Sunday, November 8, 2020

Orange Moon "Kneel In Sorrow, Stand In Joy"

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

 

"Kneel In Sorrow, Stand In Joy"

 

     Sometimes God lets Satan have what we might refer to as "skirmish victories" that pave the way for greater victories our Lord will win later.

 

     Of course, in the ultimate sense, the war is already won.

 

    "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15).

 

   Presently, the Lord grants the devil and his minions a long leash to ply their nefarious trade.  Sad and difficult consequences often ensue, leading to a proper mourning when we see evil have its day.  "A time to weep" and "a time to mourn" declared Solomon regarding the present world in which we live (Ecclesiastes 3:4).  Indeed, the joyful anticipation of our Lord's ultimate victory and His present working amid darkness do not preclude the sorrow we feel when we see wickedness and know the pain it will bring.  "Blessed are they they mourn" (Matthew 5:4).

 

    Nevertheless, born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must arise in the midst of our challenge to remember the empty tomb and the Heavenly throne occupied by the risen Lord Jesus. 


"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place" (II Corinthians 2:14). 


We live in the light of our Lord's resurrection life, regardless of how dark things may be in our personal lives or the world.  A lengthened leash for the devil and the wicked is still the Lord's leash.  Our enemies can do nothing God has not anticipated, and they cannot thwart His ongoing purpose of grace and truth in Christ.  The cross tells us this more than any other historical reality.  Calvary reveals it plainly: let Satan do his worst, and we will see God do His best.  "Christ died… He is risen, as He said" (Romans 5:6; 28:6).

 

   It is altogether appropriate to kneel in mourning when sin and evil seem to triumph.  But we do not allow our sorrow to paralyze us.  We rather remember our calling to "rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).  In the power of such Christ-enabled confidence, we "shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).  In fact, the backdrop of darkness offers the contrast wherein our Lord's light shines even brighter because He allows the devil to have His day.  Yes, the war is won.  The tomb is empty.  The Throne above is occupied.  And Jesus Christ is Lord.  Nothing and nobody can change that.  Herein we stand in joy, after we kneel in sorrow.

 

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

(Philippians 2:5-11) 

"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing."

(II Corinthians 6:10)

 

Weekly Memory Verse 

    "Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh unto you."

(James 4:8)














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