The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Year To Come"
As we arrive at the threshold of a new year, many prospects of what it may hold loom before us. The most important of all can be found in a prayer by the Apostle Paul for the Colossian believers. Paul asked the Lord that his brethren would ever be "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10)
On December 31, 2026, will there be anything more blessed than to look back in the realization that we know the Lord Jesus Christ in a significantly greater way than we do now? Hardly. Regardless of what may occur in the next year regarding matters of circumstance, condition, situation, or relationship with people, nothing could compare with the assurance that the Apostle Peter's command has been fulfilled in our hearts and lives:
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).
The increase must involve both personal and doctrinal knowledge of God. He calls us to "worship Him in spirit and in truth," meaning the realization of the living Word in our heart and the understanding of the written Word in our minds (John 4:24). The Holy Spirit ever works to further both aspects of relationship with our Heavenly Father. Indeed, confidence in His living presence in our spirits leads us to the Scriptures for confirmation and encouragement in seeking our Lord by faith. The Scriptures infuse expectation and confidence that God can indeed be known and realized along the providential pathways of life. He made us as creatures capable of both personal knowledge and mental understanding, primarily for the purpose of walking with Him in both heart and mind. True fellowship with Him will always involve both aspects of life, as defined by the living and written Word. "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).
Let us prayerfully hope to look back on the year to come with gratitude that we journeyed further with our Lord down the glorious way of the path of righteousness. Regardless of anything else that occurs, nothing will matter more. Nothing will begin to matter as much actually, in a year wherein the Lord Jesus will serve as the Life of our lives, and wherein we can better know the wondrous marvel of such grace and truth.
You are the life, the Life of my life,
the joy of my spirit.
A Voice speaks by Your Word.
I more and more hear it.
To live is Christ, it says, nothing else is.
I kneel to draw near it,
to hear and respond, in the truth of Your Word,
the grace of Your Spirit…
You are the Life, the Life of my life.
"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness."
(Psalm 65:11)
Weekly Memory Verse
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"
(Romans 11:33)
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