27 lines
4.3 KiB
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27 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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<div class="head">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">February 15</div></div>
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<h2>More on Grace and Good Works</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been <b>commended to the grace of God</b> for the <b>work which they had completed</b>. And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that <b>God</b> had done <b>with them</b>, and that <b>He</b> had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',14,26,27);">Acts 14:26-27</a>)</div>
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<p>When the Apostle Paul and his team left their home church of Antioch, they were <i>"<b>commended to the grace of God</b>."</i> The believers at Antioch <b>trusted</b> in the <b>Lord</b> to <b>impart</b> sufficient <b>grace</b> for this <b>demanding</b> mission.</p>
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<p>What an <b>amazing</b> journey it was. They encountered a <b>false prophet</b> early in the trip, as they attempted to reach a local official. Paul boldly confronted his opponent, by the power of the Spirit. <i>"O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',13,10);">Acts 13:10</a>). When the Lord struck this sorcerer blind, the civic leader believed.</p>
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<p>Then, in Perga, Paul <b>effectively preached</b> the <b>risen Christ</b> in the <b>synagogue</b>. <i>"And the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',13,44);">Acts 13:44</a>). When <b>Jewish opposition</b> arose, the team offered the gospel to the <b>Gentiles</b>. <i>"Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord…And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',13,48,49);">Acts 13:48-49</a>).</p>
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<p>Next, in Iconium, <b>much</b> fruit ensued, in spite of <b>substantial opposition</b>. <i>"A great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',14,'1-3');">Acts 14:1-3</a>).</p>
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<p>Later, at Lystra, Paul was <b>stoned</b> by those who <b>resisted</b> the gospel. Yet, he would not be silent, continuing to Derbe and other towns. <i>"And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',14,21,22');">Acts 14:21-22</a>).</p>
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<p>Now the missionaries are back at their home church of Antioch. The <b>work</b> God intended was <b>finished</b>, because <b>His grace</b> brings <b>His work</b> to <b>completion</b>. <i>"They had been commended to the <b>grace</b> of God for the <b>work</b> which they had <b>completed</b>."</i> Then, when they brought their report, they spoke of what <b>God</b> did, <b>not</b> what <b>they</b> did. <i>"They reported all that <b>God</b> had done <b>with them</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Father, please teach me to rely upon Your grace for the tasks to which You are calling me. Lord, I too easily trust in myself, and end up with an unfinished job. Also, when the responsibilities are completed, may all glory go to You, and not to me, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0214.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0216.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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