37 lines
4.3 KiB
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37 lines
4.3 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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July 28
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<h1>God's Children by God's Promises</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>For it is written that Abraham had <b>two sons</b>: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the <b>flesh</b>, and he of the freewoman through <b>promise</b>…Now <b>we</b>, brethren, as Isaac was, are <b>children of promise</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal', 4, '22-23');">Galatians 4:22-23</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Gal', 4, '28-28');">28</a>)</div>
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<p>Our God is a <b>God of promises</b>. He characteristically works by making and fulfilling promises. We are His children. We are <b>children of promise</b>. We were birthed spiritually into God's family through faith in His promises. Two sons of Abraham (Ishmael and Isaac) provide a vivid contrast that attests our sonship by promise.</p>
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<p>God had promised to make Abraham a mighty nation, through which would come the Messianic seed that would bless all nations. <i>"I will make you a <b>great nation</b>…and in you <b>all</b> the families of the earth shall be <b>blessed</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 12, '1-2');">Genesis 12:1-2</a>). Yet, the years passed by, and Abraham was still without a son. Eventually, he implied to God that his servant would have to be the beginning of this promised seed. <i>"Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house</i> [Eliezer, his servant] <i>is my heir!"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 15, '3-3');">Genesis 15:3</a>). However, the Lord clarified His promise to give Abraham a true son, sired from his own body. <i>"This one shall <b>not</b> be your heir, but <b>one who will come from your own body</b> shall be your heir"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 15, '4-4');">Genesis 15:4</a>). As time passed, the aging couple decided that they would have to come up with another alternative for God. <i>"Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children…So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.' And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 16, '1-2');">Genesis 16:1-2</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Gen', 16, '4-4');">4</a>). Thus, Ishmael was born as the result of Abraham's and Sarah's ingenuity: <i>"But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the <b>flesh</b>."</i></p>
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<p>Thereafter, the Lord reiterated His promise of a son. <i>"My covenant <b>I will establish with Isaac</b>, whom <b>Sarah shall bear to you</b> at this set time next year"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 17, '21-21');">Genesis 17:21</a>). As God promised, so He did. <i>"And the LORD visited Sarah <b>as He had said</b>, and the LORD did for Sarah <b>as He had spoken</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 21, '1-1');">Genesis 21:1</a>). Thus, Isaac was birthed as a result of God's promises. This is a picture of the only possible way that we could ever have become God's children, by His fulfilling of His promises. <i>"Now <b>we</b>, brethren, as Isaac was, are <b>children of promise</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Father, the God of promises, I praise You for promising salvation to all who would believe. I rejoice in being a child of promise. Lord, no effort or ingenuity of my flesh could have ever given me a place in Your family. Please teach me to live by Your promises, Amen.</div>
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