28 lines
4.3 KiB
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28 lines
4.3 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 24</div>
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<h2>An Action Carried Out Toward Earthen Vessels</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>For <b>we who live</b> are <b>always delivered to death</b> for <b>Jesus' sake</b>, that the <b>life of Jesus</b> also may be <b>manifested</b> in <b>our mortal flesh</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',4,11);">2 Corinthians 4:11</a>)</div>
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<p>The treasure who lives within us (Jesus) is to get glory and honor as we trust Him to live in, and be manifested through, the vessels of our humanity. <i>"But we have <b>this treasure</b> in <b>earthen vessels</b>, 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> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',4,7);">2 Corinthians 4:7</a>). Our previous meditation reminded us that we are to embrace an attitude of "death to self" that facilitates this plan: <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>). In addition, there is <b>an action carried out toward earthen vessels</b> that also advances this great purpose of God. This matter is also about <b>dying</b> in order to <b>live</b>.</p>
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<p>This action is taken toward <b>earthen vessels</b>: <i>"<b>we who live</b>."</i> We who have found new life in Christ are the ones who are <i>"<b>delivered to death</b>."</i> Our God places us into (or allows us to be put in) situations that are far more than we can handle. Even the Apostle Paul had to undergo this action taken toward him. <i>"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were <b>burdened beyond measure</b>, above strength, so that we <b>despaired even of life</b>. Yes, we had the <b>sentence of death</b> in ourselves"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',1,'8-9');">2 Corinthians 1:8-9</a>). This was not an isolated incident. Paul was frequently in such impossibilities. <i>"From the Jews <b>five</b> times I received forty <b>stripes</b> minus one. <b>Three</b> times I was <b>beaten</b> with <b>rods</b>; <b>once</b> I was <b>stoned</b>; <b>three</b> times I was <b>shipwrecked</b>; a <b>night</b> and a <b>day</b> I have been <b>in the deep</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',11,'24-25');">2 Corinthians 11:24-25</a>).</p>
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<p>Since we are earthen vessels, this is the way life unfolds. Clay pots are characteristically inadequate and vulnerable. Consequently, the situations that our all-loving and all-wise Father leads us into are consistently like being <i>"<b>delivered to death</b>."</i> However, this action toward us is <i>"for <b>Jesus' sake</b>."</i> In the continual impossibilities confronting us, Jesus has repeated opportunities to manifest Himself. Our heavenly Father places us in circumstances we cannot handle by our own resources. We cry out to the Lord, putting our hope and trust in Him. He faithfully goes to work in us. The result is <i>"that the <b>life of Jesus</b></i> [is] <b><i>manifested</i></b> <i>in <b>our mortal flesh</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for the many times I resist Your delivering me over to death. You know that I prefer it when I can handle the events that come my way. Remind me to view my impossibilities as Jesus' opportunities to manifest Himself in and through the vessel of my life. This I humbly ask, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/05/0523.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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