The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"If You Have Time"
Find the most devoted and faithful believer on the planet. We can be sure that even if he or she does not precisely express these words, their attitude strongly bears the intent:
"Search me, Lord, and after that, if you have time left for anyone else…".
The longer and better we know the Lord Jesus Christ, the more we realize how far we have to go in being conformed to His image. The most devoted and faithful believer is what he is because he knows better than others that much remains to be done in his walk with the Lord. He therefore ever seeks to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and he knows he has wasted much opportunity in the process: "And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (I Corinthians 8:2). As a noted seminary professor and author beautifully responded upon his retirement, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, "As a man who had a merciful and patient Lord."
The infinite character and nature of Christ provides the primary reason we will always need growth and change. Even a cursory reading of Scripture reveals a Being of goodness and integrity beyond our highest contemplation. To be progressively made like Him in this present life requires the ongoing work of God, which He promises to perform in every believer. "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Christlikeness does not just happen, nor does it involve a completely smooth and uninterrupted journey from our native self-centeredness. The most godly among us know that "the flesh lusteth against the spirit," even as they affirm the delight of their redeemed spiritual selfhood for the will of God (Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:22). They know "the good fight of faith" will be required throughout our earthly sojourn in order to conform us to the glorious spiritual and moral likeness of the Lord Jesus (I Timothy 6:12). Thus, they consistently seek our "merciful and patient Lord's" searching of their hearts and response to Him.
The Lord, of course, has more than enough time regarding His work of administering in all "doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16). We nevertheless do well to maintain the attitude of being the particular project so involved and challenging that "if you have time for anybody else" provides a proper framework of heart and mind. The godliest among us know this. We do well to follow their example of humility and recognition of need.
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
(Philippians 3:13-15)
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted."
(Galatians 6:1)
"Search me, o God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
(Psalm 139:23-24)
Weekly Memory Verse
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
(John 14:6)
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