The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“For Him, From Him”
“I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:29).
The Christian life involves our dedicated working and striving, but all from God’s working and our confidence in His dynamically active presence. We began our relationship with God accordingly - “freely ye have received.” We continue with Him in faith and faithfulness according to the same grace - “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Matthew 10:8; Ephesians 2:10). Thankfully, we did not awaken to this day with the unbearable burden of “Be strong in yourself and in the power of your own might.” We rather arose with the more than bearable blessing of “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
God does not call His trusting sons and daughters in Christ to make bricks without straw, as it were. Whatever His will may be, He has given the indwelling Holy Spirit to not only live in us. “I will… walk in them” (II Corinthians 6:16). This includes every aspect of our being and behavior. Indeed, it must. “Without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Our Heavenly Father calls us to think, speak, act, and relate in the assurance that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Ephesians 2:13). Be it the most seemingly insignificant act of faithful obedience, or unto martyrdom itself, the will of God requires the work of God as the vibrantly dynamic engine that empowers all faithfulness. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 2:13; emphasis added).
Certainly, we play a vital role in the matter by faith, submission to God’s will, and the expectation He will act in us as promised, leading us to act by Him as commanded. Regardless of past experience, present feeling, or future concerns, we choose to believe that Christ lives in us so that we may live through Him (I John 4:9). In most cases, He will act so quietly and inauspiciously that it will seem as if we are originating and fulfilling obedience to God. Upon even the most cursory reflection, however, we will know the real truth of the matter. For Him, from Him. God made and redeemed us for this “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). He works in us mightily to fulfill such glorious purpose. Let us believe the truth because it is true, and because so much of Christ’s character, nature, and way will be revealed in us as the “for” ever and forever proceeds by the “from."
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
(II Corinthians 9:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19).
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