Orange Moon Monday, April 6, 2026 "More Than Conquerors"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“More Than Conquerors”

 

     So long as the tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ remains empty and His Heavenly throne occupied, born again believers must never view ourselves as on the defensive.  Because we never are.

   "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:35-37).

   Had we witnessed the life of the Apostle Paul during the years of his ministry, many events would have seemed to indicate Satan had our brother on the run.  Imprisonments, beatings, stonings, shipwreck, ridicule, distress, perplexities, and rejection by unbelievers and believers alike seemed to indicate Paul in frequent jeopardy regarding his calling and his very life.   Indeed, Nero ultimately put Paul to the sword and ended his time on the planet.  "More than conquerors?"  How can that have been true of the constantly challenged and finally slain Apostle who penned the affirmation of triumph? (II Corinthians 11:24-33).

    We know the answer.  The empty tomb and the occupied throne of the Lord Jesus bears witness.  Paul's life and death both affirmed the reality of Christ's triumph:

    My earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (Philippians 1:19-20).  

     The Apostle lived his life on the offensive by God's grace, realizing that battles and skirmishes won by our enemies do not affect the triumph of the ages already won by the Lord Jesus.  Born again believers in the Lord Jesus live from that victory, not for it.  Let the foes of Christ and Christians do what they will.  They can bluster, they can badger, they can batter.  They can even kill.  Our defeated foes nevertheless always fight an uphill, defensive battle wherein they lose even as they win.  Certainly, this does not minimize the challenges and very real sufferings of God's people.  However, it does affirm the "very present help in trouble" reality of our Lord, and His wondrous capacity to bring light in darkness, joy in sorrow, peace in turmoil, and even life in death (Psalm 46:1).  "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place" (II Corinthians 2:14).

     Appearances and experiences often do not seem to confirm the triumph of the Lord and His people.   It frequently does not feel this way.  But it always is this way.  The tomb is empty.  The throne above is occupied.  Jesus Christ is Lord.  So long as these truths abide, we cannot be on the defensive.  We live and fight in the light and life of our Lord's triumph.  From victory.  Always from the triumph of the empty tomb and the Lordship of Christ.  We do well to often remind ourselves and each other that we "fight the good fight of faith” not to defend, but to attack.  Always relentlessly on the offense.  Always.

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place."

(II Corinthians 2:14)

Weekly Memory Verse 

   Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.

 (II Corinthians 2:14)

7759

 

 

Orange Moon Saturday, April 4, 2026 "The Power of the Resurrection"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"The Power of the Resurrection"

 

     Life brings its blessings, everyday moments, and challenges in countless modes and measures.  For born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, it also brings His presence and risen life as the greatest reality of all.

    "He is risen, as He said" (Matthew 28:6). 

     "To live is Christ" declared the Apostle Paul, meaning the crucified, risen, ascended, and eternally reigning Christ (Philippians 1:21).  We know such glory by faith in this present life.  The truth abides nonetheless in its most actual, factual reality.  No moment of time or eternity will fail to find the risen Lord Jesus as the very Life of our lives.  We do not yet see, hear, or touch Him, and the present world sometimes tempts us to cry with the Psalmist, "Why standest thou afar off, O Lord?   Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1).  He never does, of course, but it can feel and appear that His tomb remains occupied, or if He is risen from the dead, that "the power of His resurrection" does not apply to our challenge (Philippians 3:10).

    It does.  Our Savior did not exit His tomb in triumph for our salvation from sin and its consequences alone, glorious as that is.  The tomb is rather empty that this moment, whatever it holds, might be filled with our Lord's life beyond life.  All moments to follow will find Him the same.  "The power of His resurrection" applies to every matter and moment of our existence.  Indeed, even as we commemorate the wonder in a special way tomorrow, we realize deep in the heart that every day beckons us to remember and affirm the empty tomb, the occupied Heavenly throne, and the eternal truth that "Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2:11).

    Every matter.  Every moment.  In everything, "the power of His resurrection" and our risen Lord's involved presence serves as the greatest of all realities.  We will understand and perceive such grace better by and by.  For now, God grants opportunity to behold His risen Son by faith, something we will not be able to do when we see Him "face to face" (I Corinthians 13:12).  We rightly look forward to that day.  However, this day, and all to follow in this present world, offers the privileged responsibility to behold our Lord in a way that brings great glory to His name.  Yes, whatever the moments of our lives hold, let us remember and affirm that the tomb no longer holds the Lord Jesus, the risen Lord Jesus.  The glory serves as the prevailing factual and actual reality of all moments, of all matters, including this moment and its matters.  The tomb is indeed empty, the throne is forever occupied, and Jesus Christ is Lord.

"And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

(Luke 24:36)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

7758

 

 

Orange Moon Friday, April 3, 2026 "Three Passages"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Three Passages"

 

     Three passages.  Three companion Scriptural passages we could read daily for a lifetime and only begin to plumb the depths of their glory and wonder.  I submit them to your consideration with no further comment, other than to suggest a measured and deliberate reading that allows their wondrous light to shine as brightly as possible within our hearts.

    "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to Heaven…     

     "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word, that they all may be one, as Thou, Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

   

     And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them, that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.

  

     Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:1; 20-26).

    "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).

     "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us."

(Romans 5:5)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

(Psalm 100:5)

7757