Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Orange Moon Wednesday, October 30, 2024 “The Freest Gift. The Highest Cost.”

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



"The Freest Gift.  The Highest Cost."

 

   

      Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ provides the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted.  The Apostle Paul thrice mentions "free gift" in his Romans 5 discourse on justification by grace through faith (Romans 5:15: 16; 18).  The Apostle Peter bears witness to the price paid to secure such grace.  "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18-19).


    No other means can suffice in the establishment and continuance of relationship between a perfect God and imperfect human beings.  Our Lord's spiritual and moral integrity precludes acceptance of those who have sinned, based on our own resolutions, reformations, and refinements.  "His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31).  Indeed, we futilely seek acceptance with God by our own doings, all which are destined to fail.  Or we come by way of the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf, destined to birth and secure us in living relationship with God.  "Not according to works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5).


    Such grace not only justifies us in the sight of God.  It also works in us to motivate, guide, and empower a life pleasing to Him.  "By the grace of God I am what I am" affirmed faithful Paul, who also declared, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (I Corinthians 15:10; II Corinthians 9:8).  Just as God redeemed Israel from Egypt and ushered His earthly people into the promised land by the same means - the parting of waters - so the born again believer finds his new birth and subsequent walk with God the same product of grace received by faith in the Savior (Exodus 14; Joshua 4).


   "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6).


    The power to trust and obey God in this day graces us as a free gift.  Our spiritual enemies incessantly seek to distract us from the only hope we have to trust and obey God.  "Jesus Christ… is our hope" (I Timothy 1:1).  We therefore do well to kneel before our Lord in heart, acknowledging His provision and our need.  We then arise in expectation to stand and walk by a means far beyond ourselves, but nearer than our next breath.  We seek to avail ourselves of the grace so freely given to us, but purchased by our Lord at so high a cost to Him.  Maintaining both the gift and its cost close in heart and mind will go far in leading us to "access by faith this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).  The freest gift.  The highest cost.  Both wonders of grace line the path of righteousness whereby we rejoice in grace and reverence the sacrifice that made it possible.


"He that spared not His own Son, but freely delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely given us all things?"

(Romans 8:32)


Weekly Memory Verse

     I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

(I Timothy 2:1)


       

































7310












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