39 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
39 lines
4.5 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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August 21
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<h1>A Precious Promise of God's Completing Work</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Being <b>confident</b> of this very thing, that <b>He who has begun</b> a good work in you <b>will complete it</b> until the day of Jesus Christ.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl', 1, '6-6');">Philippians 1:6</a>)</div>
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<p>Now, we return to the category we are calling <i>"<b>precious promises</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Pe', 1, '4-4');">2 Peter 1:4</a>). Here we have a priceless one concerning <b>God's commitment to complete</b> in us the wonderful work of salvation that He began at our new birth.</p>
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<p>If our faith is in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God has started a tremendous saving work on our behalf: <i>"He who <b>has begun a good work</b> in you."</i></p>
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<p>He has made us new creatures in His Son. <i>"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, <b>he is a new creation</b>; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 5, '17-17');">2 Corinthians 5:17</a>). He has supplied us with immeasurable heavenly resources. <i>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with <b>every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 1, '3-3');">Ephesians 1:3</a>). What a grand work has been started in us. Yet, God's saving work is <i>"<b>so great</b> a salvation"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 2, '3-3');">Hebrews 2:3</a>). Thus, whatever He has already accomplished in us is only a part of the whole. Wherever we are in this glorious process, there is some completing work that God desires to do. He wants to bring into our understanding, our character, and our daily experience more of that which is fully ours in Christ.</p>
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<p>Furthermore, our God wants us to be <b>confident</b> concerning this matter: <i>"Being <b>confident</b> of this very thing."</i> As noted in our previous meditation, God does not want people living in self-confidence. That misplaced trust is just another form of pride. This does not mean that we Christians are to be without confidence in our lives. It does mean that all of our confidence is to be placed in the Lord. <i>"And we have such <b>trust</b></i> [<b>confidence</b>] <i>through Christ toward God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 3, '4-4');">2 Corinthians 3:4</a>). Our Lord wants us to have strong assurance in Him that He will complete this work in us.</p>
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<p>Also remember, God's saving work is completed <b>within our lives</b>: <i>"He who has begun a good work <b>in you</b> will complete it."</i> The Lord has established an eternal position for us with Him in heavenly places: <i>"and raised us up together, and made us <b>sit together</b> in the heavenly places <b>in Christ Jesus</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 2, '6-6');">Ephesians 2:6</a>). Yet, He wants to effect a godly walk for us here on earth. <i>"<b>Walk worthy</b> of the calling with which you were called"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 4, '1-1');">Ephesians 4:1</a>). This walk is not based upon human theories of behavior modification. Our Lord Himself develops this <b>in and through our hearts</b>. <i>"Now may the God of peace…<b>make you complete</b> in every good work to do His will, <b>working in you</b> what is well pleasing in His sight"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 13, '20-21');">Hebrews 13:20-21</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I long to walk in more of the reality of that which is mine in Christ. Thank You for these words that build my confidence in You. I humbly repent of my self-confident attempts to do what only You can do. I look to You anew and alone! Amen.</div>
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