Orange Moon "Only, Always, Forever!"

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

 

 

"Only, Always, Forever!"

 

       "He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

 

    Christ only, Christ always, Christ forever!  This is the heart of God regarding the centrality of His Son in His eternal purposes.  It must be our heart as well.  We are to emphasize and exalt the Lord Jesus in all things, magnifying His singular place in both time and eternity. "God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9)

 

    Ponder the Apostle Paul's affirmation "that in all things He might have the preeminence." Our immediate response may well be "Uh-oh!"  We would all admit that too many areas of our lives remain in great need for growth regarding the centrality of Christ.  Our spiritual enemies continually seek to distract us from this primary reason for our existence, which empowers a life truly lived in the presence and purpose of God.  We must therefore be aware of the inevitable temptations to minimize the importance of our Savior, whether in our understanding of Biblical doctrine, or application of the truth in our hearts and lives.

 

   The Holy Spirit ever seeks to exalt and reveal the Lord Jesus (John 16:14; 15:26).  He works in believers to do the same (John 15:27). This is reality because everything God does in both time and eternity is devoted to "the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11). No other emphasis aligns with such Divine motivation and determination. The more we join our Heavenly Father in this purpose, the more life will be experienced in the measure and mode determined by God, and declared by the Apostle Paul, "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). Any other existence is illusion, distraction, and deception. Christ only. Christ always. Christ forever!  This is life. This is truth. This is reality. Nothing else is.

 

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him."

(Matthew 17:1-5)

 

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."

(Isaiah 41:10)

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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