39 lines
4.1 KiB
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39 lines
4.1 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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June 8
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<h1>God Equipping Us to Do His Will</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Now may the <b>God</b> of peace…make you <b>complete</b> in <b>every good work</b> to <b>do His will</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 13, '20-21');">Hebrews 13:20-21</a>)</div>
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<p>Again, our devotional study is from <a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 13, '20-21');">Hebrews 13:20-21</a>. In our previous meditation, we saw that the God of peace makes obedience possible through the shed blood of the crucified, risen Christ. That shed blood forgives our sins, making friends out of formerly disobedient enemies. Furthermore, that shed blood establishes the new covenant of grace, which supplies God's sufficiency for all our needs, including the developing of an obedient life.</p>
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<p>Now, we will reflect upon <b>God</b> being the one who uses His heavenly resources to <b>equip us to do His will</b>. What a hope and joy this is! God Himself is willing to undertake the task of shaping us into His obedient servants: <i>"Now may the <b>God</b> of peace… make you <b>complete</b> in <b>every good work</b> to <b>do His will</b>."</i></p>
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<p>This term (<i>"<b>complete</b>"</i>) is exceedingly insightful. It speaks of <b>equipping</b> people for their intended tasks, getting them ready to do what they are called to do. To <b>equip</b> means to furnish whatever qualities are necessary to perform the task at hand. To <b>equip</b> means to supply whatever is needed for an assigned purpose. Our calling and purpose in the will of God is that we engage in a great variety of good works. God is willing to <b>equip</b> us <i>"in <b>every good work</b> to <b>do His will</b>."</i></p>
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<p>Long ago, David was inspired of the Holy Spirit to speak boldly in similar terms. <i>"The <b>LORD</b> will <b>perfect</b> that which <b>concerns</b> me"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 138, '8-8');">Psalm 138:8</a>). In light of David's calling to obedience (and our own calling to the same), many things concern us. We are called to serve, to sacrifice, to pray, to worship, to love, to evangelize, to edify—and the list continues. How are we to expect progress in such a broad range of obedience? Our confidence is that <i>"The <b>LORD</b> will <b>perfect</b> that which <b>concerns</b></i> [us]<i>."</i></p>
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<p>As we have asked previously, is this equipping work of God unto obedience an automatic issue? Not at all! Remember, we can resist (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 7, '51-51');">Acts 7:51</a>), quench (<a onClick="return mV('1Th', 5, '19-19');">1 Thessalonians 5:19</a>), and grieve (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 4, '30-30');">Ephesians 4:30</a>) the work of the Spirit of grace in our lives. So what is our response to be? Since the Lord is the one who must equip us to do His will, we are to <b>seek Him daily</b> in the <b>word</b> and in <b>prayer</b>. We are to <b>depend humbly upon Him</b>. We must <b>not</b> look to ourselves, to formulas, or to any other false hope.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O God of peace, please do what only You can do. Equip me to obey You in every type of good work that is in Your will. I do not have what it takes to fulfill Your will for me. I often put my hope in vain places. Lord, I now look to You alone, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
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