25 lines
4.5 KiB
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25 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
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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">February 6</div></div>
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<h2>More on Humility and Grace</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>Be clothed with humility, for "God <b>resists</b> the <b>proud</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>"…And whoever <b>exalts</b> himself will be <b>abased</b>, and he who <b>humbles</b> himself will be <b>exalted</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe',5,5);">1 Peter 5:5</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Mat',23,12);">Matthew 23:12</a>)</div>
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<p>The Lord wants humility to be the spiritual attire that adorns our character. <i>"Be clothed with <b>humility</b>."</i> This is crucial, since <i>"God <b>resists</b> the <b>proud</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>."</i> We <b>cannot</b> live by <b>grace</b> unless we are willing to walk in <b>humility</b>. Any other approach is some form of pride, which always meets God's resistance. These are absolutes that every person must face. <i>"<b>Whoever exalts</b> himself will be <b>abased</b>, and <b>he who humbles</b> himself will be <b>exalted</b>."</i> The Scriptures describe numerous individuals who demonstrate these truths.</p>
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<p>Nebuchadnezzar exalted <b>himself</b>. <i>"Is not this great Babylon, that <b>I have built</b> for a royal dwelling by <b>my mighty power</b> and for the honor of <b>my majesty</b>?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Dan',4,30);">Daniel 4:30</a>). God opposed this self-exaltation by driving the king out into the fields to eat grass like an animal. Eventually, this banished king looked to heaven, and the Lord restored him to the throne. Then, magnifying the true King, he proclaimed the great lesson he had learned. <i>"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, <b>praise</b> and <b>extol</b> and <b>honor</b> the <b>King</b> of heaven…And those who walk in <b>pride He</b> is able to <b>abase</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Dan',4,37);">Daniel 4:37</a>).</p>
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<p>Manasseh, while king in Jerusalem, also exalted <b>himself</b>. He did so in a most wicked manner, polluting God's temple with idolatry. <i>"He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD…He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Ch',33,5,7);">2 Chronicles 33:5, 7</a>). In doing so, he enticed the people of God into untold abominations. <i>"So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Ch',33,9);">2 Chronicles 33:9</a>). As a consequence of this <b>prideful</b> rebellion, the Lord caused Manasseh to be taken captive into Babylon. Then, Manasseh humbled himself before God. In spite of his arrogant disobedience, the Lord heard his prayer and restored him to the throne. <i>"Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and <b>humbled himself greatly before the God</b> of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Ch',33,12,13);">2 Chronicles 33:12-13</a>).</p>
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<p>Truly, <b>everyone</b> who lifts himself up in <b>pride</b> will be brought <b>low</b> in <b>shame</b>; but <b>any</b> person who walks in <b>humility</b> will be lifted up to <b>liberation</b> and <b>blessing</b>.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear King of heaven and earth, I am convicted of times when I have behaved proudly, just as these two kings did. It has always led to my spiritual defeat and bondage. I thank You for drawing my heart toward humility. I humbly turn to You to pour out Your grace upon me, as You did upon them. Through Christ I pray, Amen.</div>
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