look forward.  We are not yet in the day when tears, death, sorrow, crying, and pain are erased from our experience and consciousness.  "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).  In this day, the grace we possess in Christ often meets us in the furnace rather than delivering us from it.  "Glorify ye the Lord in the fires" commanded the prophet, who well knew that trouble presently offers opportunity to reveal and magnify our God in ways that will not be possible when the furnace no longer exists (Isaiah 24:15).  Our access of God's grace is no less now than it will be then.  The administration thereof is different, however, meaning that our Lord's freely given favor will often grace us amid flames that may seem to imperil, but which actually impart light, warmth, and the destruction of our enemies.  "When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned" (Isaiah 43:2).

   Paul would tell us that God's administration of grace with the thorn served he and his generation perfectly.  Actually, every generation of the church has benefitted from the Apostle's testimony.  I sometimes wonder if we would have even known that Paul had a thorn if the Lord has merely plucked it and healed the wound.  However, since He dispensed grace to Paul as "a very present help in trouble," the sound of the Lord's word to our brother of old echoes through centuries, resounding to all who will hear its promise when God's goodness blesses us with the thorn

"My grace is sufficient for Thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
(II Corinthians 12:9)

Weekly Memory Verse


    "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." 
(Psalm 115:1)


  





















5714

Thursday, September 26, 2019

"Before They Call" Part 2 - Possessing Our Possessions

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


"Before They Call"       

Part 2 - Possessing Our Possessions


We continue our consideration of the Apostle Paul receiving grace when God chose not to remove Paul's thorn in the flesh.
(II Corinthians 12)
   
    
    As is the case with all Biblical doctrine, God's grace rides upon two rails of Truth regarding its outworking in our lives.  First, believers have available access to all necessary grace, as already provided in the Lord Jesus Christ.  "We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).  Christ Himself is the very essence of God's grace.  Having Him, we have all.  However, the applied administration of such abundance awaits our reception by faith.  "As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (Matthew 8:13).  To the degree we know, trust, and submit our hearts to the promises of God will be the degree to which we experience their blessedness.  

    Such wonderful truth encourages our hearts with the assurance of God's provision in all things, as administered by His wisdom and will.  He provides the grace of thorns removed, or the grace of enabling us to endure thorns that remain.  However, great challenge also presents itself to us in the assurance.  We have what we need in Christ.  Will we avail ourselves of the provision?   The ball is actually in our court.  God has supplied.  He is working in our hearts to inspire faith.  He dwells within us as the power thereof.  His Word plainly declares the "all things" of His provision regarding every aspect of "life and godliness" (II Peter 1:3).  Will we believe?  Will we receive thereby?  Or will we dwell in the sad shadow of unbelief, becoming the modern day version of Capernaum? - "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).

   We must build a strong doctrinal conviction in our hearts and minds regarding the presence and availability of God's grace.  Only thereby will we consistently grow in availing ourselves of His freely given provision in the challenges of life.  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).  The writer of Hebrews beckons us to approach the throne of grace with confidence, based on the Person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf.  At the throne, we "find grace," that is, we discover that which is already ours in Christ - "the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 1:4; note that it was to the wayward Corinthian believers that Paul affirmed such existing provision).  Faith finds the grace it already possesses in Christ.  As the prophet prophesied of a coming day for the nation of Israel, "the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions" (Obadiah 1:17).  That day is already here for God's sons and daughters in Christ.  We must possess our possessions, as supplied by our Lord's freely given grace.

      Our experience of God's grace awaits our confidence that the Word of God is true, the supply of God is available, and the glory of God is at stake.  Indeed, to the degree we trust will be the degree to which we access the abundance of a thorn removed, or of enabling to endure if the challenge remains.  Either way, the grace of God in the Lord Jesus is our hope, our assurance, and our available provision in all things.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
(II Corinthians 9:8)

Weekly Memory Verse


    "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." 
(Psalm 115:1)


  





















5713

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

"Before They Call"

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


"Before They Call"        
   
    
    Paul's thrice-offered prayer for deliverance from his thorn led not to its removal, but rather to the Lord's promise of grace to endure the painful challenge.

    "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (II Corinthians 12:7-9).

   Note that Paul's prayer did not result in the Lord's bestowal of grace.  The Apostle already possessed that, as do all believers.  "The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 1:14).  Paul rather required the knowledge that he possessed God's freely given favor, presence, and enabling, that is, His grace.  His brother and fellow laborer in the Gospel, the Apostle Peter, illuminates such blessedness: 

   "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).  

    Note the past tense regarding such assurance of grace.  In Christ, Paul possessed the capacity to bear his thorn, to the degree of "exceeding abundant" and "all things that pertain to life and godliness."  However, he needed to know it, just as he needed to be told that the thorn would not be removed.  The same often characterizes our Lord's way in our lives.  When the Lord allows challenges to remain, He also bears witness by His Word and His Spirit that sufficient grace is present and available to empower our enduring in faith and faithfulness.  When we pray for God to grant grace, we actually seek His illumination that we already possess such blessedness.  "God… hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).

   Trouble, pain, and difficulty awaken us to seek the grace we already possess.  The life of faith in the Lord Jesus involves ongoing discovery that in the moment of our new birth, we received God's supply for every moment of time, and every glory of eternity.  It often doesn't look or feel as if such provision already graces our need with abundant supply.  But it does.  As Jacob of old admitted at Bethel, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not!" (Genesis 28:16).  This was Paul's discovery.  It will be ours as well, whether God removes our thorns or allows them to remain.  Certainly we may ask for grace, and our Heavenly Father will not be offended.  His supply, however, will involve the opening of our eyes to see the grace already given.  We do well to realize such blessed truth, and to affirm that regarding God's grace in Christ, supply always precedes need…

"Before they call, I will answer."
(Isaiah 65:24)
"All things are yours... and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
(I Corinthians 3:21; 23)

Weekly Memory Verse


    "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." 
(Psalm 115:1)


  





















5712

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

"No Matter What"

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


"No Matter What"        
   
    
    Life sometimes bewilders us.  No less than the Apostle Paul knew the challenge of not understanding some things determined or allowed by God.

    "We are perplexed, but not in despair" (II Corinthians 4:8).

    Our Lord does not always explain His ways in our lives, nor His "whys?"  Regardless of how much we pray, read the Bible, seek the counsel of other believers, or hope against hope for understanding, some things remain a mystery to even to the most devout among us.  In such times, we can be sure that we wouldn't understand if the Lord offered an explanation.  The Lord Jesus Christ Himself cried out on the cross of Calvary, "My God, My God, why?" (Matthew 27:46).  Thus, we must allow for perplexity, bewilderment, and mystery to sometimes accompany our walk in the Light.  

    However, note Paul's full testimony above: "Perplexed, but not in despair" (emphasis added).  In the darkest night, God's light shines if we will look to Him with even the tiniest mustard seed of faith.  "The Light shineth in darkness" (John 1:5).  The Apostle had hope even though he had no understanding.  He chose to trust God's heart when he could not see His hand.  Paul knew God well enough to believe that no matter what, the Lord abides true, faithful, and utterly trustworthy.  Like Job of old, Paul looked to Heaven with a battered, but intact confidence: "Thou He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15).

    No one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and been disappointed for doing so.  No one ever will.  He is perfectly trustworthy.  He cannot lie.  His Word is true.  His faithfulness "reacheth unto the clouds" (Titus 1:2; John 17:17; Psalm 36:5).  He can be trusted no matter what.  We must believe His Word no matter what.  We must affirm our faith no matter what.  And we must choose to see the Light sometimes must shine in darkness, no matter what.  This is "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints," and now delivered unto the path set before us wherein we honor our Lord as we join the Psalmist in affirming, no matter what…

"I will trust in Thee."
(Psalm 56:3)
"He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded."
(I Peter 2:6)

Weekly Memory Verse


    "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." 
(Psalm 115:1)


  





















5711

Monday, September 23, 2019

"A Large Heart"

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


"A Large Heart"      
    
   
    
    Miss Jane is a dear Christian lady who several years ago began attending our services at a local retirement community when a relative of hers lived there.  She took it upon herself to help people get to the services, which provides an incredible measure of help to Frances and me.  Staffing is frequently low at nursing facilities these days, which makes extra help invaluable.  Miss Jane goes above and beyond, as led by the Lord, to aid our ministry and to serve as a shining example of the Lord Jesus Christ to all who benefit from her devotion.  Her relative, by the way, no longer lives at the facility, but Miss Jane continues to come and minister to people there.

    "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also" (Romans 16:1-2).

   I love believers who quietly serve the Lord Jesus and people, with no thought to notoriety or benefit to themselves for their labors.  There are so many of them, in so many places and venues of service.  We have been blessed through the years to meet many of these tireless servants in whom the Spirit of Christ walks in beautiful displays of love usually known only by those blessed to be in their small field of ministry.  To this point, "Miss Jane" is not the actual name of the Lord's daughter I mentioned above.  I have taken the liberty of using a pseudonym for our sister and friend because she would not want me to write what I am writing about her.  That is who she is, and how she lives and ministers.  She epitomizes the Psalmist's yearning: "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake" (Psalm 115:1).

   The day will come when the Miss Janes of the body of Christ will be known as their labors for the glory of God are weighed and found worthy by our Father of His affirmation.  This is not that day.  Not yet.  And so Miss Jane will continue to serve, people will continue to be blessed, and the Lord Jesus will continue to be honored in a small venue by a large heart full of the Savior's servant devotion to God and others.  

"Before honor is humility."
(Proverbs 15:33)

Weekly Memory Verse


    "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake." 
(Psalm 115:1)


  





















5710