The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(More "Doctrine 101" regarding how we walk with God in faith and faithfulness. No more important truth exists in our relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.)
"For Christ's Sake"
"I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake" (Genesis 30:27).
Laban's words to Jacob, despite being spoken from one conniver to another, nevertheless brightly ring with the foreshadowing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
God saves all who believe through not through our own merits, but by the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf. The grace begins with "God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). It continues with "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things" (Romans 8:32). Our eternal benefit ever flows on the current of who and what the Lord Jesus is for us. Who is He to us? What has He done? What is He doing? What will He do forevermore? Progressively discovering the answers to these questions leads us to "learn by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for Thy (Christ's) sake."
Understanding and embracing this blessed truth not only leads us to avail ourselves us of God's gifts. It also results in a growing appreciation for so wonderful a Savior, so wonderful a Father who gave Him, and so wonderful a Holy Spirit who leads us in "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). This motivates a life of faith and faithfulness as we live for God by living from who and what Christ is to Him, and to us. Indeed, the more we share God the Father's view of the Lord Jesus, the more we find ourselves empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in our Savior's likeness. "Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (II Corinthians 3:18).
We must "learn by experience" that all grace flows to us through the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. We play a role of reception by trust and submission, but never do we earn by our own merits the blessing of God. Christ is the issue. God forgives, cleanses, provides, guides, protects, empowers, and administers all grace on the basis of who the Lord Jesus is to Him, and who He is to us. No other way exists whereby we "access by faith… this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). No other way is needed, and no other way will result in a genuine love for God that manifests its devotion in true love and a life lived for His glory.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
(Ephesians 2:4-7)
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
(I John 5:11)
Weekly Memory Verse
"In this world ye shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)
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