The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Every Good Thing"
"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints, that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus… Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say." (Philemon 1:4-6; 21).
What were the good things that were in Philemon through the Lord Jesus Christ, which led to the Apostle Paul's confidence in his brother's obedience? What are the good things that reside in every believer?
The first answer involves the source of goodness in us, namely, the indwelling Holy Spirit. By Him, we are "partakers of the divine nature" as branches of the indwelling life of "the true Vine," the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 6:4; II Peter 1:4; John 15:1). The good things in us are the character traits of the living Christ Himself that serve as the power by which we are to "walk, even as He walked" (I John 2:6). We may or may not do so. Born again believers in the Lord Jesus still possess the potential to walk after the flesh rather than in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). The traits of Christ nevertheless abide within us through His presence, and Paul counsels Philemon to the "acknowledging" thereof that leads to an "effectual" experience and expression of our Lord's presence and working.
Consider temptations to fear and insecurity. We know the Bible often commands that we "fear not." How do we obey this mandate? We begin by remembering the Prince of peace, the Lord Jesus, and His enabling presence within us to assure our hearts. God does not have peace to impart as a separate provision from Himself. He is Himself our peace, as dwelling within us through the Holy Spirit and His working to reveal the peace of Christ in us. When we trust Him for the keeping of our hearts, He works from within us to reveal the "good thing" of the peace that abides therein, the peace of the Prince Himself. Indeed, if we could see into the depths of our spirit, we would view the "still waters" of the Lord Jesus, regardless of any storms that may rage in our earthly, fleshly sensibilities (Psalm 23:2). The "acknowledging" thereof provides a strong basis for experiencing the Pslamist's affirmation of faith, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
God does not call His children to make bricks without straw. The new birth imparts His living presence to serve as the Life of our lives. This we must know, first, because it is true, and then "that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." Thereby, we live from our Lord, for our Lord. The Apostle Peter joins Paul in the blessed affirmation of a salvation that calls us to a life far beyond our human capacities, but well within reach of the Christ who dwells within us to lead and enable…
"His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness."
(II Peter 1:3)
Weekly Memory Verse
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
(I Peter 5:8)
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