Orange Moon Friday, September 10, 2021 "Take With You Words"

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

"Take With You Words"

      

   

     I am sure you have had the experience of reading a passage of Scripture that did not seem to be there the last time you passed by that beautiful way.  This happened to me yesterday.

    "O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously" (Hosea 14:1-2).

   "Take with you words."  Wow, when did the Holy Spirit throw that in there?!  :):).  Of course, the command so winsomely expressed has been there for nearly three millennia.  But it seemed new to me today.

   "Take with you words."  Something about this strikes my heart as sublimely poignant.  We do that when we come to the Lord, don't we?  In the new birth, we "confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus," affirming to God that we agree with Him that Christ is His Son, and that He died and rose from the dead for us (Romans 10:9-10).  We walk with our Lord by words, His living and written Word formed within our hearts, and uttered by our lips in responses of praise, thanksgiving, request, intercession, confession of sin, and testimony of His grace in the Lord Jesus.  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).  We walk with fellow believers by taking with us words, and we also seek to communicate God's Word to those who do not know Him, hoping they will join us in taking words to God in trusting the Lord Jesus as their Savior. "Holding forth the Word of life" (Philippians 2:16).

   Certainly, this does not surprise us since One referred to as "the Word" created and sustains our existence.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made… Upholding all things by the word of His power" (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:3).  Words are clearly central in the being and activity of God.  They are central in our being and activity also, especially regarding our relationship with Him.  So, we take with us words when we approach our Heavenly Father, again, coming to Him through the text and context of His Word, and then seeking to respond with words of love, devotion, adoration, faith, and intelligent affirmation of His truth.  Indeed, we use words for their first purpose, namely, to communicate with the living and true God who Himself identifies Himself as the Word.

    "Quicken (enliven) Thou me according to Thy Word" (Psalm 119:25).

   We will think with our minds and speak with our mouths many words today.  May our Heavenly Father grant much grace that many of them with be directed toward Him.  Yes, let us determine to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" in this, the only day we have to "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).  May we take with us words as we go, words that will please and bless our Heavenly Father, and words that will fulfill the very reason for our existence as created and sustained by Christ, the Word of God.

"How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

(Psalm 119:103)

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice."

(Psalm 55:17)

Weekly Memory Verse

      "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

 (John 7:38)

 

    

   

  

   

6307

Orange Moon Thursday, September 9, 2021 "Ought To Know"

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

"Ought To Know"

      

   

     In a world of "experts," none exist in the body of Christ.

    "If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (I Corinthians 8:2).

    Certainly, some born again believers in the Lord Jesus progress further down the path of righteousness than others, and we should all seek to know God and His truth as well as possible.  Moreover, God calls some to preach and teach His Word.  We should expect those so called to serve as beacons who help us to see more clearly.  However, our Lord's infinite measure and scope means that regardless of how far anyone ventures into the the light of God, their journey has just begun.

   The Apostle Paul also declares that we all "ought to know" more than we do.  No believer fully avails himself of everything he could discover of the Lord's reality.  This does not excuse the deficit, nor does it promote irresponsibility in seeking God.  It is just simply the fact of the matter.  The most faithful pastor "ought to know" more than he does.  The teacher who effectively interprets and communicates Scripture "ought to know" more.  The most eloquent writers "ought to know" more.  All could have ventured further down the path.  Thus, unwisely assigning "expert" status to any Christian communicator means we will expect and demand more than he can possibly give.

   This presses us to direct our keenest attention to that Teacher of whom it can never be said that He "ought to know" more.

   "His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5).

   "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things" (John 14:26).

    While we appreciate and avail ourselves of God-called people who communicate His truth, every believer possesses direct access into the classroom where the Lord Himself lectures.  He serves as our primary Educator.  "Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day" (Psalm 25:5).  We begin with a humble, trusting heart and an open Bible in seeking to be taught by our Lord.  Note, however, that the Psalmist asked for "all the day" teaching.  Indeed, the believer lives in God's classroom.  Our expert Teacher abides with us continually.  Thus, we do well to expect His illumination all along our pathway as we realize His light shines everywhere and in all things.  "The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18).

   The bell has rung.  Class is in for every believer in the Lord Jesus right now, and throughout this day.  The only Expert on His subject stands before us to teach.  Even more, He dwells within us by His Spirit, making our learning all the more possible as He not only educates, but also enables us.  Let us therefore determine and expect to learn.  We will not be disappointed as our Teacher illuminates our hearts and minds with the things we "ought to know."

"The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way."

(Psalm 25:9)

Weekly Memory Verse

      "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

 (John 7:38)

 

    

   

  

   

6306

Orange Moon Wednesday, September 8, 2021 "Prompts To Prayer"

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

"Prompts To Prayer"

      

   

     "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17).

    By no means does the Apostle Paul mandate continual prayer in a conscious sense by the command to "pray without ceasing."  Our brains are not presently constituted for such an endeavor.  Constant communication with God in this sense would render us unable to communicate with human beings, and also unable to function in the fulfillment of our responsibilities.  Paul rather calls us to live in the attitude and atmosphere of prayer, trusting the Lord to motivate communion with Him as opportunities arise, and as led by His Spirit, His Word, His church, His world, and also by what we might called "prompts to prayer."

   I experienced one of the latter yesterday as I walked on a busy street.  I had just left a coffeeshop where I had taken a break halfway through my walk.  I had some coffee left in my cup and decided to take it with me for the rest of my journey.  Normally, when I do this, I remove the cardboard sleeve many coffeeshops provide to absorb the heat that radiates through the cup.  I forgot to do so, and not far into my walk, I removed the sleeve and placed it in my pocket.  Soon thereafter, and unbeknownst to me, the sleeve fell out of my pocket.  I hadn't walked far before I heard a voice.  "You lost something back there!" said a nice lady who literally stopped her car in busy traffic to inform me.  She likely thought I had dropped something that might be valuable.  I was deeply touched, expressed my appreciation, and circled back to find whatever I had dropped.  

    At first, I saw nothing.  I checked my pockets to see if I had everything of value, and then finally turned around, deciding that whatever I had dropped must have been something I could live without.  That's when I saw the sleeve, lying in a tuft of grass next to the sidewalk.  I picked it up, put it back on the cup to ensure no further incidents, and went on my way.  I thought to myself, "It was really nice of the lady to let me know I had dropped something, and I certainly don't want to be a litterbug.  However, if she knew how insignificant the sleeve is, she probably would not have…"

    Then it occurred to me.  "The sleeve is not insignificant at all.  The Lord has just built an altar in my heart."  By this, I mean an altar of prayer.  I realized God was not uninvolved in what happened.  I don't know if He caused the sleeve to fall from my pocket.  That seems more due to my error than anything else.  However, I do know He foresaw the incident, and purposed to create by it the opportunity of a lifetime.  By this, I simply mean I can pray for the dear lady involved in the matter whenever it comes to mind.  This will be often because we regularly walk and drive in the area.  I will frequently pass by the spot where she called out to me, and the area where I found the sleeve.  My plan, therefore, is to pray for the lady whenever I do.  Again, a prompt to prayer.

   Of course, I know nothing about the lady, other than she was nice enough to try to help me.  She succeeded in that.  I didn't litter!  But even more, she gave me the opportunity to pray for her.  Or rather, the Lord made that possible.  I also know how to pray for her even though I don't know her.  "Heavenly Father, thank You for the nice lady, whose name I do not know, and whose life is a complete mystery to me.  However, her life and heart is an open book to You.  I therefore pray You will work in her life in accordance with what You know, and in accordance with Your glory, will, and the lady's heart, life, and needs."  Again, I do not know the lady.  But I know the One who does know her, perfectly.  And that will be enough for prayers motivated by Lord, which I trust He will work to answer.

   God will lead us to build many such altars as we seek to walk with Him in the attitude and atmosphere of prayer.  We will not see His answers with our physical eyes.  Deep in the heart, however, His Spirit will assure that as we avail ourselves of the opportunities He provides, our Father will answer in ways "exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).  Prompts to prayer - we do well to expect them, look for them, and be amazed by the grace our Father gives whereby He fulfills purposes beyond our imagination as we fulfill our calling to "pray without ceasing."

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

(Galatians 4:6)

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."

(Colossians 4:2)

Weekly Memory Verse

      "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

 (John 7:38)

 

    

   

  

   

6305