Orange Moon Monday, December 29, 2025 "Personal"

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

  

"Personal"       

   

    Presently, we cannot see Him.  We cannot hear Him.  We cannot touch Him.  We cannot begin to fully understand His ways in our lives, or in the world.

    "We walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7).

    "How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out" (Romans 11:33).

   Does this mean that our Lord is not personal and knowable in terms that fill our lives with His realized presence and working?  It does not.

    "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16).

  God makes Himself known in our hearts as we trust and walk with Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Indeed, any Christian who has known his Lord for even the briefest time will confess the Lord Jesus to be the greatest reality of life.  He will declare Him to be personal, again, not in earthly terms of sight, sound, touch, or complete comprehension, but in realities of the heart that would not exist were the living God not present and vitally active.  The new birth opens our awareness to reality, namely, the  truth of Christ as the Life of our lives, and as the beating heart of God's eternal purpose He works to fulfill in all things (John 3:3; Ephesians 3:11).

     The more we realize this truth and live our lives in anticipation that God will make Himself known, the more we will realize how personal He desires to be to us.  Salvation in Christ births us into realized reality, resulting in the ongoing discovery that "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).  Of course, we see see little in relative terms of such infinite grace and truth.  However, we can see enough to fill our being with light and the joyous awareness of how near our Lord has drawn to us in Christ.  And again, of how personal He desires to be with us.

    "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

   The word "know" in this declaration of the Lord Jesus denotes an understanding beyond mere factual understanding.  It rather speaks of knowledge based on experience.  This, God has given in the saving grace of Christ, as administered by the indwelling Holy Spirit who actively resides in all believers (Romans 8:9; II Corinthians 6:16).  Our response must be confident expectation that our Lord will make Himself known along the path of righteousness, in accordance with His wisdom, timing, and the light of Scriptural revelation and authority. 

    What about those times when the Lord does not seem as present, involved, and active as at others?  The Psalmist recorded such temptation in his personal experience.   "Lord, why standest Thou afar off, o Lord?" (Psalm 10:1).  If we understand the Biblical truth that we presently "walk by faith, not by sight," times when God seems far away actually serve as confirmation of His working in our hearts and lives.  It will not feel this way, nor will our understanding and perceptions avoid being challenged when we do not sense our Lord's vital presence and working.  In our present lives, however, times of sensory, mental, and emotional deprivation are to be expected.  Indeed, we could not "walk by faith" without them.  

    Let us expect our Heavenly Father to be personal with us according to His wisdom, purpose, timing, and will.  We will more consistently realize and respond to His desire for fellowship with us along the providential pathways of life, pleasing His heart thereby, and finding our hearts far more illuminated by the marvelous gift of His living presence.  We will also more consistently avoid the need to utter the sad confession of Jacob at Bethel, when God drew so very near, but the man of God missed the glory and the wonder…

"Surely the Lord is in this place.  And I knew it not!"

(Genesis 28:16)

Weekly Memory Verse

    O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

(Romans 11:33)

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Orange Moon Saturday, December 27, 2025 “The Gift: Paul’s Epistle To the Romans”

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

  

"The Gift: Paul's Epistle To the Romans"       

   

    The epistle of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul, stands as both the doctrinal and personal heartbeat of the Bible.  Since all of Scripture is God's Word, we do not suggest that Romans is more important than other portions of the Bible (I Timothy 3:16).  However, no portion of Scripture more speaks to vital issues of God's eternal purpose in the Lord Jesus Christ, including…

    Paul's personal love for the Roman believers, the fruit of Christ's love in his heart, despite the fact he had never been to Rome at the time he wrote the epistle (Romans 1:8-13; 5:5; 16:1-5).

    Paul's providential hindrance from visiting the Roman church as he so desired, despite the central place of Rome in the world during his lifetime and ministry.  This resulted in the Roman epistle, again, the very heartbeat of the Scriptures, which might have never existed had Paul been able to visit Rome (he would later be imprisoned on perhaps two occasions, and ultimately die in Rome at the hand of Nero; Romans 15:20-22).

    Paul's declaration of the seriousness of sin.  All have sinned, all are condemned, and all have no hope in and of themselves to redeem themselves from God's rightful condemnation and judgment (Romans 1:18-3:20).

   Paul's affirmation of salvation and justification received by  God's grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  No portion of the Bible so pointedly and powerfully declares salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ to be the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted. (Romans 3:21-5:21).

   Paul's declaration of newness of life in Christ, based on spiritual union with Christ in His death and resurrection.  The Apostle declares a literal dying and rising in the innermost depth of our being to have occurred in believers through the new birth, resulting in our service to righteousness rather than sin.  We devote ourselves and our earthy members to God in the light of such grace (Romans 6).

   Paul's acknowledgement of ongoing challenge in the believer's present life, concerning conflict between our spirits indwelt by "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" and our flesh still indwelt by "the law of sin" (Romans 7:1-8:1-13).

    Paul's exultation regarding triumph in the Lord Jesus, both in present and ultimate terms, based on the living presence and working of Christ in our hearts and lives (Romans 8:14-39).

   Paul's assurance of God's ongoing purpose and utimate redemption of His earthly people, the nation of Israel (Romans 9-11).  

   Paul's description of the believer's life in terms of attitude, relationship to people, service, and mercy toward offenders (Romans 12:1-21).

    Paul's mandate for the believer to respect earthly authorities as the expression of our respect for God (Romans 13:1-7).

    Paul's declaration that the moral tenets of the law of Moses still apply to the life of the believer (Romans 13:8-14).

   Paul's declaration that the ritual practices of the law of Moses no longer apply to the believer, although in loving deference to Christians who are weak in their knowledge and understanding of God's grace in Christ, we may sometimes defer from certain liberties for their benefit (Romans 14:1- 15:1-13).

    Paul's personal testimony of God's effectual grace and truth in his heart and life (Romans 15:14-33).

    Finally, Paul's personal devotion to fellow believers, again, as expressed in the most doctrinal treatise of the Bible.  He references by name twenty seven Roman believers, despite the fact he had not been to Rome at the time he wrote the epistle (Romans 16:1-27).  This affirmation of both the personal and the doctrine in Romans speaks to the believer's calling to worship God in the same terms, namely, "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24)

    The epistle to the Romans, declared by the poet Coleridge as "the most profound writing that exists," shines the dual light of the personal and the propositional in revealing  the Lord Jesus.  We discover the living Word and the written Word in incomparable ways through writings that would not have existed had Paul have been able to visit the Roman church, as he so desired.  Thereby, he wrote the epistle that shines its glory upon us, as it did so long ago upon the Romans.  Finally, it is poignant that Paul did make it to Rome, ultimately as a prisoner, and finally, as a martyr.  Thus, we give thanks for so great a gift, the epistle to the Romans, that so brightly bears witness to God's "unspeakable gift," the Lord Jesus Christ (IICorinthians 9:15).

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle… to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints."

(Romans 1:1; 7)

Weekly Memory Verse

    I am the Lord.  I change not.

(Malachi 3:6)

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Orange Moon Friday, December 26, 2025 "Guided Inquiries"

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

  

"Guided Inquiries"       

   

    When reading the Bible, it helps to be guided by  certain general inquiries that prepare our hearts and minds to find, assimilate, and respond to God's truth.  We may not directly remember each question upon every reading.  However, approaching the Scriptures with a focused heart and mind can effectively aid our reading.

    A few such questions include…

    

     Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? What has He done, what is He doing, and what does He promise to do forevermore for His Father and for us?  "Search the Scriptures… they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).

    How is the Lord Jesus glorified in the passage I read?  "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given Him a name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).

   What doctrinal truth do I learn?  "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119;130).

    What truth am I reminded of?  "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" (II Peter 1:12).

     What truth, already known, is enhanced in my understanding?  "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).

     What other Scriptures come to mind in light of the passage I read.  "Whom shall He teach knowledge?  And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?   Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-10).

    What encouragement, hope, and edification do I find?  "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?   The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

     What correction and reproof leads to awareness, confession of sin, and repentance?  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).

    What might I learn that enables my life and ministry to others?  "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2).

    How will I better glorify, trust, and obey the Lord in my heart and life through this reading?  "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31).

    How does this reading seem personal between God and myself?   "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple… When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:4; 8).

    Finally, how does this passage result in my joining those who "love His appearing" as we await the return of the Lord Jesus for His church?" (II Timothy 4:8).

    Many other questions can certain serve as guiding lights in our reading and pondering of God in the pages of His Word.  Again, we may not specifically think of each question upon every Scriptural consideration.  However, we do well to plant such directing influences deeply in our hearts and minds.  Thereby we make more possible a truly edifying experience of the wondrous gift of Scripture.  We discover the living Word in the glory of the written Word, and the written Word in the glory of the living Word…

"In Thy light shall we see light."

(Psalm 36:9)

"Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day."

(Psalm 25:5)

Weekly Memory Verse

    I am the Lord.  I change not.

(Malachi 3:6)

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