Orange Moon Saturday, August 6, 2022 "Only One"

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

"Only One"

    

     In an age when modern culture often bandies about the word "hero," only One graces the pages of Scripture.

   "And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with Him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him" (Luke 9:29-35).

   Of course, many Biblical figures acted heroically by the leading and power of God.  However, none can be accounted as heroes for the simple reason that the sins of all made necessary the suffering, forsakenness, and death of the one true Hero.  "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God… He died for all" (Romans 3:23; II Corinthians 5:15).  Against the backdrop of such culpability for the crime of the ages committed at Calvary, exalted status cannot be granted to any.  Certainly, we affirm those who act heroically, and this is not intended to in any measure minimize self sacrificial actions performed for others.  However, we ever move toward to a time when only One shall be acknowledged and revered for His perfect character, nature, and execution of heroic self sacrifice.  "The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day" (Isaiah 2:11).  

   Of course, the Lord Jesus occupies a place the word "hero" does not begin to describe.  Who He is consists of so much more, and what He did transcends "heroic" by an infinite measure.  Consider.  "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us… when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Romans 5:8; 10).  Who does that?  Someone far more than a hero, and whose actions cannot be described as merely heroic.  "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:31).

   Gather the figures of Scripture who faithfully and courageously followed their Lord into "the good fight of faith" waged in so many ways, and in so many venues of a fallen world (I Timothy 6:12).  For the glory of God, commend them for their service and thank them for their example.  But don't call them heroes.  They will have none of that.  Moreover, don't forget that all they did flowed from all He did for them, in them, and through them.  They won't let you forget it, and most of all, they will remind you of this:  He suffered and died in agony and forsakenness for me!  In the light of this heroism, every knee bows, every tongue confesses, and every heart exalts the only One worthy of a title, the adequate designation of which has yet to be found…

"Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven."

(Psalm 148:13)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

   

   

   

  

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Orange Moon Friday, August 5, 2022 "Not a Shadow"

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

"Not a Shadow"

    

     A friend told me about a discussion he had with a young man who said He believed in God.  The young man also purported faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  However, as the discourse continued, it became evident he had little understanding of God or the Gospel.  He told my friend, "I believe that at the end of our lives, if our good works outweigh our bad, we will go to Heaven."

    This is not an uncommon view, and in one form or another, is held by many.  A grave problem accompanies it, however.  Nothing in the Bible suggests any such notion.  Instead, Scripture plainly states, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us" (Titus 3:5).  A further challenge also involves God's standard, that is, "as for God His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31; emphasis added).  Seeking to make ourselves acceptable to God by our own doings leaves human beings woefully inadequate.  "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  Indeed, acceptability to God based on our own works would require our absolute obedience to God from the moment of conception and forevermore.  This would exclude us all. 

    We must therefore find perfection in another way within our means, or rather, within God's means.  

   "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works" (Romans 4:4-6).

   We must either be perfect by our own devices and doings, or we must have the perfection of Christ's righteousness placed on our account as a free gift.  Scripture declares the former to be impossible; the latter it proclaims as the Gospel.  In the wonder of His mercy, our Heavenly Father imputed our sins to the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary so that Christ's righteousness might be imputed to us in the new birth.

   "He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

   In the Old Testament, the word "grace" often speaks to a favorable view of one for another, as in "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8).  The New Testament offers a far broader explanation, but the truth remains that grace involves how God looks upon His trusting children.  He sees us "in Christ" (II Corinthians 5:17).  The hymn writer Isaac Watts beautifully depicted this wonder of how our Father views us:

    "And lest the shadow of a spot should on my soul be found, He took the robe my Savior wrought, and cast it all around!" (From "Awake My Heart, Arise My Tongue!").

   God views believers as enrobed with the perfect righteousness of His Son, the Lord Jesus.  He sees us as "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).  As a free gift of grace given when we believed, our Father imputed a perfect standing and relationship to Him as the freest gift ever given, purchased by the highest cost ever remitted.  Presently, we do not always walk accordingly, and our fellowship with God may wax or wane.  In love, He acts according toward us in both blessing and discipline, as our response to Him warrants.  However, His first view, His primary view of us never changes.  The Apostle Paul confirmed this, when to the "carnal" Corinthians, he wrote, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (I Corinthians 3:3; 1:30).

   We can never achieve perfection in God's sight.  We can only receive it through the perfection of the Lord Jesus enrobing us with a grace for which even eternity will not allow adequate response of adoration, wonder, praise, and thanksgiving.  The realization and affirmation of such truth goes far in our present life to motivate and empower our response of faith and faithfulness.  I hope the young man mentioned has embraced this blessed truth my friend shared with him.  If so, God has spiritually enrobed him with a Garment so holy - so perfect - that upon his redeemed heart, not even a shadow of a spot can be found.

"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

(Romans 4:3-5)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

   

   

   

  

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Orange Moon Cafe Thursday, August 4, 2022 “Who Is In Your Heart?”

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

"Who Is In Your Heart?"

    

     I recently saw an advertisement touting the benefits of a particular credit card.  "What's in your wallet?" asked the narrator of the ad, reminding holders that great advantage awaits as they use the card and take advantage of its benefits.

   In his epistle to Philemon, the Apostle Paul employed a similar tactic as he sought to encourage Philemon to receive escaped slave Onesimus (led to Christ by Paul in prison) "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (Philemon 1:10; 16).

   "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" (Philemon 1:4-6).

    "What's in your heart, Philemon?" Or more literally, "Who is in your heart?"  Thankfully, Philemon answered well because he gave Onesimus the freedom to become a ministry partner with Paul (Colossians 4:9).  The question proceeds through the ages to all born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Who dwells within us?  The Spirit of the living and eternal God provides the wondrous answer, revealing the character and nature of our Savior in our born again spirits.  Or, in Paul's terms, "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

    What if we face the moments of this life not by ourselves, but rather with our Lord serving as the very Life of our lives?  "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).  What if He enjoys with us every blessing of grace bestowed by His Father, and our Father?  What if the trials and challenges of life find us not alone, but with the Lord Jesus as our "very present help in trouble?" (Psalm 46:1).  What if mundane and everyday moments come to us in the light of Who came to us when we trusted the Lord Jesus?  What if we live life with Him not as a "me," but as a "We?"  Such conjectures actually serve as vital realities.  The Spirit of Christ teems within our spirits, constituting us as never alone, and as ever empowered by "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

    We do well to frequently ask ourselves, "Who is in my heart?"  Life changes when we realize that whence we go, we go not alone.  Long ago, a man received an escaped slave as a beloved brother because "every good thing" of Christ dwelled within his heart, and because an apostle of God reminded him thereof.  The Spirit of God and the Scriptures of God beckon us to remember in this day and always that Christ lives in us and with us so that we might live not merely as a "me," but as a "We."  Yes, life changes when we remember and affirm by faith the Who dwelling within our hearts.

"We shall live with Him by the power of God."

(II Corinthians 13:4)

"I am with you always."

(Matthew 28:20)

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

(Hebrews 13:5)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

   

   

   

  

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