37 lines
4.9 KiB
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37 lines
4.9 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 26
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<h1>The God of All Grace Developing Our Lives</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>But may the <b>God</b> of <b>all grace</b>, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus…<b>perfect</b>, <b>establish</b>, <b>strengthen</b>, and <b>settle</b> you.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 5, '10-10');">1 Peter 5:10</a>)</div>
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<p>We have been considering God's grace as <i>"<b>much more</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 5, '17-17');">Romans 5:17</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Rom', 5, '20-20');">20</a>), as <i>"<b>exceeding</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 9, '14-14');">2 Corinthians 9:14</a>), and as <i>"<b>exceedingly abundant</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Ti', 1, '14-14');">1 Timothy 1:14</a>). These terms lead into our present meditation, which looks at <i>"the <b>God</b> of <b>all grace</b>."</i> The true and living God has <b>all kinds</b> and <b>all measures</b> of grace, and He wants to impart that grace to <b>develop our lives</b>.</p>
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<p>One purpose of God's grace is to allow us to dwell forever in His glorious abode: <i>"who called us to <b>His eternal glory</b> by Christ Jesus."</i> This is ours through the atoning death of Jesus Christ, our mediator. <i>"He is the <b>Mediator</b> of the <b>new covenant</b></i> [of <b>grace</b>]<i>, by means of <b>death</b>, for the redemption of the transgressions under the <b>first covenant</b></i> [of <b>law</b>]<i>, that those who are called may receive the promise of the <b>eternal inheritance</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 9, '15-15');">Hebrews 9:15</a>). Meanwhile, until He returns for us, He wants to develop us spiritually (<i>"<b>perfect</b>, <b>establish</b>, <b>strengthen</b>, and <b>settle</b> you"</i>).</p>
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<p>Part of His plan is to <b>perfect</b> our lives. <i>"May the <b>God</b> of <b>all grace</b> …<b>perfect</b>…you."</i> This speaks of God completing what is missing and equipping us for service. <i>"Now may the God of peace…<b>make you complete</b> in every good work to do His will…And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the <b>equipping</b> of the <b>saints</b> for the work of ministry"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 13, '20-21');">Hebrews 13:20-21</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Eph', 4, '12-12');">Ephesians 4:12</a>). Part of His plan is to <b>establish</b> our lives. <i>"May the <b>God</b> of <b>all grace</b>… <b>establish</b>…you."</i> This has to do with the Lord stabilizing our Christian walk, keeping us steadfastly moving in His direction for our lives. This word was used to describe Jesus' unswerving commitment toward the cross, resurrection, and ascension that awaited Him in Jerusalem. <i>"Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He <b>steadfastly</b> set His face to go to Jerusalem"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 9, '51-51');">Luke 9:51</a>). Part of His plan is to <b>strengthen</b> our lives. <i>"May the <b>God</b> of <b>all grace</b>… <b>strengthen</b>…you."</i> Our calling to serve God requires strength that we do not have in and of ourselves. The Lord wants to teach us to draw upon His mighty power: <i>"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be <b>strengthened</b> with <b>might</b> through His Spirit in the inner man"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 3, '16-16');">Ephesians 3:16</a>). Part of His plan is to <b>settle</b> our lives. <i>"May the <b>God</b> of <b>all grace</b>… <b>settle</b>…you."</i> This involves being increasingly grounded in God's ways: <i>"that you, being rooted and <b>grounded</b> in love"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 3, '17-17');">Ephesians 3:17</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear God of all grace, I am eager to be with You in glory above. Meanwhile, I humbly beseech You to develop my life spiritually. Please complete what is missing, stabilize my walk, empower me within, and ground me in Your love—all by Your grace, Amen.</div>
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