Orange Moon Friday, December 3, 2021 “Matters of the Heart”

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

   

"Matters of the Heart"  

     No one who stands before God in the day judgment will be able to say, "I did not see.  I could not understand."

    "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:18-20).

   "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).

   God and His truth shine as the brightest lights in all creation - "clearly seen."  The problem with trust and submission to God is never primarily intellectual, but rather involves the indictment plainly stated by the Lord Jesus Christ:

   "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

   Matters of the heart rather than a faulty or unconvinced mind most hinder sinners from repentance and faith.  Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ also sometimes allow fleshly allowances to tempt us with rationalizations and excuses for not doing the will of God.  Certainly, this does not suggest the mind does not play a vital role in both salvation and the Christian life.  The Bible is the most rational of all documents, the only perfectly rational treatise that exists.  "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God… with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37).  We can never begin to understand it all, of course.  However, we can comprehend enough to come to the Lord Jesus in salvation, and subsequently walk with Him in fellowship through the leading and enabling of the Holy Spirit.  "The true light… lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).  This renders all excuses for unbelief null and void as it directs primary focus to the heart.  

   If we know unbelievers who say they cannot understand, we seek to offer cogent Biblical answers and explanations.  However, we also remember the "deeds issue" declared by the Savior, namely, something(s) exists in the heart and life of the unrepentant they know will be addressed by God if they enter by faith into relationship with Him.  The same principle holds true for the Christian.  If we walk in darkness, lack of understanding never constitutes the primary cause, but rather accommodation of fleshly desire(s).  Certainly, the mind matters much.  The heart matters more, however, and we must exercise it in choosing to heed the counsel of Solomon…

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

(Proverbs 4:23)

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)

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Orange Moon Thursday, December 2, 2021 "This Time"

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

   

"This Time"  

     "My times are in Thy hand" (Psalm 31:15).

     Few more reassuring rays of light glimmer upon the pages of Scripture than the Psalmist's affirmation of our "times" being in the hand of God.  

    If we could look back with perfectly perceptive vision, we would see our Lord's presence and working as the greatest influence of our past.  The same would be true if we could peer into the the future, wherein God's hand awaits us with the promise of His dynamic involvement and activity.  Perhaps most encouraging of all, this time rests in our Heavenly Father's promised care.  Whatever our circumstance, condition, or situation, the greatest truth of all can and must be found in the reality of "in Thy hand."

    "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

    This often presents great challenge to our understanding.  Life involves countless complexities of blessing, challenge, and the mundane.  The hand of God sometimes seems far away, if we remember it at all.  Indeed, the Lord Jesus Christ often comes to us in mangers that seemingly belie His royal presence, authority, and power. We fail to see Him at times because God's working so often operates in ways and means we cannot comprehend.  As Jacob acknowledged at Bethel, "Surely the Lord is in this place.  And I knew it not!" (Genesis 28:16).

   Our times have always been in God's hand.  This time also rests safely therein, as will all to come.  Born again believers in the Lord Jesus can rest our hearts in this, the safest of all havens.  We can trust Him in this particular epoch, believing that whatever it holds for us, the greatest truth involves He who holds us.   "Our times… this time."

"Your life is hid with Christ in God."

(Colossians 3:3)

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)

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Orange Moon Wednesday, December 1, 2021 "One Owner"

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

   

"One Owner"  

     We never exhale a greater sigh of relief than in those moments when we remember we do not belong to ourselves, but rather to Another.

    "What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

    One owner exists in God's creation.  All others are meant to serve as stewards, or caretakers of that which belongs to Him.  "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, and all they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).  Through our original forefather Adam, great delusion darkened the human heart regarding the peace God intended for those created in His image.  Sin convinces us we belong to ourselves, demanding that we govern own existence for own own benefit.  Nothing could be further from the truth, as confirmed by the inner turmoil and restlessness experienced by all who seek to own rather than steward.  Our Heavenly Father rather made us to belong to Him, and to live in the light of assurance known only thereby.  Indeed, to belong to the Prince of peace - and to know it - promises and provides a tranquility of the spirit that "passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).

   "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

   All other yokes are hard.  All other burdens are heavy.  This especially refers to the delusion of believing we can serve as our own owner and master.  No human being is equipped for such a task.  Even the most seemingly successful among us who set out as owners rather than stewards ultimately crash upon the rocks of forlorn and plaintive despair: "What was it all for?"  

    The Prince offers His peace to all.  For the sinner who has never believed, the Lord Jesus Christ promises redeeming grace and mercy to all who will trust Him for having disregarded His rightful proprietorship and governance.  For the believer tempted to worry and fear, the Prince reminds us that we belong to Him.  "Thou art Mine" echoes the Voice of old, sounding with strains of peace heard from no other heart so completely and utterly devoted to the serenity of our own hearts.  "The Lord will bless His people with peace" (Psalm 29:11).

    Let us breathe in the blessedness of "Thou art Mine."  Then let join the Psalmist in exhaling the sweet sigh of "I am Thine" (Psalm 119:94).  Whatever the circumstances, conditions, and situations of our lives may be, we face them not as owners, but as stewards.  Moreover, the Holy Spirit dwells within us to guide and enable our calling to faithfully serve our Owner and Master.  No greater peace flows unto us, upon us, and within us than this holy realization because no other peace exists.   "Thou art Mine… I am Thine."  Peace.

"And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth."

(Genesis 14:22)

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)

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