25 lines
4.3 KiB
HTML
25 lines
4.3 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
|
|
<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">April 17</div></div>
|
|
<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030">
|
|
<h2>Spiritual Insight for Knowing the Lord</h2>
|
|
<div class="block"><i>Making mention of you in my <b>prayers</b>: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may <b>give</b> to you the <b>spirit</b> of <b>wisdom</b> and <b>revelation</b> in the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Him</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph',1,16,17);">Ephesians 1:16-17</a>)</div>
|
|
<p>The new covenant of grace by which we relate to God is designed to bring us a <b>growing</b>, <b>intimate knowledge</b> of <b>our Lord</b>. However, this growing in knowing God <b>requires</b> that <b>He reveals Himself</b> to us. This is why Paul prayed for other believers to this end: <i>" Making mention of you in my <b>prayers</b>: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may <b>give</b> to you the <b>spirit</b> of <b>wisdom</b> and <b>revelation</b> in the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Him</b>."</i></p>
|
|
<p>In order to increase in the knowledge of God, one <b>must</b> be given <b>heaven-sent spiritual insight</b>: <i>"that…God…may <b>give</b> to you the <b>spirit</b> of <b>wisdom</b> and <b>revelation</b>."</i> God cannot be seen by natural sight: <i>"who alone has immortality, dwelling in <b>unapproachable</b> light, whom <b>no man</b> has <b>seen</b> or can <b>see</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Ti',6,16);">1 Timothy 6:16</a>). God cannot be known by natural wisdom. <i>"The world <b>through wisdom</b> did <b>not</b> know God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Cr',1,21);">1 Corinthians 1:21</a>). The things of God must be revealed to us by the Lord. <i>"Eye has <b>not</b> seen, <b>nor</b> ear heard, <b>nor</b> have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But <b>God</b> has <b>revealed</b> them to us <b>through His Spirit</b>. For the <b>Spirit</b> searches <b>all</b> things, yes, the <b>deep</b> things of God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Cr',2,9,10);">1 Corinthians 2:9-10</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>Jesus rejoiced in the divine wisdom of this plan. <i>"In that hour Jesus <b>rejoiced</b> in the Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have <b>hidden</b> these things from the <b>wise</b> and <b>prudent</b> and <b>revealed</b> them to <b>babes</b>. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk',10,21);">Luke 10:21</a>). Jesus also encouraged those who humbly received God-given insight into spiritual realities. <i>"And Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, '<b>Blessed</b> are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for <b>flesh</b> and <b>blood</b> has <b>not</b> revealed this to you, <b>but My Father</b> who is in heaven'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat',16,16,17);">Matthew 16:16-17</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>Jesus taught His followers to rely upon the teaching, revealing ministry of the Holy Spirit to know the things of God. <i>"However, when He, the <b>Spirit</b> of truth, has come, <b>He</b> will <b>guide</b> you into <b>all truth</b>…He will take of what is Mine and <b>declare</b> it to you"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',16,13,14);">John 16:13-14</a>).</p>
|
|
<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I long to know You more and more. I humbly confess that I need You revealing Yourself to me. As I prayerfully read and study Your holy word, I pray that You would give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, Amen.</div>
|
|
</div></div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0416.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0418.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>
|
|
|