Orange Moon Tuesday, September 13, 2022 "His Works"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

    

               "His Works"

     "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?   And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

   No one who approaches God by their own supposedly "wonderful works" will find acceptance with Him.  Only those who come affirming the many wonderful works of the Lord Jesus Christ can draw nigh unto the most aptly titled "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).

   "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:29).

   Those who trust in their own works fail to realize the standard of God - "His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31).  Acceptability with Him based on our own merits and doings would require absolute perfection of character, nature, and way from the moment of conception and forevermore.  This excludes the entirety of the human race - "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" - save for the God who became man, who was "in all points tempted like as we are, and yet without sin" (Romans 3:23; Hebrews 4:15).  Thus, we look to His works for justification and acceptance with God, and His working in us to motivate and empower the fruits of our freely given relationship and standing with God.  "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved… It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Ephesians 1:6; Philippians 2:13).

    The justified heart that seeks to draw near to God never comes boasting of its own works.  It rather joyously sings the grace of the old hymn, "Nothing in my hands I bring, only to Thy cross I cling!"  Many wonderful works ensue from such faith, works always known to be the fruit of God's grace no less than our initial reception of the Lord Jesus in the new birth.  A long eternity will find the redeemed rejoicing in the perfection of our divine and human Savior who paved the path to God by the works of a perfect life, an atoning death, a glorious resurrection, and a triumphant ascension to Heaven as the hope of our hearts.  Yes, nothing in our hands we bring.  With Christ in our hearts, however, we "come boldly unto the throne of grace," proclaiming, "Many wonderful works has He done. (Hebrews 4:16).  

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope."

(I Timothy 1:1)

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ… For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

(Ephesians 2:13; 18)

Weekly Memory Verse    

   "The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way."

(Psalm 25:9)

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