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

Friday, July 31, 2026

Orange Moon Friday, July 31, 2026 "Think On These Things"

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

(Thanks to my brother and friend Hugh V. for inspiration on this one)

“Think On These Things”

In this generation, the world presents its information and imagery to us with blinding speed, often tempting us to responses far from the faith to which God calls those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ. As I confessed to a good friend yesterday, “It makes me crazy!”

Having written those words to a fellow believer, I then made confession to Another, namely, my Heavenly Father. I realized how erroneous and completely contrary to God and His truth my comment had been. Information and imagery cannot “make me crazy.” No, only unbelief can do that. Indeed, only sin can result in the failure to know the promised peace of the Prince of peace…

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusted in Thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

“Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

By no means can we bypass all temptation in this present life. We can avoid some, particularly overmuch exposure to the barrage of input presently available to our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts. This does not suggest we do not stay reasonably informed about matters near and far. It does address the fact that our hearts and minds were not made for constant input from sources that do not edify us with the assurance of God and His Word. Indeed, we can see or hear true facts that nevertheless do not result in the “walk in truth” that elicits and maintains a heart of peace whereby we glorify our Lord and serve as edification to others (III John 1:4).

As the old saying goes, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Far more, a heart is a terrible thing to overly expose to unnecessary input that does not lead to remembrance and affirmation of God’s presence and working in all things (the very subject and theme, by the way, of yesterday’s devotional - Ephesians 1:11). Moreover, far greater and better things offer to our heart and mind glories of our Lord that lead to faith rather than unbelief, joy rather than sorrow, light rather than darkness, life rather than death, and yes Glen, peace rather than craziness…

“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue or any praise, think on these things.”

(Philippians 4:8)

Weekly Memory Verse

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give His life a ransom for many.

(Matthew 20:28)

7859

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Orange Moon Thursday, July 30, 2026 "Which Is Greater?"

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

“Which Is Greater?”

Concurrent, but conflicting realities presently characterize the world in which we live.

“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).

“The whole world lieth in wickedness” (I John 5:19).

Which ts greater, God’s earth filling goodness, or the wickedness of the devil, the flesh, and the presently fallen earthly realm and system? Scripture plainly answers…

“Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world” (I John 4:4).

God and the reality of His presence, involvement, and working always transcend the activities of evil. This does not discount or minimize sin and its horrific consequences in the world, and in human hearts and lives. Nor is God responsible for the wrongs of devils and people. It does mean, however, that amid all, our Heavenly Father “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (James 1:13; Ephesians 1:11). How He does this, we do not know. That He does it is certain, the greatest confirmation being the cross of Calvary.

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23).

Again, which? God or man, “determinate counsel” or “by wicked hands?” The same answer. Both. And the same measure, namely, the Lord’s working infinitely supersedes the evil of His creatures. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even more so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21). The worst evil and the greatest good concurrently happened at Calvary, the latter triumphing by the infinite measure of atonement for sin made possible through Christ’s death, and eternal life for all who believe springing forth from His resurrection (Romans 5:8-11).

The “Which is greater?” question will be with us throughout our earthly lifetime. We acknowledge the reality of evil, reprove it as Scripture commands, and seek to rectify it as opportunity allows (Ephesians 5:11; Galatians 6:1). Even more, however, we attune our hearts to the good that fills the earth, the greater good of God’s presence, involvement, and working He promises in all things. This applies to both our personal lives and our view of others and the world. Proper concern and action when possible will characterize our response to the reality of evil, along with much prayer. However, the primary current of our heart flows with the plainly stated Biblical affirmation of God’s promised goodness that fills the earth. Calvary and the empty tomb that followed ever tell us this, that the “greater is He” truth and reality must serve as that which fulfills the long ago promise of the prophet…

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”

(Isaiah 26:3)