24 lines
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24 lines
4.3 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 25</div></div>
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<h2>Once More on the Resurrection and Sanctification</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the <b>sentence of death</b> in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who <b>raises the dead</b>, who <b>delivered us</b> from so <b>great a death</b>, and <b>does deliver us</b>; in whom we trust that He will <b>still deliver us</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',1,'8-10');">2 Corinthians 1:8-10</a>)</div>
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<p>Our passage speaks again of the Lord's <b>resurrection power</b> operating in our daily Christian lives, in the process of <b>sanctification</b> and spiritual growth. The setting in which the Lord did this resurrecting work was in the midst of trials while Paul and his team were serving God.</p>
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<p>Paul did not want other believers to be unaware of his difficulties. <i>"For we do <b>not</b> want you to be <b>ignorant</b>, brethren, of our <b>trouble</b> which came to us in Asia."</i> Too often, we are tempted to keep our struggles totally private. Thereby, we rob glory from God when He delivers us. Also, we keep others from learning important lessons that come from watching God fulfill the faithful promises of His word.</p>
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<p>Paul's battles were severe on this occasion. <i>"We were <b>burdened beyond measure</b>, <b>above strength</b>, so that we <b>despaired even of life</b>. Yes, we had the <b>sentence of death</b> in ourselves."</i> Spiritually speaking, these trials were "killing" Paul and his missionary team. They were pressed down, overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless. When we are in hopeless despair, our sufferings seem to be pointless. Yet, our difficulties (like Paul's) have this invaluable purpose built into them: <i>"that we should <b>not</b> trust in <b>ourselves</b> but in <b>God</b> who <b>raises the dead</b>."</i> We have frequently noted that living by grace requires humility and faith. God gives grace to the <b>humble</b>, and <b>faith</b> accesses grace. Well, in the trials of life, <b>God</b> is working on <b>developing</b> these <b>relational realities</b> (spiritual realities that become real through a growing relationship with Jesus).</p>
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<p>Trials and difficulties become occasions to be <b>humbled</b> before God. We are provoked to cry out to God in helplessness. Also, trials present new opportunities to trust in the Lord. When the trials are intense, God is purging us of the primary obstacle to trusting in God, and that is <b>self-trust</b>. <i>"Yes, we had the <b>sentence of death</b> in ourselves, that we should <b>not trust in ourselves</b> but <b>in God</b> who <b>raises the dead</b>."</i> Thus, convinced that we cannot handle it, we call upon God, who <b>faithfully resurrects</b> us from our <b>circumstantial death</b>: <i>"Who delivered us from so <b>great a death</b>."</i> Thereby, faith grows, bringing assurance that He will continue to rescue us: <i>"and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Lord, my Deliverer, come to my aid in the trials that bury me in despair. Show me where I am trusting in myself. Purge me of self-trust. I want to embrace humility and put my trust in You. Resurrect me, Lord, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div></div></div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/03/0324.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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