25 lines
4.4 KiB
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25 lines
4.4 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">February 20</div></div>
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<h2>The Grace of God and the Holy Spirit</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "<b>Not</b> by might nor by <b>power</b>, but <b>by My Spirit</b>," says the LORD of hosts. "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the <b>capstone</b> with <b>shouts</b> of '<b>Grace</b>, <b>grace</b> to it!'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Zec',4,6,7);">Zechariah 4:6-7</a>)</div>
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<p>The Scriptures reveal a <b>profound connection</b> between <b>God's grace</b> and <b>His Holy Spirit</b>. <b>Living</b> by the <b>grace</b> of God and <b>walking</b> according to the <b>Spirit</b> are <b>two</b> different perspectives on the <b>same</b> reality. As we consider what walking in the Spirit comprises, we also gain insight into living day by day by grace.</p>
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<p>Our passage from Zechariah confirms this correlation between <b>grace</b> and the <b>Spirit</b>. Here, the Lord gives a message to Zerubbabel, telling him how service is rendered unto God: <i>"<b>Not</b> by might nor by <b>power</b>, but <b>by My Spirit</b>."</i> <b>Human</b> might or power will <b>never</b> be a sufficient resource for living life as God intended. Rather, the <b>Holy Spirit</b> must <b>supply</b> what we need for a life of service to the Lord.</p>
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<p>In the next verse, this <b>same</b> truth is <b>restated</b>, using different terminology. Now the Lord is addressing the mountain of impossibilities that stood before Zerubbabel. <i>"Who are you, O great mountain?"</i> This leader of Israel was given the challenging mission of reestablishing the testimony of God in Jerusalem, as the people returned from captivity. The obstacles had the appearance of being a <i>"<b>great mountain</b>."</i> Nevertheless, God declares that this mountain of obstructions would become a highway for advancement. <i>"Before Zerubbabel you shall become a <b>plain</b>!"</i> Then, as God's man attended to God's assignment by the empowering of the Spirit, he would eventually place the final stone with an intriguing exclamation. <i>"And he shall bring forth the <b>capstone</b> with <b>shouts</b> of "<b>Grace</b>, <b>grace</b> to it!"</i> This summary testimony would declare that <b>God's grace</b> was the explanation for the completion of the task. The relationship between grace and the Spirit is clear: <i>"<b>by My Spirit</b>… <b>grace</b>, <b>grace</b> to it!"</i> When we depend upon the Spirit, He works God's grace within our lives.</p>
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<p>The early church also illustrated this <i>"<b>grace-Spirit</b>"</i> association. <i>"They were all <b>filled</b> with the <b>Holy Spirit</b>, and they spoke the word of God with <b>boldness</b>…And with <b>great power</b> the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And <b>great grace</b> was <b>upon</b> them all"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',4,31,33);">Acts 4:31, 33</a>). The former statement indicates that their boldness came from the <b>Holy Spirit</b>. The latter statement, two verses later, reveals that their boldness was a result of <b>grace</b> impacting them.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Almighty God, thank You for revealing this "grace-Spirit" association. In living by grace, I see that You must provide what I cannot produce or earn. In living by Your Spirit, I see that grace is not just a concept I apply, but rather it is a gift that must be imparted to me by the Spirit of God Himself. Lord, do Your work in me, I humbly pray, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0219.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0221.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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