38 lines
4.7 KiB
HTML
38 lines
4.7 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 9
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<h1>Once More on God's Ability and His Promises</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Now to <b>Him who is able</b> to do <b>exceedingly abundantly</b> above <b>all</b> that we <b>ask</b> or <b>think</b>…</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 3, '20-20');">Ephesians 3:20</a>)</div>
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<p>These opening words from one of the most well-known benedictions in all of the New Testament offer a unique opportunity to consider <b>God's ability</b>, as related to <b>His promises</b>. How able is God? He is <i>"<b>able</b> to do <b>exceedingly abundantly</b> above <b>all</b> that we <b>ask</b> or <b>think</b>."</i> Could we possibly ask for more than that which God has already promised? Could we properly think greater things than what God has promised? Well, let's reflect upon some of the promises of God that we have already considered.</p>
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<p>We have seen that God promised to make a mighty nation with worldwide blessings from one man, Abraham. <i>"<b>I will</b> make you a great nation…and in you all the families of the earth <b>shall be blessed</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 12, '2-3');">Genesis 12:2-3</a>). God also promised to deliver His people from bondage into an abundant land. <i>"<b>I will</b> bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt…to a land flowing with milk and honey"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Exd', 3, '17-17');">Exodus 3:17</a>). He also promised to fight for His people. <i>"The LORD your God, who goes before you, <b>He will fight for you</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Deu', 1, '30-30');">Deuteronomy 1:30</a>). Additionally, God promised an eternal kingdom for His people, through the line of David. <i>"And your house and your <b>kingdom</b> shall be <b>established forever</b> before you. Your <b>throne</b> shall be <b>established forever</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Sa', 7, '16-16');">2 Samuel 7:16</a>). Further, God promised that His Messiah would sit on that eternal throne. <i>"<b>A Branch shall grow out of</b> his roots. The <b>Spirit</b> of the LORD <b>shall rest upon Him</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 11, '1-2');">Isaiah 11:1-2</a>). Moreover, God promised that Messiah would be a unique King. <i>"A bruised reed <b>He will not break</b>, and smoking flax <b>He will not quench</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 42, '3-3');">Isaiah 42:3</a>).</p>
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<p>Ultimately, the Father promised that the Messiah Himself (Jesus) would be the new covenant of grace. <i>"<b>I, the LORD</b>, have called You in righteousness, and <b>will</b>…<b>give You</b> as a <b>covenant</b> to the <b>people</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 42, '6-6');">Isaiah 42:6</a>). Correspondingly, the Lord promised that this covenant of grace would provide forgiveness of sins (<i>"I will <b>forgive</b> their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more"</i>—<a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '34-34');">Jeremiah 31:34</a>), intimacy with God (<i>"They <b>all</b> shall <b>know Me</b>, from the least of them to the greatest of them"</i>—<a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '34-34');">Jeremiah 31:34</a>), and an inner work of God to change us from the inside out (<i>"I will put My law <b>in their minds</b>, and write it <b>on their hearts</b>"</i>—<a onClick="return mV('Jer', 31, '33-33');">Jeremiah 31:33</a>).</p>
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<p>Certainly, we could not ask or think beyond these promises. Yet, our God is <b>able</b> to do <b>far beyond</b> these extraordinary matters. What <b>confidence</b> this gives us regarding God's promises, as well as every prayer we offer based on these promises!</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Almighty God, how often I underestimate Your ability and thereby end up doubting Your promises. Lord, I praise You that You are able to do far beyond my prayers or thoughts—and every promise that You have ever made!</div>
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