25 lines
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25 lines
4.2 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">April 27</div></div>
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<h2>Godly Sincerity Concerning God's Word</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>For <b>we</b> are <b>not</b>, as so many, <b>peddling the word of God</b>; but as of <b>sincerity</b>, but <b>as from God</b>, we speak <b>in the sight of God</b> in Christ.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',2,17);">2 Corinthians 2:17</a>)</div>
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<p><b>Godly sincerity</b> concerning God's word is another <b>characteristic</b> with which the Lord desires to mark us by His grace. <i>"For <b>we</b> are <b>not</b>, as so many, <b>peddling the word of God</b>; but as of <b>sincerity</b>…we speak."</i> The manner in which we relate to the word of God is a high priority to our Lord. In the early church, some were already relating wrongly to God's word: <i>"<b>peddling the word of God</b>."</i> They were using the Scriptures for self-gain.</p>
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<p>The Bible <b>warns</b> us about the temptations people face concerning inappropriate uses of the word. <i>"There are many <b>insubordinate</b>, both <b>idle talkers</b> and <b>deceivers</b>, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths <b>must</b> be <b>stopped</b>, who <b>subvert</b> whole households, <b>teaching things</b> which they <b>ought not</b>, for the <b>sake of dishonest gain</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Tts',1,10,11);">Titus 1:10-11</a>). Titus was <b>warned</b> of many in the church world who were rebelling against the message of God's word. They were into the meaningless chatter and religious deception that came from the legalists, who loved to coerce people by means of the law. It was necessary that these men be silenced with the truth, because they were undermining the spiritual well-being of entire families. They were teaching things that were biblically unacceptable. Their motivation was the financial advantage they could acquire by peddling deceptions. So many today are tempted to go after the material gain that can be obtained from those who will embrace religious schemes.</p>
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<p>Paul also <b>warned</b> about others who would be motivated by the power and influence that a cleverly distorted message might produce. <i>"For I know this, that after my departure savage <b>wolves</b> will <b>come in</b> among you, not sparing the flock. Also <b>from among yourselves</b> men will <b>rise up</b>, speaking <b>perverse things</b>, to <b>draw</b> away the <b>disciples</b> after <b>themselves</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',20,29,30);">Acts 20:29-30</a>). True disciples follow the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, a true disciple wants to assist others in their quest to follow Jesus. These deceivers wanted others to follow <b>them</b>. This threat would be two-fold. Ruthless unbelievers would <i>"<b>come in</b>"</i> from outside the church. Also, <i>"<b>from among yourselves</b>,"</i> men with an adulterated message would arise inside the church.</p>
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<p>Godly sincerity is to characterize our treatment of the Scriptures. We are to proclaim the truth. <i>"But as of <b>sincerity</b>, but <b>as from God</b>, we speak <b>in the sight of God</b> in Christ."</i> We are to proclaim the biblical message that is from God, and do it in genuineness, knowing our God is watching.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord, I do not want to be careless in message or dishonest in motives concerning Your word. Mark me with godly sincerity regarding the Bible, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0426.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0428.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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