40 lines
4.2 KiB
HTML
40 lines
4.2 KiB
HTML
|
|
<html>
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
|
|
<script src="../../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
|
|
Day By Day By Grace
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="subhead">
|
|
Bob Hoekstra
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center">
|
|
<div class="pad2020">
|
|
June 20
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="main-just">
|
|
<div class="pad2030">
|
|
<h1>Man's Promises or God's Promises</h1>
|
|
<div class="block"><i>Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. Then all the people answered together and said, "<b>All</b> that the <b>LORD</b> has spoken <b>we will do</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Exd', 19, '7-8');">Exodus 19:7-8</a>)</div>
|
|
<p>The promises of the old covenant of law depend upon the performance of man. <i>"You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which <b>if a man does</b>, he <b>shall live</b> by them"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Lev', 18, '5-5');">Leviticus 18:5</a>). The better promises of the new covenant of grace depend upon the performance of God. <i>"<b>I will</b> make a new covenant…<b>I will</b> put My law in their minds"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '31-31');">Jeremiah 31:31</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '33-33');">33</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>When man attempts to live under the law (thereby needing to perform up to God's standards by human resources), he typically tries to live by his promises to God. Israel was a vivid example of this futile tendency. <i>"<b>All</b> that the <b>LORD</b> has spoken <b>we will do</b>."</i> This well-intended promise to God was consistently broken. Moses' words are a stinging indictment of the vanity of basing life with God on our promises to Him. <i>"You have been <b>rebellious</b> against the LORD <b>from the day</b> that I knew you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Deu', 9, '24-24');">Deuteronomy 9:24</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>The desire to obey God resides appropriately within the hearts of His children. However, we must find a better way to obedience than relying upon our promises to God. That better way is the path of grace, which offers a life based upon <b>God's promises</b> to man. <i>"<b>I will</b> give you a new heart and</i> [<b>I will</b>] <i>put a new spirit within you; <b>I will</b> take the heart of stone out of your flesh and</i> [<b>I will</b>] <i>give you a heart of flesh. <b>I will</b> put My Spirit within you and</i> [<b>I will</b>] <i>cause you to walk in My statutes, and you <b>will</b> keep My judgments and do them"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eze', 36, '26-27');">Ezekiel 36:26-27</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>We are to live in dependence upon the promises of God to us (instead of relying upon our promises to Him). Living by God's promises produces a growing confidence in the Lord, a confidence that results from His unique character. <i>"God is <b>not</b> a man, that He should <b>lie</b>, <b>nor</b> a son of man, that He should <b>repent</b>. Has He said, and <b>will He not do it</b>? Or has He spoken, and <b>will He not make it good</b>?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Num', 23, '19-19');">Numbers 23:19</a>). Man may make promises to God, but, eventually, he will fail. God is not like man. God is true to His word. He will not lie, nor will He change His mind. Whatever He says, He will do! We can fully rely upon the promises of God that we find in His word.</p>
|
|
<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord God of truth, forgive my multiple attempts to develop
|
|
a Christian walk by my promises to You. Lord, You know how
|
|
often I have failed. What a joyous option this is—to live in reliance upon Your promises to me! Please teach me how to think and live this way, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center">
|
|
<div class="pad2020">
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/06/0619.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/06/0621.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="return"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/index.html">Return to Day By Day By Grace Page</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|