25 lines
4.3 KiB
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25 lines
4.3 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 24</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>Other Ways to Describe New Covenant Living</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him <b>deny himself</b>, and <b>take up his cross</b> daily, and <b>follow Me"</b>…be <b>filled with</b> the <b>Spirit</b>…"I have come that they may have <b>life</b>, and that they may have it <b>more abundantly</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk',9,23);">Luke 9:23</a>; <a onClick="return mV('Eph',5,'18-18');">Ephesians 5:18</a>; and <a onClick="return mV('Jhn',10,'10-10');">John 10:10</a>)</div>
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<p>Living as servants of the new covenant is <b>not</b> some <b>exclusive</b>, <b>elitist</b> religious concept, available <b>only</b> to an initiated <b>few</b>. Rather, it is just <b>one way</b> to <b>describe</b> the life that is to be experienced by all who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For many believers, these terms involve <b>unfamiliar</b> language.</p>
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<p>Some <b>familiar</b> terminology that describes the <b>same</b> biblical reality would be "<b>Christian discipleship</b>." A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ. In <a onClick="return mV('Luk',9,'23-23');">Luke 9:23</a>, Jesus explained what was involved in following Him as a disciple. <i>"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him <b>deny himself</b>, and <b>take up his cross</b> daily, and <b>follow Me</b>'."</i> In order to follow the Lord, a person must be willing to <b>renounce</b> the <b>self-life</b>, which is produced by one's own sufficiency. Then, that person must agree that such a <b>self-produced</b> life deserves to be <b>judged</b> and <b>separated</b> from God. Finally, <b>everything</b> that is needed for godly living must be found by pursuing a <b>growing relationship</b> with the Lord Jesus Christ.</p>
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<p>Some other terminology that depicts the essence of new covenant living would be "the <b>Spirit-filled life</b>." <i>"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but <b>be filled with the Spirit</b>."</i> The Lord calls His people away from earthly influences that can dominate and diminish lives and urges us to <b>live</b> by the <b>fullness</b> of <b>His Spirit</b>. When Christians answer this call, they are willing to live by <b>God's</b> powerful, unlimited resources, instead of by <b>man's</b> feeble, finite means.</p>
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<p>One other familiar phrase that comprises the same reality as life in the new covenant is "the <b>abundant life</b>." <i>"I have come that they may have <b>life</b>, and that they may have it <b>more abundantly</b>."</i> When Jesus came into this world, His mission was not only to rescue us from the consequences of our sins but also to provide us with "<b>abundant life</b>," a spiritually enriched life that only <b>He</b> could produce in us.</p>
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<p>New covenant living—it is the same reality as "<b>Christian discipleship</b>," "the <b>Spirit-filled life</b>," and "the <b>abundant life</b>."</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, I thank You so much for speaking of life in Christ in diverse terminologies. I want to be Your true disciple. I want to be Spirit-filled. I want to live the abundant life. Each perspective offers beautiful insights and necessary confirmations. Lord, help me also to understand and embrace the refreshing language of Your new covenant of grace. Dear Savior, I need all of the life-giving insights that Your rich vocabulary is designed to unfold!</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0123.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0125.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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