37 lines
4.7 KiB
HTML
37 lines
4.7 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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October 16
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<h1>Once More on the Source of Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Then He who sat on the throne said…"Write, for <b>these words</b> are <b>true</b> and <b>faithful</b>"…Then he said to me, "<b>These words</b> are <b>faithful</b> and <b>true</b>"…So then <b>faith</b> comes by <b>hearing</b>, and <b>hearing</b> by the <b>word of God</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 21, '5-5');">Revelation 21:5</a>; <a onClick="return mV('Rev', 22, '6-6');">22:6</a>; and <a onClick="return mV('Rom', 10, '17-17');">Romans 10:17</a>)</div>
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<p><b>Jesus</b> is the <b>faithful</b> and <b>true</b> witness, who gives us the reliable truth that we must have in order to find life and live life as God intended. <i>"<b>Jesus Christ</b>, the <b>faithful</b> witness…the <b>Faithful</b> and <b>True</b> Witness…And He…was called <b>Faithful</b> and <b>True</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rev', 1, '5-5');">Revelation 1:5</a>; <a onClick="return mV('Rev', 3, '14-14');">3:14</a>; and <a onClick="return mV('Rev', 19, 11);">19:11</a>). Faith toward Him develops in our lives, as we see His faithful and true character. His word is a vital part of this process, since it has the same character that He has (faithful and true). <i>"Write, for <b>these words</b> are <b>true</b> and <b>faithful</b>… <b>These words</b> are <b>faithful</b> and <b>true</b>."</i></p>
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<p>When people humbly receive the word of God, the Scriptures change their lives. This is how we started out with God: <i>"Having been <b>born again</b>, <b>not</b> of corruptible seed but <b>incorruptible</b>, through the <b>word of God</b> which <b>lives</b> and <b>abides forever</b>, because 'All <b>flesh</b> is as <b>grass</b>, and all the glory of <b>man</b> as the <b>flower</b> of the grass. The grass <b>withers</b>, and its flower <b>falls</b> away, <b>but</b> the <b>word</b> of the <b>Lord</b> endures <b>forever</b>.' Now this is the <b>word</b> which by the <b>gospel</b> was <b>preached</b> to <b>you</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 1, '23-25');">1 Peter 1:23-25</a>). We were born again into the family of God in conjunction with the incorruptible, living, eternal word of God being planted like a seed into our lives. This occurred when we heard the gospel. We then believed the good news of Jesus Christ, and this gospel seed germinated within us unto life eternal.</p>
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<p>After being born again by grace through faith in Christ, God's plan was that we continue to respond to His word (like those in Thessalonica did). <i>"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you <b>received</b> the <b>word of God</b> which you heard from us, you <b>welcomed</b> it <b>not</b> as the <b>word</b> of <b>men</b>, but as it is in <b>truth</b>, the <b>word of God</b>, which also <b>effectively works</b> in <b>you</b> who <b>believe</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Th', 2, '13-13');">1 Thessalonians 2:13</a>). These saints welcomed the Scriptures into their lives. They knew that it was not a mere human message. They knew it was from the Lord. They were eager to hear it and to rely upon its life-nurturing message. Therefore, it effectively worked in their hearts, as they believed in the truths they were hearing. <i>"So then <b>faith</b> comes by <b>hearing</b>, and <b>hearing</b> by the <b>word of God</b>."</i> Initially and continually, faith comes by hearing the faithful and true words of God, and that faith accesses grace.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, even as You are faithful and true, so Your word is faithful and true. I began by a faith that was stirred through the gospel message of Your word. I know that I can only grow in faith as I humbly receive Your word into my life day by day. Lord, I long to live by faith that I might grow in Your grace, in Your holy name, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/10/1015.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/10/1017.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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