37 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
37 lines
4.6 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 6
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<h1>More on God's Ability and His Promises</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>"With <b>men</b> this is <b>impossible</b>, but with <b>God all things</b> are <b>possible</b>…For with <b>God nothing</b> will be <b>impossible</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '26-26');">Matthew 19:26</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Luk', 1, '37-37');">Luke 1:37</a>)</div>
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<p><b>God's ability</b> has a critical relationship with <b>His promises</b>. The more we trust His ability, the more sure we are of His promises. Man's ability is one of the basic reasons we often doubt human promises. This is one of the significant differences between God's promises and man's promises. Man's ability often runs into human impossibilities. The Lord is not limited by the "impossibility factor." This truth is reflected in two stories of "seeming impossibilities" that lie behind our present verses.</p>
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<p>A rich young man came to Jesus, seeking salvation. <i>"Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have <b>eternal life</b>?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '16-16');">Matthew 19:16</a>). Jesus quoted the law to stir conviction. This man wrongly thought he was performing well. <i>"<b>All</b> these things I have <b>kept</b> from my youth. What do I still <b>lack</b>?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '20-20');">Matthew 19:20</a>). Jesus identified with precision the man's basic sin: putting money ahead of the Lord. <i>"Go, <b>sell</b> what you have and <b>give</b> to the poor, and you will have treasure in <b>heaven</b>; and <b>come, follow Me</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '21-21');">Matthew 19:21</a>). However, he would not put Jesus ahead of his riches. <i>"When the young man heard that saying, he <b>went away sorrowful</b>, for he had <b>great possessions</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '22-22');">Matthew 19:22</a>). Jesus then elaborated on the man's difficult situation. <i>"It is <b>easier</b> for a <b>camel</b> to go through the <b>eye</b> of a <b>needle</b> than for a <b>rich</b> man to <b>enter</b> the <b>kingdom</b> of God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '24-24');">Matthew 19:24</a>). The disciples (who wrongly assumed that rich men were the most likely to be saved) wondered how anyone could then be saved. Jesus corrected their faulty thinking. <i>"With <b>men</b> this is <b>impossible</b>, but with <b>God all things</b> are <b>possible</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 19, '24-24');">Matthew 19:24</a>). Later, Jesus demonstrated that God can even save a rich man (Zacchaeus—see <a onClick="return mV('Luk', 19, '1-10');">Luke 19:1-10</a>).</p>
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<p>Our second story concerns the "impossible" births of Jesus and John, the Baptist. When the angel proclaimed to Mary that she would have a child before she even knew a man in marriage, she was initially staggered by the impossibility of it all. <i>"<b>How can this be</b>, since I do not know a man?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 1, '34-34');">Luke 1:34</a>). The angel replied, <i>"The <b>Holy Spirit</b> will come upon you, and the <b>power</b> of the <b>Highest</b> will overshadow you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 1, '35-35');">Luke 1:35</a>). Then, the angel announced that Elizabeth (Mary's elderly, barren relative) was now pregnant. Finally, the angel summarized Jesus' divine conception and Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy with the heavenly explanation: <i>"</i> <i>For with <b>God nothing</b> will be <b>impossible</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, You are able to do much more than put camels through eyes of needles. You are able to forgive sinners and get them into heaven. Lord, Your ability to do the impossible assures the certainty of Your promises, so I trust in Your word, Amen.</div>
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