Orange Moon Thursday, September 18, 2025 “Worthy! Not Worthy!”

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

"Worthy!  Not Worthy!"

     Two prevailing sensibilities pervade the hearts of born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ:

   "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

 

    "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou hast showed unto Thy servant" (Genesis 32:10).

    "Worthy" and "not worthy" course as conjoining streams through the spirits of those who trust only in Christ's righteousness, while acknowledging none of our own.   We affirm His merit as so pleasing to the Father that it avails for our reception: "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).  We acknowledge our lack of inherent merit, confessing the grace of the old hymn: "Nothing in my hand I bring, only to Thy cross I cling!"  

    It cannot be otherwise, considering the standard of God: as for God, His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31).  Indeed, only two ways exist to attempt access to Him, and acceptance by Him.  We either perfectly fulfill all righteousness by our own efforts from the moment of conception and forevermore.  Or, we trust in the imputed perfection of the Lord Jesus as our only hope for righteousness and relationship with God.  The former is an impossibility.  The latter is the Gospel.

    "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags… Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Isaiah 64:4; Titus 3:5).

    

    God made us to trust completely in Himself.  We do much in a proper relationship of grace received by faith as Christ the root works in us that we might bear the fruit of His character, nature, and way.  Our Father will even reward us one day for the works that proceed from His working in us (I Corinthians 3:8).  Never, however, does the reception or maintenance of our righteous relationship and standing with God rest upon our faith or faithfulness.  No human being of Adam's heritage has ever borne the capacity for perfection required by the Lord for acceptance with Himself.  Certainly, we desire our works to be acceptable to Him, seeking to labor by His grace accordingly.  Regarding our person, however, we cast ourselves completely upon the redeeming labors of the Lord Jesus alone as our sole hope for acceptance with God.  Indeed, we approach our Father with empty hands, but with a heart full of Christ as our access to the only throne we could ever hope to approach - "the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16).

   The spiritual wool of "the Lamb slain" provides more than enough material to clothe every believer with the perfect righteousness of Christ.  God sees us as so united to His Son that His first gaze upon us both now and forevermore fixes upon the robe that adorns us.  "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us… righteousness" (I Corinthians 1:30).  Accepted in the Beloved?  Yes, because the Beloved suffered smiting, rejection, and forsakenness by His Father for our sakes.  Thus, the conjoining streams will forever flow in  the hearts of the redeemed  -  "Worthy is the Lamb!… I am not worthy!"  For all who trust in the worthiness of the Lamb alone for redemption and righteousness, the cry of the prodigal's father echoes in the cry of another and greater Father when the streams bring any sinner to Himself… "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him!" (Luke 15:22).

   "And lest the shadow of a spot should on my soul be found, He took the robe the Savior wrought, and cast it all around!" (Isaac Watts; "Awake My Heart, Arise My Tongue!")

"And therefore it was imputed to him (Abraham) for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

(Romans 4:22-25)

Weekly Memory Verse  

    What shall we say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?"

 (Romans 8:31)

   

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Orange Moon Wednesday, September 17, 2025 "Too Wonderful"

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

(Friends: today is the 50th anniversary of my becoming a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  I wrote the following ten years ago today, on the occasion of my 40th anniversary.  I feel the same today as I did then.  

    Thanks to all of you for being such a blessed part of more than half of my journey with the Lord.  I cannot imagine what the last 27 years would have been without the privileged grace of fellowship with you, and the gift of your example.  Glen)

"Too Wonderful"

   I became a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ forty years ago today, on September 17, 1975.  The anniversary has been on my mind for awhile now.  I knew I would write about it when the day came, and I've wondered what I would actually say about the most important experience of my life.

    I am at a loss to know, which may actually be the most appropriate response to the wonder of salvation an its glorious Savior.  Life in Christ involves superlatives far beyond description.  His power is "exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think."  The peace of God "passeth all understanding."  He gives "joy unspeakable and full of glory."  The Lord Jesus is "life… more abundant."  His mercy is "everlasting," and most wondrously, "the love of Christ passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:7; I Peter 1:8; John 10:10; Psalm 100:5; Ephesians 3:19).  Such glory transcends language, and if ever we consider ourselves to have found words that fully explain and define the marvel of life in Christ, we can be sure we have been distracted from the glory thereof.

    "Oh 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).

    I feel unexpectedly subdued in seeking to communicate what that day so long ago meant, and what it means.  As the Psalmist expressed of God's intimately and intricately involved presence in our lives, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me!" (Psalm 139:6).   I therefore conclude on this day that I feel far more than I understand and can express.  "Too wonderful!"  It is, and let us rejoice in the glory that, rightly known and experienced, elicits praise and gratitude that cannot begin to be adequately expressed…

"His name shall be called Wonderful."

(Isaiah 9:6)

Weekly Memory Verse  

    What shall we say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?"

 (Romans 8:31)

   

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Orange Moon Tuesday, September 16, 2025 "Legacy - Yet Not I"

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

 "Legacy - Yet Not I"

    A notable brother in the Lord Jesus Christ died last week in tragic circumstances, leaving behind a wife, two young children, parents, other family members, friends, colleagues, and millions who loved and respected him.  "His void cannot be filled" said a friend and associate of Charlie Kirk.  Indeed, Charlie supplied a unique voice and influence in modern culture, and in many people's personal lives.  However, what would our departed brother tell us regarding the void that "cannot be filled?"  I suspect something along the lines of the Apostle Paul's testimony of God's presence and working in his life:

    "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Cornthians 15:10).

    The One who made Charlie who and what he was journeyed homeward with His servant.  "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).  The Lord Jesus also, however, remained behind through the Holy Spirit's presence and working to continue His redeeming activity in the world.  "I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16).  Charlie would therefore tell us  he was not indispensable, but rather that his Lord was, and is.  He would encourage us to remember that Christ abides in His work in the world, spiritually walking its paths even more than in the days of His earthly sojourn.  Charlie could thus safely venture home without jeopardizing God's purpose, and in the confidence that many will fill his shoes in days to come.  This does not minimize the significant value of his life and ministry, but rather informs us of how he could have been so effective in that which God called him to do.  "Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me…"

   In our own callings, we do well to so live and love that we will seem irreplaceable.  However, we bear within our hearts and upon our lips the truth that we are not.  Charlie would tell us this in a heartbeat if he could.  Perhaps he can.  His legacy bears witness to the Lord Jesus not only as the Savior, but as the very life of all who believe.  Charlie was who he was because Christ is who He is.  We are who we are because of the same wondrous gift: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).  We play a beautiful role of faith and submission to the Savior, and we must seek to live in a manner that matters to God and people.  Never, however, will we be indispensable.  If we live faithfully, as did Charlie Kirk, we will direct all glory and attention to the One, the only One, who rightly wears the mantle of irreplaceability.  In the light of such grace in Christ, believers are blessed that the only One we cannot live without, we can never lose.  "Christ remains," Charlie would tell us, or as my wife Frances often declares, "Having Him, we have all."

"He is thy life…… I am the life… To live is Christ"

(Deuteronomy 30:20; John 14:6; Philippians 1:21)

Weekly Memory Verse  

    What shall we say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?"

 (Romans 8:31)

   

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