The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"In This Moment"
"We may not know how will God administer the glory of "by Christ Jesus" as our supply. We just know that He will."
"Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:23-25).
Like Martha, born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ await a coming glory of our Savior "at the last day" far beyond anything of Him we presently know. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face" (I Corinthians 13:12).
However, like Martha, we also need to be reminded, encouraged, and challenged that the Lord Jesus presently abides in our hearts and lives as the "I am" of God's provision. "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). What, in this moment, do we require Him to be for the fulfillment of God's provision for us? How will He be "the resurrection and the life" right now? In what manner will He fulfill the hymnwriter's beautiful affirmation of "strength for today" and "bright hope for tomorrow?" We may not know how will God administer the glory of "by Christ Jesus" as our supply. We just know that He will.
Consider the martyrs of church history. Would they testify that Christ's supply met them in the hour of their difficult passing from the present world? To a person, they would all arise to affirm, "Oh yes, even in my death, the Lord Jesus proved to be "the resurrection and the life." Indeed, sometimes God reveals His greatest provision - unto and within the heart - when it may seem He stays His hand in other ways. His primary emphasis in our present existence involves the redemption of our misguided focus from the earthly unto the Heavenly reality that "out of the heart are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). We rightly rejoice when God's supply of Christ meets our temporal needs. However, on other occasions, He may singularly grace our spirits with "the peace of God which passeth all understanding" as we trust Christ to be our all sufficient provision (Philippians 4:7). The martyrs would tell us this, that no matter what, the Prince of peace is that present, that involved, and that capable in all things.
The prophet revealed the same long ago. "Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee" (Isaiah 26:3). The affixing of our minds begins with the doctrinal conviction established within our hearts - "all your need… by Christ Jesus." Or, as the Savior told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life." We may await the final culmination of such glory when entering our Lord's direct presence. We do not await, however, His present place as our all sufficient provision. He said it personally - "I am." His Word declares it doctrinally - "He is" (Deuteronomy 30:20). All that awaits is our faith and confession - "Thou art my portion, o Lord" (Psalm 119:57). Never will we find Him lacking, and will never the promise of Chris as our provision go unfulfilled…
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
(Isaiah 41:10)
Weekly Memory Verse
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
(Psalm 23:6)
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