Monday, October 24, 2022

Orange Moon Monday, October 24, 2022 "The Best Robe"

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

    
               "The Best Robe"

   "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him" (Luke 15:22).

   Who received the "best robe?"   Was it the Lord Jesus Christ upon His triumphant return to Heaven after He victoriously trampled sin, hell, and the grave under His nail-scarred feet?  Might it have been David upon his coronation as the king of Israel?  Or does Luke refer to an overcoming saint who entered Heaven after living an earthly lifetime of faith, obedience, and sacrifice for God and others?

   While the Lord Jesus, David and the godly believer may seem the likely candidates, Luke does not refer to them as recipients of the blessing. "The best robe" is rather reserved for one seemingly unworthy of such exalted garb.

    "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:15-24).

    We have all sinned against our Father, and wasted His inheritance no less than the wayward son.  If we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, however, God has called forth the best robe to be draped upon us.   We refer to the robe of our Savior's righteousness, so effectual in redemption that God remembers no more our rejection of Him, or the degradation that led to our spiritual starvation. He looks upon us and sees the robe, the best robe. Forever thereafter He relates to us as the loving Father of sons and daughters who were dead, and are alive again, who were lost, and are found.

    Upon our arrival in Heaven, the extent of our Lord's salvation will be known in infinitely greater measure.  We will feel as if we cannot bow low enough to adequately worship "the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).  This will be true.  However,  our Father will command that we stand so that the universe can view the Blood-washed garment of righteousness we wear. The glory of the Lord Jesus will shine forth from us in a splendor heretofore unknown, and the display of grace will begin that will require an eternity to fulfill...

"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)

Weekly Memory Verse   
     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)
   


















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