24 lines
4.2 KiB
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24 lines
4.2 KiB
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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">March 22</div></div>
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<h2>More on the Resurrection and Sanctification</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>I also count all things loss for <b>the excellence</b> of the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Christ Jesus my Lord</b>…That I may <b>know Him</b> and the <b>power</b> of <b>His resurrection</b>, and the <b>fellowship</b> of His <b>sufferings</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl',3,8,10);">Philippians 3:8, 10</a>)</div>
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<p><b>Sanctification</b> is that process whereby the redeemed are increasingly set apart for the purposes, use, and glory of God. The <b>resurrection</b> of Christ and the <b>power</b> of that <b>resurrection</b> are <b>interwoven</b> into that <b>entire process</b>. Our present passage offers additional insight into this sublime truth.</p>
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<p>The <b>power</b> of the resurrection is again in view. However, the context involves <b>more</b> than heavenly empowerment: <i>"That I may <b>know Him</b> and the power of His resurrection."</i> The primary context is <b>getting</b> to <b>know</b> the <b>Lord</b>. <i>"I also count all things loss for the excellence of the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Christ Jesus my Lord</b>."</i> Paul's passion was to know His Lord, to become more intimately acquainted with Him. He refers to this blessed goal as the greatest value available in all of creation. <i>"I also <b>count all things loss</b> for <b>the excellence</b> of the knowledge of Christ."</i> Paul was ready to lose anything in order to gain more intimacy with the Lord. To him, such a knowing of Christ was <i>"<b>the excellence</b>"</i> (which could be translated, "the excelling value").</p>
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<p>Our relationship with the Lord began in <i>"the <b>power</b> of <b>His resurrection</b>."</i> We were dead in our sins, and the Lord raised us to new life, as we believed upon Him. What a wonderful way to start out our acquaintanceship with God! A season of joy and gratitude accompanied this personal resurrection. His resurrection power gave us such a great appreciation of who our Lord actually is, a <b>God</b> of <b>might</b> and <b>power</b>.</p>
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<p>As time marched along, we discovered that there are other ways to get to know our Lord more fully: namely, <i>"the <b>fellowship</b> of His <b>sufferings</b>."</i> Many of us who follow Christ were startled when, after believing in Jesus, we encountered some personal suffering. In our early joyous days with Jesus, we maybe assumed that trials would never come our way. Eventually, we began to suffer as Jesus did (for doing the right things, for righteousness sake). <i>"For to this you were called, because <b>Christ</b> also <b>suffered</b> for us, leaving us an <b>example</b>, that you should follow His steps"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe',2,21);">1 Peter 2:21</a>). How much deeper did our relationship with Him grow in those trials. We learned more of the <b>difficult</b> path <b>He</b> walked here on earth. We found out how <b>faithful</b> and <b>compassionate</b> He was when we called upon Him in our need. Once more, our love for Him grew.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord of power and compassion, I magnify You for Your resurrection power. I extol You for Your matchless compassion. You have allowed me to experience these that I might grow in knowing You. Unleash Your power in my weakness. Pour out Your compassion in my sufferings. Let me know You more, through Christ I pray, Amen.</div></div></div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/03/0321.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/03/0323.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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