25 lines
4.4 KiB
HTML
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 11</div></div>
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<h2>Christ Being Formed in Us</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>My little children, for whom I <b>labor in birth</b> again until <b>Christ</b> is <b>formed in you</b>…Do you <b>not know</b> yourselves, that <b>Jesus Christ is in you</b>?</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',4,19);">Galatians 4:19</a> and <a onClick="return mV('2Cr',13,5);">2 Corinthians 13:5</a>)</div>
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<p>When we take the truth of the gospel to others, that they might be born again, we often enter into <b>spiritual birth pangs</b> on their behalf. They are wrestling over issues and questions. We are <b>agonizing</b> with them, that they might embrace the truth they need to become a child of God by faith. <i>"For you are all <b>sons</b> of <b>God</b> through <b>faith</b> in <b>Christ Jesus</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',3,26);">Galatians 3:26</a>).</p>
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<p>When the Apostle Paul took the gospel into the region of Galatia, he <b>labored</b> in this manner on behalf of those who would become believers in Jesus Christ. Later, he is writing them, telling them that <b>once again</b> he was in <b>spiritual labor</b> for them. <i>"My little children, for whom I <b>labor</b> in birth <b>again</b>."</i> This subsequent agonizing was <b>not</b> concerning their initial salvation. They had already been born again through faith in the Lord Jesus. <b>Now</b>, he was <b>laboring</b> <i>"until <b>Christ</b> is <b>formed</b> in <b>you</b>."</i></p>
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<p>It is the will of our Heavenly Father that we invite His Son into our lives. <i>"As many as <b>received Him</b>, to them He gave the right to become <b>children of God</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',1,12);">John 1:12</a>). <b>Furthermore</b>, it is His will that we allow the <b>life</b> of <b>His Son</b> to be <b>expressed</b> in and though <b>our lives</b>. As we face life day by day, we become engaged with issues, opportunities, challenges, responses, ideas, relationships, values, priorities, etc. The Lord Jesus Christ died for us in order to live <b>with us</b> through <b>all</b> of these aspects of living. <i>"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that…we should <b>live together with Him</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Th',5,9);">1 Thessalonians 5:9</a>). In <b>every</b> situation of life, the Lord Jesus is <b>with us</b>, dwelling <b>within us</b>, wanting to express His life <b>through us</b>.</p>
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<p>Although this great reality is described in many places throughout the word of God, many of God's people seem not to know it. <i>"Do you <b>not know</b> yourselves, that <b>Jesus Christ is in you</b>?"</i> Either they have not heard it, or they have forgotten it. What a great privilege it is to share these grand truths with others. The process will <b>not</b> be without <b>difficulties</b>. <i>"To this end I also <b>labor</b>, <b>striving</b></i> [agonizing] <i>according to <b>His</b> working which works <b>in me</b> mightily"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Col',1,29);">Colossians 1:29</a>). Though we may experience <b>spiritual birth pangs</b> for <b>others</b>, God <b>will</b> see us through, as <b>He touches</b> their <b>lives</b>.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, my indwelling Savior, please express Your life in and through me. May there be no area of my life that is just me doing my best or me fulfilling my will. Also, Lord, be my strength, enabling me to share these great realities with others, in Your mighty name, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0410.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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