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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