37 lines
4.7 KiB
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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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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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November 18
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<h1>God Fulfilling the Work of Faith with Power</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Therefore we also <b>pray</b> always for you that our <b>God</b> would <b>count</b> you <b>worthy</b> of this <b>calling</b>, and <b>fulfill all</b> the good <b>pleasure</b> of <b>His goodness</b> and the <b>work</b> of <b>faith</b> with <b>power</b>, that the <b>name</b> of our Lord Jesus Christ may be <b>glorified</b> in you, and you in Him, according to the <b>grace</b> of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Th', 1, '11-12');">2 Thessalonians 1:11-12</a>)</div>
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<p>These verses provide another opportunity to reflect upon the central point in our last sequence of devotions (from Hebrews). Therein, we examined the extensive consequences of walking by <b>faith</b> (and thereby drawing upon the effective <b>grace</b> of God). The good things that appeared in these lives were the result of <b>God fulfilling the work of faith with power</b>.</p>
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<p>The opening words remind us of the need for intercessory prayer for one another. <i>"Therefore we also <b>pray</b> always for you."</i> The following terms remind us of what to pray about: <i>"that our <b>God</b> would <b>count</b> you <b>worthy</b> of this <b>calling</b>."</i> God counts us worthy to be His children and His servants on the basis of faith, not performance: <i>"not having my <b>own righteousness</b>, which is from the law, but that which is through <b>faith</b> in Christ, the <b>righteousness</b> which is from <b>God</b> by <b>faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl', 3, '9-9');">Philippians 3:9</a>). The following words from our present text also indicate that true faith in the Lord results in proper performance: <i>"and <b>fulfill all</b> the good <b>pleasure</b> of <b>His goodness</b> and the <b>work</b> of <b>faith</b> with <b>power</b>."</i> God wants to develop in us the good things that <b>His own goodness</b> desires for us. Of course, He desires godliness for us. He accomplishes this by <i>"the <b>work</b> of <b>faith</b> with <b>power</b>."</i></p>
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<p>When we trust in the Lord, the glorious works of God are manifested in and through our lives <i>"with <b>power</b>."</i> The power involved in this process is <b>His power</b>. <i>"Now to <b>Him</b> who is <b>able</b> to <b>do</b> exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, <b>according</b> to the <b>power</b> that <b>works</b> in <b>us</b>…To this end I also labor, striving <b>according</b> to <b>His working</b> which <b>works</b> in me <b>mightily</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 3, '20-20');">Ephesians 3:20</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Col', 1, '29-29');">Colossians 1:29</a>). This is the process that is vividly portrayed in the lives we have looked at in Hebrews. They trusted in God: <i>"By <b>faith Noah</b>…By <b>faith Abraham</b>…By <b>faith Sarah</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '7-7');">Hebrews 11:7</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '8-8');">8</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '11-11');">11</a>). The God upon whom they relied worked mightily in them, by means of His great grace: <i>"according to the <b>grace</b> of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."</i> Our God wants to <b>fulfill the work of faith with power</b> in our lives—<i>"according to the <b>grace</b> of our God."</i> This is what brings glory to the Lord on earth, while reminding us that we will enter into His glory some day in heaven: <i>"that the <b>name</b> of our Lord Jesus Christ may be <b>glorified</b> in you, and you in Him."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord God of great power, please fulfill in me the work of faith with power. As I look to You for the grace that is needed for godly living, glorify Your name through my life. I eagerly await dwelling forever with You in the glories of heaven above, Amen.</div>
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