Orange Moon Saturday, April 26, 2026 "Light In the Darkness"

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

“Light In the Darkness”         

     

   

     Our memory verse for the week tells us that the Scriptures - “a more sure word of prophecy” - serve as “a light that shineth in a dark place” (II Peter 1:19).

    “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

      We do well to view the Bible accordingly.  We give thanks for darkness already overcome through its shining pages.  We also prayerfully seek greater illumination in readings and ponderings to come.  The latter quest requires our recognition that regardless of how well we perceive ourselves to know Scriptural truth, darkness still remains in our knowledge and understanding.  Indeed, of himself and all, the Apostle Paul confessed, “if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know” (I Corinthians 8:2).  Be it matters of doctrine, or of personal response and application of God’s Word, we all require the “light that shineth” to illuminate our hearts and minds.

   What have I missed?  What have I misunderstood or misinterpreted?  What have I not been ready to see, but perhaps now might be prepared to behold?  Most importantly, what of God’s infinite being, nature, and way still awaits to be discovered on the sacred pages as I acknowledge the glory of an unending journey into the light of the Lord Jesus Christ?  The Holy Spirit will gladly answer as we avail ourselves of His “light that shineth” by rejoicing in glimmers already seen, and confessing our great need to frequently pray as did the Psalmist…

“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us.”

(Psalm 67:1)

“The Lord will enlighten my darkness.”

(Psalm 18:28)

Weekly Memory Verse

    “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19).

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Orange Moon Friday, April 24, 2026 "For Him, From Him"

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

“For Him, From Him”         

     

   “I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:29).

     The Christian life involves our dedicated working and striving, but all from God’s working and our confidence in His dynamically active presence.  We began our relationship with God accordingly - “freely ye have received.”  We continue with Him in faith and faithfulness according to the same grace - “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Matthew 10:8; Ephesians 2:10).  Thankfully, we did not awaken to this day with the unbearable burden of “Be strong in yourself and in the power of your own might.”  We rather arose with the more than bearable blessing of “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

    God does not call His trusting sons and daughters in Christ to make bricks without straw, as it were.  Whatever His will may be, He has given the indwelling Holy Spirit to not only live in us.  “I will… walk in them” (II Corinthians 6:16).  This includes every aspect of our being and behavior.  Indeed, it must.  “Without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).  Our Heavenly Father calls us to think, speak, act, and relate in the assurance that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Ephesians 2:13).  Be it the most seemingly insignificant act of faithful obedience, or unto martyrdom itself, the will of God requires the work of God as the vibrantly dynamic engine that empowers all faithfulness.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 2:13; emphasis added).

   Certainly, we play a vital role in the matter by faith, submission to God’s will, and the expectation He will act in us as promised, leading us to act by Him as commanded.  Regardless of past experience, present feeling, or future concerns, we choose to believe that Christ lives in us so that we may live through Him (I John 4:9).  In most cases, He will act so quietly and inauspiciously that it will seem as if we are originating and fulfilling obedience to God.  Upon even the most cursory reflection, however, we will know the real truth of the matter.  For Him, from Him.  God made and redeemed us for this “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  He works in us mightily to fulfill such glorious purpose.  Let us believe the truth because it is true, and because so much of Christ’s character, nature, and way will be revealed in us as the “for” ever and forever proceeds by the “from."

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

(II Corinthians 9:8)

Weekly Memory Verse

    “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19).

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Orange Moon Thursday, April 23, 2026 "The Teacher"

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

“The Teacher”         

     

   Born again believers approach the Bible with two sensibilities.  We seek new illuminations regarding God and His truth, and growth in things already known.

    “Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old” (Matthew 13:52).

   We request enlightenment and enhancement, asking our Heavenly Father to reveal truth we have never known, and to strengthen us in truth already resident in heart and mind.  Always, we remember that the God whose “understanding is infinite” has inspired a document that always offers fresh insights, whether mercies that are “new every morning,” or amplifying reminders of “those things that are most surely believed among us” (Psalm 147:5; Lamentations 3:23; Luke 1:1).  

    We need both.  An eternal God can never be fully known, nor His truth completely understood.  One of the most thrilling contemplations regarding eternity involves the prospect of ongoing discovery of our Lord’s character, nature, and way, along with ever increasing insight into His doings of past, present, and future.  Who is the Lord Jesus Christ?  What has He done?  What is He doing?  What will He do forevermore?  How do we relate to Him, and how do we factor into “the eternal purpose which God purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord?” (Ephesians 3:11).  Doubtless, the Inspirer of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, looks forward to forever revealing our Savior’s ineffable reality and glory.  Indeed, we have all had teachers who loved to teach more than we loved to learn.  Think of the blessed Spirit of God in such terms, and approach His glorious masterpiece, the Scriptures, in thrilled realization and expectation.

    “Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

    The prophet penned these words when God’s people did not have copies of Scripture close at hand.  What might he say now, when for so many believers throughout the world, the Bible is almost instantly available to be read, pondered, interpreted, believed, obeyed, and communicated with others?  Things new and old ever await us on pages that shine with the glory of the Lord Jesus, as illuminated by the Holy Spirit who comes with His Book to all who approach with a humble, trusting, seeking heart.  This greatest of all teachers loves to enlighten us with truths never before seen, and with enhancements of infinite truth we can never fully know.  May we join Him in the joy of teaching - His - and of learning - ours.

“When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.”

(John 16:13)

Weekly Memory Verse

    “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19).

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