The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“Water Into Wine”
The Lord Jesus Christ began His working of miracles at a marriage, where He transformed water into wine (John 2). This perfectly accords with God’s purpose in His Son, namely, the transformation of our hearts that occurs when we trust Him.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).
From “without God in the world” to “the Spirit of God dwelleth in you,” believers became something new and different in the innermost depths of our being in the moment of the new birth (Ephesians 2:12; I Corinthians 3:16). A “new man, created in righteousness and true holiness” sprang to life as someone who had never before been, and who forevermore will be (Ephesians 4:24). The Spirit of Christ became the very life of this spiritually birthed wonder of God’s grace, making possible an existence and activity far beyond human means. “We live through Him” as we trust and submit to His Lordship, and as His character, nature, and disposition not only dwells within us, but teems within our “new creature.” Thereby, the Spirit of God moves upon the face of our hearts no less than He moved upon the face of the waters in the original physical creation (I John 4:9; Genesis 1:2).
Do we believe this about our Lord? Do we believe this about ourselves? We must. Scripture commands that we “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11). No longer are we without God in that innermost temple of the heart that exists for His presence. Forevermore - and in this moment - the Spirit of Christ lives in us, we live in Him, and we may live a life far beyond our human means and potential. Yet again, we must. The Lord Jesus sacrificed far too much for believers to live as if the cross never occurred, and as if our spirits remain empty rather than the tomb from which He long ago exited in triumph.
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
The old saying, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste,” pales in comparison to the neglect of a spirit filled with the Spirit of Christ. The Lord Jesus transformed water into wine at a wedding long ago. He did far more in us when we believed. May God grant much grace of reminder, motivation, and the leading of His Spirit, whereby we freely avail ourselves of a grace far more present and powerful than we can imagine, but which will have powerful and practical impact as we believe.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
(Ephesians 6:10)
7811
No comments:
Post a Comment