The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Purpose"
A purpose guides God, namely, a holy intention and motivation that originated in Himself. The Apostle Paul referred to this objective as "the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11).
Note first the Subject, "Christ Jesus our Lord." The Person and work of God's Son serves as the context and reason for all the Father does. He sends the Holy Spirit to exalt and reveal the Lord Jesus. He sends His Word according to the same determination. He sends the church to bear witness to Christ. His creation exists for the same holy objective. Thus, all things in which God is involved - which is everything - flows with the current of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14; 5:39; 15:27; 1:3; Ephesians 1:11). The Son saturates every aspect of God the Father's intentions - "that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).
Note the duration of God's purpose - "eternal." This involves forever, of course, which includes this day and this moment. All the Father does, be it spiritual or material, happens as directed by His devotion to the Lord Jesus. "The Father loveth the Son" (John 3:35). To live in reality, we must therefore join our Heavenly Father in His Christ-focused emphasis and working. Every day must begin with the remembrance and affirmation that the glory of the Lord Jesus serves as the reason for the sun having risen, and for our having risen with it. We will do many things regarding what it means to be alive in this day. All must be done in the light of our guiding purpose that flows from God's guiding purpose: the glory of the Lord Jesus. "All men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" (John 5:23).
Finally, note that the "purpose" of God's heart motivates the "purposed" execution of His hand. Our Father's doings always flow from His being. "Thou art good and doest good" (Psalm 119:68). What He does forever proceeds from who He is. Indeed, to truly know God means that we will know the fixed determination of His heart to exalt His Son. To understand God and His ways directs our attention to our own consideration of Christ. Who is God? Why does He do what He does? Look to the Lord Jesus to find the answers to the two most important of all questions. "In Thy light shall we see light… Jesus spake again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world… He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (Psalm 36:9; John 8:12; 14:9).
This day is about the Lord Jesus. We may see it. We may not. We may walk in the holy light that shines upon the Light. We may not. Our response does not change God's reality. It does change, however, our experience of His reality. A heart set to exalt the Lord Jesus will motivate and empower attitudes, countenance, demeanor, words, and actions that reflect God's purpose and our purpose. No greater life can be pondered or imagined. In truth, no other life exists - "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). Let us therefore join our Heavenly Father in His purpose to honor the Lord Jesus by making it our purpose…
"O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together!"
(Psalm 34:3)
Weekly Memory Verse
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
(Romans 4:8)
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