Orange Moon Cafe "Not Unto Us!"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Not Unto Us!"

     

     No human being whose sins made necessary the suffering, forsakenness, and death of the Lord Jesus Christ will ever be worthy of glory.  Thus, the saints of God join David in his determination to direct all honor and accolade to the only One worthy thereof…

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

   We do well to look at our hands and feet.  If they bear no prints of nails, or if our side is not marred by the wound of a spear, we can know how passionately and determinedly we must reject all desire for glory.  Of course, when we are blessed to do things for others, gratitude and affirmation will sometimes come our way.  We may receive this with appreciation and our own thanks for the acknowledgement of our labors.  Deeply within, however, we express gratitude to our Lord for His motivation, leading, and enabling to be a blessing to others.  As the Apostle Paul testified, "I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power" (Ephesians 3:7).  Paul realized that the freely given grace purchased by his Lord's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary provides not only pardon from sin, but also power to serve.

    David's affirmation mentioned above - "Not unto us!" - denotes an aggressive determination to live and serve in a manner that honors the Lord Jesus and not ourselves.  "When thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" (Matthew 6:3).  Remembering the sorrow and suffering that enables us to live in faith and faithfulness goes far in motivating our determination to direct all honor to the Lord Jesus.  This delivers us from crippling pride and any sense of self importance that falsely perceives the power that works in us originates with us.  The temptation for being noticed is strong in our flesh.  However, the truth of "Not unto us!" moves powerfully within our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who Himself seeks to further only the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus…

"When the Comforter is come, He shall testify of Me… Howbeit, when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak of Himself… He shall glorify Me."

(John 15:26; 16:13; 14)

"I will praise Thee, o Lord, with all my heart.  And I will glorify Thy name forevermore."

(Psalm 86:12)

Weekly Memory Verse    

   For by Thee I have run through a troop.  By my God I have leaped over a wall."

(II Samuel 22:30)

  

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