The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Scenes From the High Ground"
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ "fight the good fight of faith" from strategic high ground (I Timothy 6:12).
"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" (Ephesians 2:4-6).
Let us ponder this truth regarding the challenges we presently and personally face. What if, regardless of their mode or measure, our Heavenly Father calls us to engage difficulties, pains, troubles, and perplexities in light of an empty tomb, an occupied Heavenly throne, and the glory that we spiritually "sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus?" He does. We fight from victory as believers rather than for it. It often does not feel or look like it, and skirmishes can certainly be lost if we forget or neglect to walk in the light of truth. However, note that Paul did not qualify our Heavenly vantage point from which we fight the good fight. The believer who opens his or her eyes to look up will then be directed by the Spirit of God and the Word of God to look down from the high ground of Christ's victorious vantage point. "I will triumph in the works of Thy hands" (Psalm 92:4).
Our spiritual enemies know this truth far better than we do. They bear the scars of millions of moments throughout history when believers have looked around to view seeming calamity, and then looked up to their Lord. In such Heavenly light, the Savior has directed them to look down from the throne of His triumph. They have prayed accordingly…
"Lord, how You will administer Your victory in that scene of danger, disaster, and destruction, I do not know. But I know You will. And I know You call me to be a part of Your working to do so by trusting You, and submitting myself to be whatever You would have me to be or do in the matter."
Today's challenges call us to realize our occupation of the high ground by our spiritual and Heavenly union with the risen Lord Jesus. The plan of battle lies surely and securely before us: "From Victory: the triumph of the cross, the resurrection, the throne, and the victorious One who sits upon it." Let us make the matter pointed and directed toward the particular conflicts we face, or those we see in others. As we do, we will join the Psalmist in triumphing in the works of God's hands. We will greatly honor Him thereby. Our hearts will be kept in peace. Our hands will fight by the power of Christ and His Word. And we will strengthen and encourage fellow believers to look around, look up, and then look down from where we "sit together in Heavenly places in Christ 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)
Weekly Memory Verse
"For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands."
(Psalm 92:4)
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