29 lines
4.5 KiB
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29 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
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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</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">May 23</div>
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<h2>An Attitude Carried About by Earthen Vessels</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>Always <b>carrying about</b> in the body the <b>dying of the Lord Jesus</b>, that the <b>life of Jesus</b> also may be <b>manifested</b> in our <b>body</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',4,10);">2 Corinthians 4:10</a>)</div>
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<p>As <b>earthen vessels</b>, we are to live by <b>trusting in</b> the <b>treasure</b> (the Lord Jesus) who dwells within us: <i>"But we have <b>this treasure</b> in <b>earthen vessels</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',4,7);">2 Corinthians 4:7</a>). Also, we are to give <b>Him</b> all <b>honor</b> and <b>glory</b> as He sustains us day by day through the trials of life: <i>"that the <b>excellence</b> of the <b>power</b> may be of <b>God</b> and <b>not</b> of <b>us</b>."</i> In addition, to help us magnify the treasure who lives in us, there is to be <b>an attitude</b> (an outlook) <b>carried about</b> (embraced) <b>by the earthen vessels</b>.</p>
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<p>The particular attitude that results in magnifying the treasure is the perspective we hold concerning the death of Christ: <i>"Always <b>carrying about</b> in the body the <b>dying of the Lord Jesus</b>."</i> This is about <b>dying</b> in order to <b>live</b>. Jesus taught this. <i>"For whoever desires to <b>save his life</b> will <b>lose it</b>, but whoever <b>loses his life</b> for <b>My</b> sake will <b>save it</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk',9,24);">Luke 9:24</a>). Those who hold on to the life they received from Adam lose what they are trying to guard and develop. They never find true life. However, all who renounce their sinful natural life and trust in Jesus find a new life from Him. This is the attitude that followers of Christ are to carry with them. <i>"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him <b>deny himself</b>, and <b>take up his cross daily</b>, and <b>follow Me</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk',9,23);">Luke 9:23</a>). Day by day, our perspective is to include a rejection of any life that we could produce on our own (<i>"<b>deny himself</b>"</i>). We are to agree with God that the self life always deserves the cross of Christ (<i>"<b>take up his cross daily</b>"</i>). This leaves us with only one option: pursue after Jesus for the life He alone can provide (<i>"and <b>follow Me</b>"</i>).</p>
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<p>Such confessions are in harmony with what actually happened to us at the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. <i>"Therefore we were <b>buried with Him</b> through baptism</i> (that is, through identification) <i>into <b>death</b>, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even <b>so we also</b> should walk in <b>newness of life</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',6,4);">Romans 6:4</a>). When we placed our trust in the Lord, His death and resurrection became our death and resurrection! This is to be our confidence continually. <i>"Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be <b>dead</b> indeed to <b>sin</b>, but <b>alive</b> to <b>God</b> in Christ Jesus our Lord"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',6,11);">Romans 6:11</a>).</p>
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<p>When we carry about this attitude, we are actually trusting the Lord Jesus (the treasure who dwells within us) to live in and through our <i>"<b>earthen vessels</b>,"</i> our humanity: <i>"that the <b>life of Jesus</b> also may be <b>manifested</b> in our <b>body</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I want to carry about with me Your dying. I want to embrace all that Your cross proclaims and provides. Thank You for dying in my place. I rejoice that I died there with You. Now, I ask You to live in and through me day by day, Amen.</div>
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