26 lines
4.5 KiB
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26 lines
4.5 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 27</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>The Ongoing Grace of God</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>"I will put My law <b>in their minds, and write it on their hearts</b>"…it is good that the heart be established by grace.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jer',31,'33-33');">Jeremiah 31:33</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Hbr',13,'9-9');">Hebrews 13:9</a>)</div>
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<p>Our initial encounter with the grace of God involved forgiveness and justification. <i>"In Him we have our redemption through His blood, the <b>forgiveness</b> of sins, <b>according to</b> the <b>riches</b> of His <b>grace</b>" (<a onClick="return mV('Eph',1,'7-7');">Ephesians 1:7</a>). Rich measures of God's grace washed away our sins and gave us new life in Christ. Of course, that initial justifying work of God could not exhaust His grace. Rather, it was</i> "<b>according to</b> the <b>riches</b> of His grace.<i>"</i> There are <b>unlimited riches</b> yet available for our daily sanctification, our <b>ongoing growth</b> in Christ.</p>
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<p><a onClick="return mV('Hbr',13,'9-9');">Hebrews 13:9</a> is one of the many places in Scripture that indicate progressive <b>sanctification</b> (that is, growth in godliness) is <b>by grace</b>. <i>"It is good that the heart be <b>established by grace</b>."</i> This truth clearly pertains to sanctification and growth, not justification and new birth. At regeneration, we are given a new heart. <i>"I will give you a <b>new heart</b> and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eze',36,'26-26');">Ezekiel 36:26</a>). Then, after receiving a new, soft, responsive heart, the <b>spiritual stabilization</b> of that new heart must follow.</p>
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<p>It is from <b>within</b> the <b>heart</b> that the <b>development</b> of <b>applied righteousness</b> must proceed. What is eventually seen and heard in our daily Christian lives sources from within the core of our inner being. <i>"Keep your <b>heart</b> with all diligence, for <b>out of it spring</b> the <b>issues</b> of <b>life</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Pro',4,'23-23');">Proverbs 4:23</a>). The Lord wants to work from deep within us. <i>"I will put My law <b>in their minds</b>, and write it <b>on their hearts</b></i>.<i>"</i></p>
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<p>If an <b>unstable</b>, <b>inconsistent</b> life is being expressed <b>outwardly</b>, an <b>unestablished heart</b> within is the <b>cause</b>. Jesus taught that <i>"out of the abundance of the <b>heart</b> the mouth speaks"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat',12,'34-34');">Matthew 12:34</a>). Whatever is developing and filling up our inner man will eventually come out to be seen and heard.</p>
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<p>In order to <b>develop</b> in us an <b>increasingly</b> mature, Christlike walk, our <b>heart</b> must be <b>established</b>. The <b>law</b> of God is <b>not</b> designed to change men's hearts. God's grace is the <b>essential</b> and <b>sufficient</b> cause to bring about this desired work of godliness. <i>"It is good that the heart be <b>established by grace</b>."</i></p>
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<p>Once more we have powerful biblical insight showing us that grace is not only God's provision to forgive and birth us into His family, but <b>grace</b> is also <b>His resource</b> for the <b>ongoing</b> work of <b>maturing</b> us as His children.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Lord, my strength, would You do a powerful work of Your grace deep within my heart? I do not want to displease You or dishonor You by an immature and unstable life. Lord, forgive any futile attempts to change my heart by striving before the law. Your gracious work in me is my only hope!</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0126.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0128.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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