26 lines
4.2 KiB
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26 lines
4.2 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">January 22</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>The New and Living Way</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a <b>new and living way</b> which He consecrated for us.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr',10,'19-20');">Hebrews 10:19-20</a>)</div>
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<p>Here, life under the <b>new covenant</b> of <b>grace</b> is described as the <i>"<b>new and living way</b>."</i> This could be contrasted with the "<b>old and dying way</b>" of attempting to live under the <b>old covenant</b> of <b>law</b>. The "<b>newness</b>" of grace is <b>not</b> really a matter of <b>time</b> sequence, because the grace of God actually precedes the law in man's history with God. The "<b>tree of life</b>" in the garden of Eden was God's provision of <b>grace</b> for Adam and Eve. The <b>promises</b> of God to Abraham (given hundreds of years before the law) depended upon the <b>faithful grace</b> of <b>God</b>, not the <b>legal performance</b> of <b>Abraham</b>.</p>
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<p>The "<b>newness</b>" of grace is its everyday <b>freshness</b> and <b>vitality</b>. Day by day, by the grace of God, fresh measures of life are abundantly available to those who look to the Lord as their supply. This makes life with God fresh and new every day.</p>
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<p>Under the <b>old covenant</b>, only <b>one</b> person, the High Priest, could enter into the intimate presence of God in the Holy of Holies. Furthermore, this was only allowed <b>one</b> day a <b>year</b>. Such <b>limited access</b> would certainly "<b>get old</b>" in the hearts of all who <b>hungered after</b> the living God.</p>
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<p>Now, under the <b>new covenant</b> of <b>grace</b>, <b>every</b> believer in Jesus (our great High Priest) can confidently approach the Lord personally <b>any</b> moment of <b>every</b> day: <i>"Having <b>boldness</b> to <b>enter the Holiest</b> by the blood of Jesus."</i> Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, which forgives all of our sins, we can <b>speak</b> to the Lord and enjoy <b>His presence</b> in our lives <b>continually</b>.</p>
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<p>Jeremiah gave some early insight into this kind of fresh and vital relationship with God. <i>"Through the Lord's <b>mercies</b> we are not consumed, because His <b>compassions</b> fail not. They are <b>new every morning</b>; great is <b>Your faithfulness</b>. 'The <b>LORD</b> is <b>my portion</b>,' says my soul, 'Therefore I <b>hope</b> in <b>Him</b>!'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Lam',3,'22-24');">Lamentations 3:22-24</a>).</p>
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<p>The Apostle Paul wrote profoundly concerning such "newness." <i>"But now we have been <b>delivered</b> from the <b>law</b>, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the <b>newness</b> of the <b>Spirit</b> and <b>not</b> in the <b>oldness</b> of the <b>letter</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',7,6);">Romans 7:6</a>). This is the <i>"<b>new and living way</b>."</i> This will <b>never</b> "get old."</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Lord of life, my heart yearns for this new and living way. O, how I long to dwell in Your presence day by day! Lord, I confess that every attempt to base intimacy with You on my best performance has always become so old and dying, so stale and lifeless. My soul is stirred with hope in You and this better way. O Lord, teach me to walk by this new and living way, in the name of Jesus, my great High Priest, Amen.</div>
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