The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"By and By"
"After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, Lord, dost Thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter" (John 13:5-7).
We can all identify with the Apostle Peter not knowing in the moment the reason for his Lord's doings. Thankfully, the promise also applies, "Thou shalt know hereafter."
"We shall understand it better by and by" sings the old hymn. We shall. Presently, however, we often trust God's heart when we cannot comprehend His hand. This especially applies in times such as Peter experienced, when the Lord acts in a manner that manifests humility more than overt displays of power. Indeed, had the Lord Jesus commanded the disciples to fall prostrate at His feet rather than wiping theirs, Peter might have better understood. Or, had his Master crippled the feet of those who soon came to nail His feet to a cross, His actions would have seemingly been far more logical and comfortable. Things did not work this way, however, and the footwashing foretold of Feet that would bleed in service to others. "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8).
Sometimes, God allows perplexity regarding His administrations and allowances in our lives (II Corinthians 4:8). We may desire that He act as a conquering king to banish our enemies. Instead, it appears that He kneels in humility (and then hangs on a cross). In such times, can He be trusted? When God apparently stays His hand when we desperately believe He needs to act as we see fit, do we echo the Psalmist's audacious cry, "It is time for Thee, Lord, to work!" (Psalm 119:126). We will all be tempted to think and perhaps even pray accordingly. In such times, however, we do well to remember that God's greatest work and most vibrant activity began on His knees before the disciples, and then, on His cross suffered for all. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself" (II Corinthians 5:19).
"Thou shalt know hereafter… we shall understand it better by and by." The Scriptures and the hymn remind, encourage, and challenge us to trust God's heart when we cannot understand His hand. His way is perfect. He cannot lie. His faithfulness reaches unto the clouds, and no one has ever trusted Him and been disappointed for doing so (II Samuel 22:31; Titus 1;2; Psalm 36:5; I Peter 2:6). His whys and wherefores may completely escape our comprehension in the present moment, wherein He seems to kneel before us with a basin and towel rather than arise to act in power. One day, however, we will realize how necessary it was that our Lord often worked as a Lamb rather than as a Lion. Calvary sounds and resounds with this message. By and by, we will know and understand its grace - and its power - far better. For now, we trust His heart.
"Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore 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 2:8-11)
Weekly Memory Verses
Wherefore 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)
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