The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Who?… What?"
If we don't know "Who?," we will not know "What?"
"For with Thee is the fountain of life. In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).
Why do we exist? Make it personal. Why do I exist? The answer shining forth from the pages of Scripture tells us: "It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3). We did not will ourselves in tobeing, nor do we maintain our existence. "By Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:17). The "Who?" of our life must therefore be established within our hearts and minds as paramount. "He is thy life" declared Moses in the Old Testament. "Christ is our life" affirmed the Apostle Paul in the New (Deuteronomy 30:20; Colossians 3:4).
"What?" matters greatly. God made us us to do in heart, mind, and body. "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22). Active engagement of our humanity will characterize the lives of believers through the presence of a God Himself so actively engaged in His creation that He "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). No genuine relationship with Him exists that does not include His ongoing motivation in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). This abides as true in our present lifetime, and will be even more our experience in eternity when what we do will perfectly express the reality of the great Doer's presence in us. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). Yes, "What?" matters greatly.
"Who?" nevertheless matters most. God made us for relationship and fellowship with Himself forevermore. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). "Who art Thou, Lord?" asked Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus upon first encountering the risen Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 9:5). As the Apostle Paul, he doubtless sked the same question throughout the remainder of his earthly lifetime. Paul doubtless continues the inquiry even more in the direct presence of the eternal, infinite God who can never be fully known by created beings. Among believers, no greater doer of the works of God ever lived than Paul. He would tell us, however, that his life flowed along the river of "What?" because he discovered its source and headwaters as "Who?"
Let us diligently apply ourselves to what the Lord would have us to do in this day and throughout our lives. Let us also realize that who He is, and our knowledge thereof, determines the quality and quantity of our doings. This includes our thoughts, attitudes, words, actions, and relating to God and people. "What will You have me to do, Heavenly Father?" The question matters so very much, far more than we begin to realize. However, the greater inquiry - "Who are You, Lord?" matters first and most. The sequence - "Who?… What?" must never be reversed in our hearts and minds as we seek to honor the God we know, and the God with whom we walk.
"This is life eternal, that they that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent."
(John 17:3)
Weekly Memory Verse
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:10)
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