Orange Moon Tuesday, December 31, 2024 "The Preeminence of Christ"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"The Preeminence of Christ"

     God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are devoted to the supremacy and exclusivity of God the Son regarding life, salvation, and all things.

     "While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him" (Matthew 17:5).

   "God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

    "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He hall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me" (John 16:13-14).

    "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me" (John 15:26).

    Where the Father and the Holy Spirit are active in leading human hearts to faith, the Lord Jesus will be their Gospel theme and message regarding hope and salvation.  Where the Father and the Holy Spirit are resident within trusting hearts, the supremacy and exclusivity of the Lord Jesus will be their singular emphasis regarding faith, faithfulness, and a life that honors God and ministers to people.  "He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

   We can test our own relationship and fellowship with God in the light of this Christ-focused emphasis.  Regarding salvation, do we trust anything other than the Person and finished work of the Lord Jesus?  Do we perceive our works as a means whereby we obtained or maintain our redemption?  Or do we realize and rejoice more and more that Christ serves as our only hope for righteousness in standing with God, and our only hope for "the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ?" (I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 1:11).  The Father sets our course and the Holy Spirit enables our journey, both ever working to enhance our appreciation and devotion to the object of their purpose, the Lord Jesus.  Faithfulness to God therefore flows with the current of Christ.  Or it can ebb if we become distracted or diverted from His Person and work.

    "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (II Corinthians 3:18).

     "Consider Him… let ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Hebrews 12:3).

    What is God doing in our lives?  We may not always know the specifics.  But we can always know the primary.  To exalt the Lord Jesus in our hearts and minds, and to honor Him in our lives - this serves as the purpose of the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Moreover, the purpose abides forever as our devotion to the Son in this life will be far more known, experienced, and practiced in the next as God works according to…

"The eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Ephesians 3:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

   For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." 

(Philippians 1:29)

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Orange Moon Monday, December 30, 2024 "Abundance - of the Heart"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe

"Abundance - of the Heart"

     Presently, God promises inward abundance of the heart always, and at all times.  The same cannot be said, however, regarding outward matters of provision.  The Apostle Paul confirms…

     "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).

    "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong… the sufferings of Christ abound in us" (II Corinthians 12:9-10; 1:5).

    If born again believers in the Lord Jesus are to "walk, even as He walked," we must know not only our Savior's supply,  but also His sufferings (I John 2:6).  This requires pain, loss, lack, and challenge in countless ways, as administered and allowed by our Heavenly Father's perfect providence.

    "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29).

    "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life" (II Corinthians 1:8).

    In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul tellingly assured, "God… hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3; emphasis added).  The God who "looketh on the heart" focuses on our spirits in this present life, seeking to conform us to the spiritual and moral image of the Lord Jesus (I Samuel 16:7; Romans 8:28-29).  This does not discount His generous and frequent provision in earthly, material, and physical matters.  It does, however, keep them in their proper place.  Humanity exists as a race sorely tempted to fleshly allures that can never serve as the Life of our lives.  Believers are not exempt from this deception.   As a friend often suggests, our flesh would love for God to serve as "the great concierge of the sky," attending to our every need and desire according to our lusts rather than His love.  This He will not do.  His unwavering focus on our hearts means He will at times act in a manner that seems to not address outward issues.  As another friend once said, "In this life, we need need."  Our Heavenly Father answers our prayers and administers His provision accordingly.  If "infirmities… reproaches…necessities… persecutions… distresses" best fulfill His Christ-conforming purpose in our lives and the lives of those to whom we minister, He will act accordingly in love and devotion to our deepest need.  "Thou hast shown Thy people hard things" (Psalm 60:3).

   "Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, how that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality" (II Corinthians 8:1-2).

   Our Father presently offers abundance of the heart.  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusted in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).  Such grace, however, must often be known amid outward challenges of circumstance, condition, situation, emotion, and sensation.  "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (II Corinthians 6:10).  Holy things and "hard things" often journey hand in hand, heart in heart in the life of believers.  We must accept this difficult truth in order to think Biblically, and also to be prepared to know our Lord's promised peace in all things…

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

(Philippians 4:12)

Weekly Memory Verse

   For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." 

(Philippians 1:29)

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Orange Moon Saturday, December 28, 2024 "The Throne of Grace"

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

"The Throne of Grace"

        "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

     It is good that Scripture refers to the throne we approach in terms of grace.

     Were it a throne of obedience, we could not approach.

     Were it a throne of works, we could not approach.

      Were it. throne of discipline, we could not approach.

     Were it a throne of dedication, we could not approach.

     Were it a throne of consistency, we could not approach.

    Only a throne of grace, God's freely given favor in the Lord Jesus Christ, can beckon us to come with confidence and assurance.  This does not discount the obedience, works, discipline, dedication, and consistency that can and must characterize the believer's walk with God.  All of these fruits should be resident in our hearts and lives.  However, they are fruits.  They cannot serve as the root.  Only the Lord Jesus occupies that place and position, and only He provides our acceptance and access to the aptly titled throne of grace.  

    "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved… through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 1:3; 2:18).

    Our spiritual enemies incessantly tempt us to view ourselves as the Vine rather than as branches, hearkening back to the devilish deception of Eden - "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5).  Thankfully, the Spirit of God and Word of God incessantly work to direct our faith unto the Root, who alone infuses us with the enabling to bear fruit.  "I am the Vine, ye are the branches.  He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). 

   The believer yearns deeply within to trust and obey God.  "I delight in the law of God after the inward man" (7:22).  Time and experience, however, tell us it is not enough to simply desire faithfulness.  There must be power.  And there is.  "We shall live with Him by the power of God… Christ, the power of God" (II Corinthians 13:4; I Corinthians 1:24).  Time and experience also bear witness not of our faithfulness, but of God's perfect trustworthiness.  Indeed, one of the hallmarks of the Christian life is surprise.  "How am I doing this?  How did I do this?"  Or, as a friend once said, "We stand on the sidelines cheering Someone else, even though it appears that we scored the touchdown."   "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:31).

    Consistent and frequent visits to the throne - the throne of grace - confirm and enhance our awareness that we come through Christ, or we do not come at all.  Our works matter much - as fruit.  His works matter infinitely more - as the root that bears us, infuses us with life, and empowers every genuine step of faith and faithfulness.  Only a throne of grace can beckon us to "come boldly," that is, with a confidence based solely on the Person and work of the Lord Jesus.

How can it be, Lord, 

that You call me to this place,

to gaze upon Your face?

Oh, it must be, it is!  Thy Throne of grace!

 

I see the Blood-stained way,

that nail-pierced Feet have traced.

I hear the Spirit call, o come unto this place!

It must be, it is!  Thy Throne of grace!

 

Other paths my broken feet would stay,

I could not come by any other way.

No other access could I find to this blessed and holy place.

Oh, it must be, it is!  Thy Throne of grace!

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

(Romans 5:1-2)

Weekly Memory Verse

    And 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.

(II Corinthians 9:8)

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