The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Many Wonderful Works"
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. 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."
"In that day," referring to the coming time of judgment, no one who touts their own doings will be received into everlasting life with God. The redeemed will rather proclaim only the doings of the Lord Jesus Christ on their behalf as their hope of Heaven and eternal blessedness in His presence. "This is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40). Indeed, our supposed "many wonderful works" would actually condemn us if we come to God affirming our own doings rather than the perfect and complete accomplishment of the Lord Jesus for our redemption.
The same holds true in this day. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith in this grace where we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). Our sole access to God lies in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. What we do matters much, of course, and we do not take lightly our freely given access to the aptly termed "throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16). Never, however, do believers affirm our own works as the means whereby God calls us unto Himself, and we respond. We come through Christ to seek fellowship with God and His involvement in our lives. Or we do not come at all. "Through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).
This awareness will perpetuate our coming to God in times of both faithfulness and unfaithfulness. If we do the will of God, we approach Him with praise and thanksgiving, in full recognition that He alone receives glory for our doings. "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). If we sin, we approach Him in full recognition that we can be forgiven, cleansed, and restored to walking with God as we avail ourselves of Christ's merits and working on our behalf. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Either contingency finds the believer aware that trusting in Christ and Christ alone assures our Heavenly Father's reception of us both now and forevermore. Yes, we come to God by "many wonderful works." But not our own…
A trail of Blood graces the path,
leading to the throne
where God receives the trusting heart,
approaching by His Son.
Without the cross, there could not be
this access freely known.
Without such sorrow, pain, and loss,
we'd have nowhere to go.
Yes, every prayer flows to the throne
on floodtides of Christ's blood,
we come with grateful, trusting hearts,
in wonder of such love.
A trail of Blood graces the path leading to the throne…
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh unto God."
(Hebrews 7:19)
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh, and having an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
(Hebrews 10:19-22)
Weekly Memory Verse
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
(Romans 8:37)
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