38 lines
4.5 KiB
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38 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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June 24
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<h1>Promises Based on the Will of God</h1>
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<div class="block"><i><b>Come now</b>, you who say, "Today or tomorrow <b>we will go</b> to such and such a city, <b>spend a year</b> there, <b>buy</b> and <b>sell</b>, and <b>make a profit</b>"; whereas you do <b>not</b> know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. <b>Instead</b> you ought to say, "<b>If the Lord wills</b>, <b>we shall</b> live and do this or that."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam', 4, '13-15');">James 4:13-15</a>)</div>
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<p>Promises based on the will of God is another category of acceptable promises. People are frequently heard making <b>predictive promises</b>. "<b>I will</b> be a more faithful husband next year." "<b>I will</b> get better grades in school this semester." "<b>I will not</b> repeat my personal failures of last year." "<b>I will</b> improve my business this quarter." Such promises are only acceptable to God, if they are made contingent upon the will of God. Instead, we ought to say, <i>"<b>If</b> the <b>Lord wills</b>, <b>we shall</b> live and do this or that."</i></p>
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<p>The <b>will of God</b> is to be the determining factor for all of our plans. God used James to reprimand the <b>self-willed</b> life. <i>"<b>Come now</b>, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow <b>we will go</b> to such and such a city, <b>spend a year</b> there, <b>buy</b> and <b>sell</b>, and <b>make a profit</b>'."</i> Such promises indicate the arrogance that people can embrace within their lives. <i>"But now you <b>boast</b> in your <b>arrogance</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam', 4, '16-16');">James 4:16</a>). Such arrogance prohibits us from living by grace, because grace is imparted to the humble heart. <i>"Be clothed with <b>humility</b>, for 'God <b>resists</b> the <b>proud</b>, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 5, '5-5');">1 Peter 5:5</a>).</p>
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<p>David was a notable example of one who humbly yielded to, and sought after, the will of God. <i>"I <b>delight</b> to do <b>Your will</b>, O my God…<b>Teach me</b> to do <b>Your will</b>, for You are my God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 40, '8-8');">Psalm 40:8</a>; <a onClick="return mV('Psa', 143, '10-10');">143:10</a>). Paul's comprehensive commitment to God's will could be seen even in the way he stated predictive promises about his personal travel plans. As he left Ephesus, he stated,<i>"<b>I will return</b> again to you, <b>God willing</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 18, '21-21');">Acts 18:21</a>). When writing to Corinth, he promised <i>"<b>I will come</b> to you shortly, <b>if the Lord wills</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Cr', 4, '19-19');">1 Corinthians 4:19</a>).</p>
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<p>Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ taught and lived with His Father's will as the absolute standard. Concerning how we should pray, He taught, <i>"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven…<b>Your kingdom</b> come. <b>Your will</b> be done on earth as it is in heaven"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 6, '9-10');">Matthew 6:9-10</a>). He Himself prayed in this way. <i>"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, <b>not as I will</b>, but <b>as You will</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 26, '39-39');">Matthew 26:39</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Father, I seek You for a heart that is fully committed to Your will. May I delight in Your will each day. May I speak of future days only in terms of Your will—"If it is Your will, I shall live and do this or that."</div>
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