Orange Moon Saturday, September 30, 2023 “The Passing and the Abiding”

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

"The Passing and the Abiding"

    

    "Only a Heavenly reality - the Heavenly reality - can fill and fulfill our hearts.  God made us to know Himself as the singular Life of our lives available in this present existence, and forevermore."     

    

    

    "It came to pass… The world passeth away" (Genesis 4:3; I John 2:17).

    Our present existence involves a transient journey through a realm that will not always exist in its current state.  "It came to pass" appears four hundred, fifty three times in the pages of the Bible.  It must be this way regarding earthly things.  We live in a fallen realm cursed by the consequences of sin and God's loving, righteous, and necessary judgment upon it.  Indeed, lay hold of the most seemingly solid and abiding earthly reality, and then find it dissolve into nothingness if we place the trust of our heart in it.

   "All is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

    God gave Solomon untold wisdom and riches (Ecclesiastes 1:16; II Chronicles 1:12).  He then sent Solomon on a journey to discover the world's possessions and pleasures as a means of fulfilling the heart.  The king returned with a message:  "There is nothing there!  The world is utterly devoid and bereft in providing for the spirit of man!  All is vanity!"  Thus, the richest man, the one most able to enjoy the world, and the wisest man, the one most equipped to analyze his findings, tells us that the gold of the present realm, in whatever form, is fool's gold.  Moreover, only the fool seeks the offerings of the world as the hope of the heart.  All is indeed vanity.

   We do well to frequently take internal inventory, as it were.  Do we view anything or anyone of the present passing realm as indispensable to the joy and peace of our hearts?  Do we view ourselves as indispensable to the joy and peace of their hearts?  If so, we must unsheathe "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" and instantly put to death the insane and absurd notion that can so easily deceive us (Ephesians 6:17).  Certainly, earthly things can be enjoyed, as administered and provided by our Heavenly Father.  "God giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (I Timothy 6:17).  In the moment they become objects of worship, however, a grave threat presents itself to our soul.  The necklace of glimmering jewels quickly becomes a rough and suffocating noose if we make more of it than it can possibly be.

   Long ago, Moses told Israel, "He is thy life."  The Apostle Paul echoed the truth to Christians: "Christ… is our life" (Deuteronomy 30:20; Colossians 3:4).  Only a Heavenly reality - the Heavenly reality - can fill and fulfill our hearts.  God made us to know Himself as the singular Life of our lives available in this present existence, and forevermore.  Look nowhere else for peace, joy, hope, light, meaning, and love that abides forevermore.  Look rather unto "Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).  We will more than find that for which our hearts exist as we divert our gaze from that which "passeth away" to that which "abideth forever" (I Peter 1:23).

Thou art the life, the Life of my life, 

the joy of my spirit. 

A Voice speaks by Your Word. 

I more and more hear it.

To live is Christ, it says, nothing else is.

I kneel to draw near it,

to hear and respond, in the truth of Thy light,

the grace of Thy Spirit…

Thou art the Life, the Life of my life.

"To live is Christ."

(Philippians 1:21)

Weekly Memory Verse

     With all thy getting, get understanding.

(Proverbs 4:7)

 

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Orange Moon Friday, September 29, 2023 "Do Good. Pray Well."

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

"Do Good.  Pray Well."

    

    "When we cannot "do good," we seek to pray well.  This means we approach the One who can always do something about the challenges of life."     

    

    

    In a fallen world of so much challenge, difficulty, pain, heartache, and heartbreak, we all encounter people whose problems we would love to solve, and whose troubles we desire to eliminate.  When possible, we do so.  

   "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men" (Galatians 6:10).  

    The love of the Lord Jesus Christ leads born again believers to do what we can, when we can, where we can, and for whom we can, as led by the Holy Spirit.  However, the needs of others often find us seemingly possessing no means to help.  This is true, but not completely true.

    "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (I Timothy 2:1).

    When we cannot "do good," we seek to pray well.   This means we approach the One who can always do something about the challenges of life.  Who can tell the "wonders without number" our Heavenly Father has performed when believers through the ages have drawn near to the throne of grace because our hands could find no way to help, but our hearts remembered the One of whom the Psalmist declared, "Strong is Thy hand" (Job 9:10; Psalm 89:13).  This particularly applies to modern times, in which almost instant awareness of trouble around the world lies as near as a phone in the pocket for many people.  We see and hear of things for which we have no way to provide help despite our hearts being stirred with compassion.  Again, this may well be true of our hands.  Our hearts and minds, however, can always do something.  Or more literally, we can beseech the heart, mind, and hands of the One who is "good to all," and whose "tendermercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9).   Our Heavenly Father beckons us to ask Him to do that which we cannot do, and to provide help by seeking His help.

    Of course, we often ask the Lord to help people who do not themselves seek His help.  This makes our requests all the more vital and effectual.  Since God always comes with His provisions, His working to supply help may well have redemptive implications in revealing the Lord Jesus Christ and His saving grace.  We can be sure it does, and pray accordingly.  Indeed, whatever the needs about which we pray may involve regarding earthly matters, the Lord's help will always be most directed to the heart.  Again, who can tell of the glories He administers and applies when our hands have no opportunity, but our hearts joyfully remember the Hands that do, and even more, the Heart that beckons us to seek its help for all.

"Pray without ceasing."

(I Thessalonians 5:17)

"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men."

(I Thessalonians 3:12)

Weekly Memory Verse

     With all thy getting, get understanding.

(Proverbs 4:7)

 

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Orange Moon Thursday, September 28, 2023 "The Motive That Matters"

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

"The Motive That Matters"

    

    "Some of the most self-centered people on the planet read the Bible, pray, attend church, witness to others, and appear to bear many of the trappings of Christian virtue.  At the heart of all, however, something is missing.  The main thing is missing, actually."     

    

    

    To give one's body to be burned for God's glory would seem to be the very summit of godliness and spiritual reality. However, if the sacrifice does not proceed from unselfish devotion to others, God accounts it as worthless.

   "Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing" (I Corinthians 13:3).

    The Apostle Paul raises the most extreme and seemingly unlikely example of false virtue to illustrate the truth that God's primary work involves forming within us His character of love, that "seeketh not her own" (I Corinthians 13:5).  This raises the possibility that we can pray, read our Bibles, seemingly obey many of its commands, exercise faith, witness to others, fellowship regularly with Christians, make self sacrifices, and for all the world appear to be the genuine article of true godliness.  However, if we fail to realize that the motive that matters - unselfishness - involves God's primary purpose and working, we miss the heart of the matter, and the matter of the heart.

    "Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and given Himself an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2).

    Unselfishness of motive alone pleases God.  It may and will be manifested through the aforementioned expressions that, if genuinely proceeding from love, comprise "the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:11).  However, our flesh can on the surface duplicate any spiritual reality, including that which appears to be the ultimate sacrifice, resulting in an artificial and "vain show" that deceives and detours rather than leading to the glory of the Lord Jesus, the blessing of others, and the presence of God's peace in our hearts (Psalm 39:6). 

    The extremity of Paul's illustration in I Corinthians 13 is meant to focus our gaze on God's primary purpose in Christ, and to warn us that we can easily mistake "fool's gold" for the real, the true, and the authentic.  Indeed, some of the most self-centered people on the planet read the Bible, pray, attend church, witness to others, and appear to bear many of the trappings of Christian virtue.  At the heart of all, however, something is missing.  The main thing is missing, actually.  In the light of this solemn reality, we all do well to maintain a running discourse with our Heavenly Father, seeking His confirmation, correction, and ongoing reminder that He ever works to reveal in us His unselfish devotion to others.  Nothing else suffices for a life that genuinely reflects the presence of Christ in us, and the purpose of God fulfilled through us.

"By love, serve one another."

(Galatians 5:13)

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

(Philippians 2:3)

Weekly Memory Verse

     With all thy getting, get understanding.

(Proverbs 4:7)

 

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Orange Moon Wednesday, September 27, 2023 "The Cheerful Giver"

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

"The Cheerful Giver"

    

    " 'God loveth a cheerful giver' because He is Himself the most cheerful of givers."     

    

    

    The Lord Jesus Christ declared, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).  Such a glorious reality originates in God, and will require forever to even begin to comprehend and experience.  "Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee!" (Psalm 31:19). 

    Who experiences the most joy and pleasure in the relationship between God and those who trust Him?  He does.  Indeed, we relate to our Heavenly Father as the great Giver, and as His receiving supplicants in all things.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).  Thus, by definition, the "more blessed" must be God since He serves as the great Benefactor of all things in our lives.  "Thou openest Thine hand and satisfied the desire of every living thing" (Psalm 145:16).  

   We do well to still our hearts and minds for a moment, allowing the truth to sink deeply therein.  Someone exists so devoted to the needs of others - and so without need Himself - that He finds His joy in giving and provision.  Of course, He ever administers His gifts in accordance with the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and according to His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.  This makes for "the good pleasure of His will" because God's generosity of spirit perfectly accords with the integrity of His heart, the fulfillment of His purpose, and the perfection of His mind (Ephesians 1:5).  Unlike ourselves, our Lord knows with completely certainty what to give, how to give, and when to give.  We may not always receive with wisdom, but God always gives accordingly.  He does so joyfully, a truth that if we embrace with our hearts, will help us in far better reception of His largesse.  

    The Lord Jesus spoke to this truth when He declared to His disciples, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke. 12:32).  God gives from a joyfully willing heart, based on the abounding generosity therein.  We must believe this about Him, first, because it is true, and then because rightly relating to Him requires knowing Him as He is.  He finds "good pleasure" in His generous bestowal of grace, whether it be the next breath He supplies, or the salvation of sinners that required the suffering, forsakenness, and death of His beloved Son.  "He giveth to all life and breath and all things… Joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth" (Acts 17:25; Luke 15:7).

    "God loveth a cheerful giver" because He is Himself the most cheerful of givers (II Corinthians 9:7).  He will always give according to the perfection of His wisdom, which at times may challenge our understanding.  But He will always give, as our next breath confirms.  This is who He is.  The is the character of His heart.  The is the nature of His being.   Let us plant deeply within our hearts the wondrous truth, preparing ourselves for faith in this life, and for an eternity wherein we will never fully plumb the depths of  the Cheerful Giver as we discover the generosity of His heart and the bestowal of His hand.   Yes, the truth that "It is more blessed to give than to receive" originates and forever flows in and through God Himself, as the hymn writer so beautifully penned, "Out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again."

"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

(I Timothy 1:14)

Weekly Memory Verse

     With all thy getting, get understanding.

(Proverbs 4:7)

 

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