The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(Thanks to my wife Frances for continual inspiration on this one. On all of them, actually!)
"What Will We Say?"
When life most challenges us, tempting us to paralyzing sorrow and even despair, born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must most draw our sword from its sheath to "fight the good fight of faith" (I Timothy 6:12).
"Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God... My tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long" (Ephesians 6:17; Psalm 35:28).
The Bible is our sword. Our tongue is its sheath. The Holy Spirit is our guide and empowerer to speak in terms of truth in even our most difficult times. Indeed, one can only fight when facing a foe. "The good fight of faith" is therefore best waged when enemies seem to be winning the battle, and when hope appears to fade. What will we say when life becomes difficult, bewildering, and most challenging? Will we draw our Sword from its sheath, as led and enabled by the Spirit of God?
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).
What will we say? About God? About His truth? About His involved presence and working? About His Son's empty tomb and occupied Heavenly throne? About His promise to be all and more than we will ever need in every circumstance? About His assurance that He works all things after the counsel of His own will, and all things for good to them that love Him? What will we say? How we answer this question determines whether we "fight the good fight" or retreat to defeat and shameful disregard of our high calling, and even more, of our Lord's almighty Sword. "For by Thee I have run through a troop. By my God, I have leaped over a wall" (II Samuel 22:30).
James tells us that left to ourselves, we cannot control our tongue (James 3:8). However, God does not leave believers to themselves. His Spirit dwells within us to enable us to draw the Sword, and to speak in terms of our Lord and His truth. We may have failed too often in the past. We may feel weak and unable in the present moment. What a time therefore to fight the good fight through Christ! "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). Certainly, the challenge is difficult. Any good fight is. But it is more than possible that we can speak rightly and righteously when our enemies seem most at the gates, and even most through the gates. What will we say? The glory of God awaits our answer, a glory greatly revealed when we draw our Sword - the Word of God - from its sheath - our tongue - and fight the fight, the good fight of faith.
"The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue."
(II Samuel 23:2)
Weekly Memory Verse
And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead.
(Acts 13:29-30).
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