Orange Moon. May 23, 2025 "Expectation"

 The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Expectation"  

    

 

    What do we expect?  Or more to the point, Who do we expect?

    "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

    If we could ask a faithful martyr who died for the Lord Jesus Christ what we should anticipate even if called to follow the path of ultimate sacrifice, the answer would simply be, "Expect Him."

    "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).

    The martyrs felt the cross, the flame, the noose, and the blade that ended their earthly, physical existence.  However, they knew the promised presence of their Shepherd, as will all who walk with Him on mountaintops of light, or in valleys of shadow.  Thus, martyrs for the Lord would tell us their expectation of Him was fulfilled, and that we can and must anticipate His "very present help in trouble" when facing challenges of any mode or measure (Psalm 46:1).

   We can, and we must.  Much of our experience of life flows from our expectations.  If, contrary to God and His Word, we view the future with foreboding, we shall likely miss the foretold promise that "when thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee" (Isaiah 43:2).  Conversely, if while recognizing that trouble, pain, and challenge will come, God Himself will be the great fact and reality of every contingency, our hearts will be prepared to know that His "very present help" transcends even painful challenge.  "And now, Lord, what wait I for?  My hope is in Thee" (Psalm 39:7).

    We must determine to anticipate our Heavenly Father's "I will be with thee" regarding all that will come our way.  He will keep His word to be and do all we will require.  We will find that proper anticipation, based on promises impossible to be broken, will have opened our hearts and eyes to see that which we may well have missed had we chose dread rather than expectation.  The martyrs would tell us this, that seeing the Lord Jesus as the great reality ever awaiting us prepares us to walk in His peace whatever our tomorrows may bring.

"I will look for Him."

(Isaiah 8:17)

"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.  For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

(Proverbs 3:25-26)

Weekly Memory Verse

    "The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

(Ecclesiastes 7:8)

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Orange Moon Thursday, May 22, 2025 "In the Light"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"In the Light"  

    

 

     Abounding sin defers to far more abounding grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is God's view.  It must be ours as well.

    "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).

    We may truthfully tell the sinner that regardless of the extent of his sinfulness, the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ "much more" offers the promise of grace and mercy.  We also may tell the failing believer that the restorative power of the Savior in times of sin will lift us up with the same grace and mercy when we repent and confess our sins.  

    "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleaseth us from all sin" (I John 1:7). 

     For the unbeliever, God provides entrance into the light through His Son.  For the believer, God provides continuance in the light through the same glorious Christ.  "He is in the light" declares the Apostle John of the Lord Jesus.  God calls all to step into the glory of Christ's finished work of salvation He accomplished by death, resurrection, and ascension.  Joining Him therein by faith results in the new birth to begin the unbeliever's relationship with God.  Abiding in the same light then empowers our ongoing walk with Him to maintain consistent faith and faithfulness.  "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6).

    God views the Person and work of Christ as abundantly greater than sin.  To the degree we join Him in such a perspective resulted in our salvation, and makes possible our bearing of "the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:11).  The Lord Jesus provides the sinner's only hope for the new birth.  He also abundantly supplies the saint's only hope for the life that reflects our having received the Savior.  This is our Heavenly Father's view, focused on His Son.  It must be our view as well as we must join Him in the fellowship of such glorious Ligh from the beginning of our Christian life and forevermore.  Or, as the writer of Hebrews confirmed…

"Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith."

(Hebrews 12:2)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

 (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

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Orange Moon Wednesday, May 21, 2025 “This Moment… This Matter”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"This Moment… This Matter"  

    

 

    The church billboard declared the truth simply and succinctly - "Christ is alive."  He is, of course.  You are reading this and I am writing it because we share the belief, conviction, and experience that the the Lord Jesus is alive forevermore.

    "Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over Him" (Romans 6:9).

    We know this as a matter of saving faith.  "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).  Relationship with God begins by resurrection, that is, by the truth of Christ's rising, and by our confession and faith.  Walking with God after the new birth proceeds as the risen life of the Lord dwells in us, and as we affirm the truth in countless ways.  "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6).  This leads to a pertinent question regarding every day, moment, circumstance, condition, and situation…

    Is Christ alive?  Does He live regarding the matter at hand?  Be it blessing, challenge, or the mundane, is the tomb empty, the throne above occupied, and is Jesus Lord?  Confession with the mouth and belief in the heart applies to today's grace to be known by faith just as much as it did when first we trusted the Savior.  Indeed, the knowledge of God's presence and working becomes far more realized when we affirm Christ's risen life as applying to the specifics of life.  If we truly believe in an empty tomb and an occupied throne regarding whatever lies before us, grace happens in the heart even if things seem to remain the same in circumstance and the sensations of our flesh.  Is Christ alive in the moment?  In this moment?  He is, and how we answer the question in the depths of our being determines our peace therein, and the life we live therefrom.  

    "But now Christ is risen from the dead" declared the Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:20).  Now.  In this moment, whatever it may hold, and in whatever this matter may be in our hearts and lives.  The tomb is empty so that our lives may be filled with life, Christ's risen life.  We do not see Him with our eyes or perceive Him with our senses.  But we confess Him with our mouths and believe on Him with our hearts.  Thereby, He meets us along the particular lanes and byways of our present lives, and thereby we honor Him by acknowledging His presence with us and His absence in the tomb wherein once He lay, but nevermore.  Yes, Christ is alive.

"He is not here, for He is risen, as He said."

(Matthew 28:6)

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

(Matthew 28:20)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 

(Ecclesiastes 7:8).

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