The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"This Moment… This Matter"
The church billboard declared the truth simply and succinctly - "Christ is alive." He is, of course. You are reading this and I am writing it because we share the belief, conviction, and experience that the the Lord Jesus is alive forevermore.
"Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over Him" (Romans 6:9).
We know this as a matter of saving faith. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Relationship with God begins by resurrection, that is, by the truth of Christ's rising, and by our confession and faith. Walking with God after the new birth proceeds as the risen life of the Lord dwells in us, and as we affirm the truth in countless ways. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6). This leads to a pertinent question regarding every day, moment, circumstance, condition, and situation…
Is Christ alive? Does He live regarding the matter at hand? Be it blessing, challenge, or the mundane, is the tomb empty, the throne above occupied, and is Jesus Lord? Confession with the mouth and belief in the heart applies to today's grace to be known by faith just as much as it did when first we trusted the Savior. Indeed, the knowledge of God's presence and working becomes far more realized when we affirm Christ's risen life as applying to the specifics of life. If we truly believe in an empty tomb and an occupied throne regarding whatever lies before us, grace happens in the heart even if things seem to remain the same in circumstance and the sensations of our flesh. Is Christ alive in the moment? In this moment? He is, and how we answer the question in the depths of our being determines our peace therein, and the life we live therefrom.
"But now Christ is risen from the dead" declared the Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:20). Now. In this moment, whatever it may hold, and in whatever this matter may be in our hearts and lives. The tomb is empty so that our lives may be filled with life, Christ's risen life. We do not see Him with our eyes or perceive Him with our senses. But we confess Him with our mouths and believe on Him with our hearts. Thereby, He meets us along the particular lanes and byways of our present lives, and thereby we honor Him by acknowledging His presence with us and His absence in the tomb wherein once He lay, but nevermore. Yes, Christ is alive.
"He is not here, for He is risen, as He said."
(Matthew 28:6)
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
(Matthew 28:20)
Weekly Memory Verse
The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
(Ecclesiastes 7:8).
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