Orange Moon Friday, October 3, 2025 "Take No Thought"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Take No Thought"

    Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment… Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?… And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin… Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?… Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:25; 27; 28; 31; 33).  

    The Lord Jesus Christ does not suggest that we are not to think at all about the basic provisions of life or considerations of the future in His command that we "Take no thought."  He rather refers to fearful contemplations regarding the basic provisions of life and prospects of tomorrow.  "Fear not" or "Be not afraid" appears nearly one hundred times in the pages of Scripture, a challenging mandate in a world fraught with temptations of insecurity, trepidation, and even terror.  How does the born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ face and overcome the challenge to "take" thoughts of fear?

   The answer lies in the very word the Lord Jesus expressed to direct our "obedience of faith" in this vital matter, namely, "take" (Romans 16:26).   Our Lord clearly infers that fear arises from outside ourselves, by influences other than ourselves.  In simple terms, the Bible refers to these enemies of peace as the devil, the world, and the flesh.  While it often appears that thoughts of insecurity arise from within ourselves, the truth of the matter is that outside influences always play a role in temptations of fear.  In order to be directed or overwhelmed by insecurity, we must "take" the influence by failure to remember, affirm, and submit to the Prince of peace who not only promises His care in all things, but who also lives with our hearts to keep us in His assurance.  We take His peace and thereby refuse to take our enemies offer of fear.  "The Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" (Proverbs 3:26).

   "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3).  It is not sin to feel insecurities or fears.  The world, the devil, and the flesh offer them incessantly, and we cannot avoid initial reactions to trouble.  Some even serve to protect us and guide us in beneficial ways.  However, we are not to be controlled by fear and insecurity as a guiding and paralyzing influence.  The Psalmist did  not suggest that his "What time I am afraid" meant he had distrusted and disobeyed God.  He rather declared that such feelings served as a call to action - "I will trust in Thee."  We can receive from God the realization of His presence, His involvement, and His working in all things as the gift of grace.  Thereby, we overcome the challenge to take from our enemies their offerings of fear whereby we fail to walk with our Lord in His peace.  

    "Somebody and something is trying to overcome me with fear."  Realizing the challenge of being afraid begins from outside ourselves, regardless of how internalized the challenge seems, does much to enable our availing ourselves of the peace of the Prince of peace.  We "take" from Him that which He has already given, and which already resides within us.  We also do well to get our spiritual dander up, as it were, realizing that enemies seek to thwart our experience of peace in Christ.  We can let them do so.  We can take their offerings of insecurity.  Or we can join Jonah in his affirmation, uttered from no less than the belly of the fish that swallowed his body, but could not swallow his heart: "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thine holy temple" (Jonah 2:7).

   "Take no thought… be not afraid."  If fear controls us, we have received from outside sources their influence.  Let us repent for having distrusted so faithful a Father, who has given us peace, and ever continues to administer the power of His peace within our hearts.  Let us then set forth to better recognize the truth that in order to be damaged and paralyzed by fear, we have to "take" lies from liars - the devil, the world, and the flesh - who ever seek our harm.

"I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord."

 (Psalm 116:13)

Weekly Memory Verse  

    Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

(Jeremiah 15:16)

   

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Orange Moon Thursday, October 2, 2025 “Four Sparrows” (A Moment and a Memory)

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Four Sparrows"

(A Moment and a Memory)

    While singing "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" in a service yesterday, and as a prelude to a  message based on the Lord's declaration that a "sparrow… shall not fall to the ground without your Father," a wonderful moment occurred, providing a blessed memory to hide within the heart (Matthew 10:29).

    We have a bird feeder in our backyard, equipped with a camera that automatically begins to record video when birds land on the feeder for a snack or meal.  The video then transmits to our phone.  As we were singing "His Eye," my phone notified me that the feeder had received a visit.  Upon finishing the blessed hymn, I told the congregation about the visit, and explained the feeder and camera.  "I do not know if it was a sparrow or not," I said. "But it would not be surprising, would it?" I then looked at the video.

     It was four sparrows.  What can one say?  Sometimes the Lord does things so obviously and overtly that it almost seems we do not have to walk by faith.  When they happen, we marvel and store their glory deep in our spirits as personal assurance of how near, active, and involved our Heavenly Father is in our lives.  Indeed, walking by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ forms within our hearts a collection of confirmations, revealing that the truths of the written Word of God we believe proceed from the living Word of God we know.  

    To experience such grace in the moment with so many fellow believers multiplied the blessing beyond measure.  I encouraged them and myself to not forget how personal the Lord had been with us in our gathering, nor the truth that as much as He cares for all His creatures - "His tender mercies are over all His works" - the truth remains that "ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Psalm 145:9; Matthew 10:31).  

   We cannot manufacture such moments, nor manipulate our Heavenly Father to produce them.  We can expect, however, that the God we cannot presently see, hear, or touch will make Himself known, in ways that often seem far more tangible than sight, sound, and sensation can convey.  A hymn of sparrows, a sermon of sparrows, and a small flock of sparrows confirmed this for us yesterday, providing a moment and a memory to hide within the heart.  Such grace reveals our Father's heart, His presence, and His intricate and detailed involvement in our lives.  And it will be there to help us in times when we walk by faith in His heart, even though we cannot see or understand the ways of His hand.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

(Hebrews 11:1)

Weekly Memory Verse  

    Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

(Jeremiah 15:16)

   

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Orange Moon Wednesday, October 1, 2025 “When Reading” (Part 3 - Guideposts)

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"When Reading"

(Part 3 - Guideposts)

    As we conclude our consideration of "guideposts" that direct us in our reading and pondering of the Bible, we acknowledge that the list is far from complete or conclusive.  Hopefully, however, the suggestions we offer will be helpful in our relationship and walk with God through His Word.

    "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).

   Personal and propositional.  The Bible exists as both a book and a voice.  We read to know God personally and to understand His truth doctrinally.  Relationship with God involves knowing Somebody, and understanding something (many somethings actually).  Our Lord awaits us in the pages of His Word as we approach with a humble, trusting heart.  An open Heart meets us in the opened Book.  We may not always perceive how we encounter Him, nor do we always know how the truths we discover will impact our lives.  Every sincere pondering of the written Word nevertheless presents to our hearts and minds the living Word that leads us to worship God in both spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

   Rightly divided.  All Scripture reveals and glorifies its singular theme, namely, the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:15; John 5:39).  Old Testament and New, however, reveal Him in different ways and address different populations of believers.  The Old Testament bears witness to Christ in prophecy, morality, ritual, type, metaphor, poetry, and in God's  historical working in individuals and His earthly nation Israel whereby He brought His Son into the world.  The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of the Old, declaring that Christ has come, and emphasizing His personal impact in the hearts of people (the church), while not neglecting the national and worldwide implications for prophecies yet to be fulfilled through the Lord Jesus.  In this light of rightly dividing Scripture, we find that all of the Bible is written for us.  But not all is written directly to us.  Proper interpretation relies on this awareness as we seek to apply the entire Bible to our hearts and lives, but to do so in the context of God's varying ways and means in different epochs of history.

   Sacrifice.  A most holy reality regarding the Scriptures involves the cost of their production - not financial, but personal.  The Bible would not exist apart from the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus.  Indeed, there would be no reason for a Book that communicates the heart and mind of God if no way existed to redeem us from our native alienation from Him.  The Scriptures declare this blessed and holy rescue in the promise of the Old Testament, and the fulfillment of the New.  Christ is coming.  Christ has come.  He is coming again.  He has brought with Him salvation from our sins, and freely provided living relationship and fellowship with God at the highest cost to Himself.  In spiritual terms, the words of Scripture are written with the blood of the Lord Jesus.  This overwhelming reality, remembered and acknowledged when reading of the Bible, will place our hearts and minds in the proper attitude of being completely overwhelmed that God has given such a gift of grace and truth.  Moreover, so many of His sons and daughters have suffered much throughout history to ensure we could receive the gift.  Sacrifice indeed forms the theme of the Bible, and it paved the path by which such a gift came to us.  

    Wonder.   Not every reading of Scripture overwhelms us.  Many times we simply read and go our way.  Sometimes, however, the Holy Spirit opens the portal of His Word widely enough and personally enough that we both see and are blinded by the Light of God in one and the same instant.  Words fail in the illumination of the Word as our hearts fall to their knees before the risen Christ, as revealed in the glory only Scripture can unveil.  Yes, the Bible is the Lord Jesus in print, even as the Lord Jesus is the Bible in person.  Wonder.  What other response can there be when we consider the gift of Scripture that so perfectly and vividly bestows to us with the gift of the Savior?  

      Attend.  Finally, Paul stated the matter so simply to Timothy: "give attendance to reading" (I Timothy 4:13).  In other words, show up at the doorstep of Scripture, and enter therein.  Let us present ourselves before our Lord each day as He awaits us in His Word.  Class is in, always.  Our Teacher stands before us, and even more, dwells within us.  We may or may not be the best student.  But the Holy Spirit is the most sublime of teachers, and His Volume can inform, inspire, and infuse all who come to Him and to His Word to know the Lord Jesus, and to understand the Bible that so perfectly glorifies and reveals Him.  This day offers the opportunity, the opportunity of a lifetime to attend, to give attendance to reading.

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts."

(Jeremiah 15:16)

Weekly Memory Verse  

    Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

(Jeremiah 15:16)

   

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