The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Promises and Commands"
Part 4 - Precious Promises, Blessed Commands
"These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name" (John 20:31).
We began our relationship with God by believing that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." Thereby, we "have life through His name," and thereby we experience such life in our day to day lives - "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).
"What is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:19).
As Christ lives in us, and we "live through Him," the Holy Spirit administers the power of God in our thoughts, beliefs, prayers, attitudes, word, and deeds (I John 4:9). The vast majority of such grace flows so quietly and unobtrusively that even our left hand does know know our Lord's doings by our right. It must be this way because we presently "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7). Even more, the acts of an infinite, eternal God who "worketh all things by the counsel of His own will" can never be fully known by creatures who know nothing yet as we ought to know (Ephesians 1:11; I Corinthians 8:2).
This wondrous administration of Christ's life known by believing constitutes the promises of God's Word as more important than we can imagine. Little wonder the Apostle Peter referred to them as "exceeding great and precious promises" (II Peter 1:4). How could they be otherwise when our Heavenly Father's promises believed serve as the conduit through which the mighty river of Christ's life flows within and through us? Thereby, God enables us to walk in His love, fulfilling His commands through His presence, leading, motivation, and enabling. Indeed, faith has no power in and of itself, but rather accesses the power of Another to course through our spirits, souls, and bodies, revealing the risen life of the Lord Jesus in us. "Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints, that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Philemon 1:5-6).
Great and precious promises. Blessed commands that beckon us to know and experience our Lord's presence and working. Both grace us with the wonder of a life lived by indwelling presence of the risen Christ. Yes, through Him, we seek to "trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey" (from the hymn, "Trust and Obey," by John Henry Sammis).
"And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy."
(Hebrews 11:32-38)
Weekly Memory Verse
My times are in Thy hand.
(Psalm 31:15)
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