Orange Moon. Monday, April 13, 2026 "Scriptural"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“Scriptural”

 

     

     Should born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ view ourselves positively or negatively?

    The answer is neither.  We should rather view ourselves Scripturally.  Certainly, this involves both positive and negative components in our current existence, with an emphasis on the former while not ignoring the latter.  Indeed, even as the believer opens the Bible with the central question in mind - “Who are You, Lord?” - we also scan its pages to seek answers to the corollary question - “Who am I, Lord?” 

   How would God answer the question if we could hear Him audibly?  How does He answer as we seek Him Biblically?  A lifetime and eternity will be required for answers.  From “fearfully and wonderfully made in the Old Testament, to gloriously born again in the New through the entrance of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, God’s children exist as a marvel of grace so wondrous that even angels desire to look into the mystery (Psalm 139:14; I Peter 1:12).  The living, eternal God literally inhabits His people, a “hope of glory” made possible by His forsaking of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary as He died for us (Colossians 1:27; Matthew 27:46).  Whether we consider the most faithful or fallen believer, this truth abides of the most monumental grace and wonder: God is there.  Even more, God is therein.  This serves as the first and foremost truth regarding ourselves, and that which the Father would emphasize if we could  have that audible discourse with Him.   How could it be otherwise, considering the cost and sacrifice that made it possible?  “He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).  In this holy and Christ-exalting light, the Scriptural view of ourselves (along with many companion truths) correlates with what can only be viewed in the most positive perspective.

    It remains true, however, that believers are far from perfect in this present life.  The Apostle Paul provides perhaps the most telling statement in the Bible concerning the challenge we face:

    “If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10).

     A “law of sin” dwells in the flesh of born again believers, allowed to co-exist with our spirits alive in the life of Christ (Romans 7:23).   Like the law of gravity in the physical realm, this law will ever direct us downward if we fail to avail ourselves of God’s promised enlivening of our earthly faculties and members (Romans 8:11).  This explains the conflict that will be with us until we exit this present realm of temptation and ongoing challenge.  “The flesh lusteth against the spirit” (Galatians 5:17).  On our best days of faith and faithfulness, wherein our spirits rejoice and seem most vital in the life of Christ, we remain subject to the possibility of unbelief and disobedience.  “I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me” confessed no less than the Apostle Paul (Romans 7:21).  This certainly suggests a proper negative view of ourselves, or rather of the law of sin in our flesh allowed by God to remain with us in our present lifetime.  “With the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin” (Romans 7:25).

    As we rightly address the primary question of our existence - “Who are You, Lord?" - we also seek Biblical light regarding the companion inquiry - “Who am I, Lord?”   The former inquiry serves as the 99.99% quest of our hearts and minds (John 17:3).  The latter, however, also involves truth we must know in order to faithfully function in relationship and fellowship with God.  Ongoing Biblical discovery of our spirits immersed in Christ as the scene of His presence, involvement, and working goes far in leading us to overcome the temptations we face in our flesh.  Positive?  Negative?  As with all truth and every subject, Scriptural.  

“In Thy light shall we see light.”

(Psalm 36:9)

“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Romans 6:11)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Romans 6:11)

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Orange Moon Saturday, April 11, 2026 "Responsibility and Relief"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“Responsibility and Relief”

 

     

     “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (II Corinthians 4:5).

     The Apostle Paul realized his calling to represent not himself or his own thoughts, beliefs, convictions, and opinions.  He rather served as an “ambassador for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20).  The same calling applies to all believers in the Lord Jesus, whatever our calling of life may involve.  Born again believers represent not ourselves, “but Christ Jesus the Lord.”

    This primary truth of our being involves great responsibility.  We will reflect well upon our Lord in the venues of our lives, revealing who He is in our countenance, demeanor, attitudes, words, and deeds, as led and enabled by the Holy Spirit.  Or we will misrepresent Him, as led by the flesh in response to devilish and worldly temptation.  Our spheres of influence desperately require us to bear witness to the Lord Jesus, certainly in words as opportunity presents itself, but just as importantly, in how we conduct ourselves in life and relationship to others.  As the saying goes, “Preach Christ to everyone you meet.  Use words, if necessary.”  

    “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).

    Great responsibility indeed.  But also, what privilege!  And what relief!  Former sinners, strangled by the serpent of self reliance, self emphasis, and self importance become redeemed saints devoted to the honor of their Savior.  No higher calling can be imagined.  Nor does any other purpose for existence compare with the blessed gift of serving as moons to God’s sun (Son), absorbing and reflecting His glorious light in all we do.  No longer must we worry about how we are viewed, but rather rejoice in the peace of being devoted to how He is viewed.  Yes, we breathe a sigh of relief upon every remembrance that God has delivered us from the tyranny of “I, me, and my” unto the tranquility of “Not unto us, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth’s sake!” (Psalm 115:1). 

    We will be tempted otherwise, of course.  The flesh of even the most devoted believer remains susceptible to furthering its own reputation (Galatians 5:17).  Deep in the spirit, however, where the Christ-honoring Holy Spirit lives, the responsibility and relief of “we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” shines as the brightest of all glories (John 16:14).  Let us then accept the responsibility.  We exist to glorify the Lord Jesus, in this day and forevermore.   Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Nothing else.  Then let us then breathe the sweet sigh of relief as the same truth blesses us with the peace of we exist to glorify the Lord Jesus, in this day and forevermore.   Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Nothing else.

“I will glorify Thy Name forevermore.”

(Psalm 86:12)

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)

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Orange Moon Friday, April 10, 2026 "This Moment"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

“This Moment”

 

     

  We cannot change the past, whatever it may have held regarding our response to God.  The future has not yet arrived and thus offers no opportunity to presently trust and obey Him.  We have only the now of this moment in which we can direct our hearts by the leading and enabling of the Holy Spirit to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by trusting and obeying Him.  The Psalmist illuminates the matter with a particularly powerful motivation and enabling of truth:

    “And now, Lord, what wait I for?  My hope is in Thee” (Psalm 39:7).

    No proper response to God, be it trust, obedience, repentance, or sacrificial devotion to Him and people, occurs without the hope of faith.  Without expectation, no moment will find us rightly relating to our Heavenly Father.  Will we find Him faithful as we determine to trust, obey, repent, or devote ourselves?  How we answer determines whether we will wait until another moment, a most foolhardy choice since we have no guarantee regarding the future.  “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:20)

    The truth of the matter is that our Lord’s presence, guidance, and enabling always lies immediately at hand and in heart regarding proper response to Him.  “I AM” He declared to Moses, echoed by the Lord Jesus to His disciples (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).  Doubtless, the Holy Spirit in this moment bears witness to us all that God is presently whatever we need Him to be regarding the faith and obedience He commands.  Will we hope?  Will we believe in the grace that leads us to the response His will involves and requires right now?  The question ever applies as each moment becomes the only opportunity we have to do the will of God.  As the prodigal son decided when a mere glimmer of hopeful light shone within his heart regarding the possibility  of mercy awaiting him upon return to the heart he had rejected, “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18).

    We do well to frequently ask our Lord, “What is Your will in this moment?”  Hope in His promised presence, guidance, and enabling will lead us to inquire with confidence in His faithfulness.  He does not disappoint those who do not wait to respond to Him in the future, but who seek Him in the present moment, wherein hope will lead in the opportunity that lies at hand, and in heart…

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1; emphasis added)

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)

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