The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Surely - Text and Context"
The text of Scripture reveals the context of our life and existence.
"In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
Presently, we see a mere glimpse of "the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). In our best moments of spiritual acuity, we perceive our God-saturated existence to the bare minimum of what could be known of His infinite being, presence, involvement, and working. Acknowledging this reality of His wonder and our tendency to miss so much of it prepares us to perceive more, even as we realize our limitations.
"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand" (Psalm 73:22-23).
"I will look for Him" (Isaiah 8:17).
The text of Scripture mentioned provides prime motivation, guidance, and enabling to "look for Him" - and to find Him. Of the many reasons believers read the Bible, sharpened spiritual awareness and sensibility provides a vital reason to open the pages of the Book in order to behold the providence of its Author. Sheep can easily wander from their shepherd as wayward pathways beckon the unsuspecting lamb to peril. Far more, believers in the Lord Jesus live in a world of constant distraction and deception. Apart from the Text, the all encompassing context of our lives - the living God - can be easily ignored despite the invasive and pervasive reality of His presence and working. As Jacob long ago bemoaned of his ignorance at Bethel: "Surely the Lord is in this place. And I knew it not!" (Genesis 28:16).
Surely. In this present moment and forevermore, believers live in Christ and He lives in us. He serves as the great fact of our existence. Even as I type these words, I feel "as a beast before Thee" regarding how little I perceive of such grace and glory after nearly a half century of seeking to walk with God through the Lord Jesus. Thus, we do well to conclude this consideration and look into the Text in order to see the context. Because surely the Lord is in this place, wherever we may be in heart and life. May God grant much grace that we know it.
"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law."
(Psalm 119:18)
Weekly Memory Verse
"The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."
(I Timothy 1:14)
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