The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Thank You… That I"
Recently, as I recounted the events of the previous day, I said to the Lord, "Thank You, Heavenly Father, that I did that."
???? On the surface, it seems strange to thank someone else for something that we ourselves accomplished. Regarding the actions for which I gave thanks, I used my knowledge, decision making, energy, and determination.. However, my prayer of appreciation was completely genuine: "Thank You… that I."
What is God's role in His relationship to us and His working in us to motivate, lead, and enabl our doings? What is our role of faith and active response? Much light and much mystery greet the sincere seeker who desires to honor His Lord, trust His Word, obey His will, and serve as a shining beacon of Christ's light to others. God forever abides as the "I AM" of all guidance, motivation, and enabling. "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." We forever abide as those who freely respond in faith, submission, and the willed determination to do our Lord's will. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13).
"Thank You… that I" serves as an accurate expression of our doings that flow from His doings. His works in us are so real and necessary that He receives all glory, praise, and thanksgiving for their accomplishment. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Our works of response and fruit are so real that the Apostle Paul anticipates a day among believers when "Every man shall have praise of God." We will also be rewarded or suffer loss based on how well or poorly we have received the "grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably" (I Corinthians 10:31; 4:5; 3:14-15; Hebrews 12:28). Presently, we know we play a real part in relationship and fellowship with God through the working of His Spirit within us. However, our predominant sensibility and devotion, even as we act, leads us to join the hundreds of millions who throng the throne of God to cry, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing! (Revelation 5:12).
Our Heavenly Father would have no interest in programmed hearts and minds whose love could never be real. We would have no interest in a Lord who desired not relationship with us, but rather coercion and control. What is His role? Our role? Perhaps the most succinct answer of Scripture lies in the Psalmist's confession of our necessary and freely determined desire to love, and the faithful realization of how much we require the presence and power of God to fulfill our determination…
"I will love Thee, o Lord My strength."
(Psalm 18:1)
Weekly Memory Verse
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
(Ecclesiastes 7:8).
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