25 lines
4.4 KiB
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25 lines
4.4 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">April 3</div></div>
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<h2>God Enlightening Us about Our Spiritual Resources</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who <b>has blessed us</b> with <b>every spiritual blessing</b> in the <b>heavenly</b> places <b>in Christ</b>…the <b>eyes</b> of your <b>understanding</b> being <b>enlightened</b>; that you may <b>know</b> what is the hope of His calling.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph',1,3,18);">Ephesians 1:3, 18</a>)</div>
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<p>We have seen that all the grace resources God has for us to live by here on earth are already ours <i>"<b>in Christ</b>."</i> Now, <b>our need</b> is to have these comprehensive spiritual treasures <b>revealed</b> to us by the <b>Lord Himself</b>: <i>"the <b>eyes</b> of your <b>understanding</b> being <b>enlightened</b>; that you may <b>know</b> what is the hope of His calling."</i> In order to draw upon these heavenly provisions, we need the <b>Lord</b> to <b>enlighten</b> our understanding concerning what is ours in Christ Jesus. <i>"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the <b>things</b> which <b>God</b> has <b>prepared</b> for those who love Him. But God has <b>revealed them</b> to us <b>through His Spirit</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Cr',2,9,10);">1 Corinthians 2:9-10</a>). As the Holy Spirit uses the <b>word</b> of <b>God</b> to reveal these matters to us, our faith develops so we might access them by faith. <i>"So then <b>faith</b> comes by <b>hearing</b>, and hearing by the <b>word of God</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',10,17);">Romans 10:17</a>).</p>
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<p>The Scriptures teach us to <b>pray</b> for such spiritual enlightenment. <i>"<b>Open my eyes</b>, that I may see <b>wondrous things</b> from Your law"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa',119,18);">Psalm 119:18</a>). In the word of God, we are told of the wonderful things that God has for His people. If we prayerfully seek the Lord concerning His insight into these blessings, the Lord will enlighten us. His willingness to respond is evident in His word. <i>"<b>Call</b> to Me, and I <b>will answer</b> you, and <b>show</b> you <b>great</b> and <b>mighty things</b>, which you do not know"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jer',33,3);">Jeremiah 33:3</a>).</p>
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<p>The Lord delights to give heavenly spiritual insight to the <b>humble</b> of heart, <b>not</b> to those who <b>trust</b> in their <b>own</b> wisdom and prudence. <i>"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have <b>hidden</b> these things from the <b>wise</b> and <b>prudent</b> and <b>revealed</b> them to <b>babes</b>'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk',10,21);">Luke 10:21</a>). This picture of spiritual children humbly trusting in the Heavenly Father to reveal His ways fits perfectly God's <b>pattern</b> for <b>living</b> by <b>grace</b>. This pattern is <b>humility</b> and <b>faith</b>.</p>
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<p>What God has given us in Christ are His <b>grace</b> resources. It takes grace at work for us to even see what is ours in Him. God gives grace to the <b>humble</b> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam',4,6);">James 4:6</a>), and <b>faith</b> accesses grace (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',5,2);">Romans 5:2</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, fountain of every heavenly blessing, I humble myself before You. On my own, I could never discover the richness You have given me in Christ. Please enlighten me by Your Spirit, as I search Your Scriptures. Build my faith to draw upon Your grace resources day by day, through Christ I pray, Amen.</div>
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