24 lines
4.2 KiB
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24 lines
4.2 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">April 8</div></div>
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<h2>Living in Christ, Christ Living in Us</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood <b>abides in Me</b>, and <b>I in him</b>…At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and <b>you in Me</b>, and <b>I in you."</b></i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',6,56);">John 6:56</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Jhn',14,20);">14:20</a>)</div>
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<p>In our verses, we again see the <b>extent</b> of the <b>intimate relationship</b> that the new covenant of grace provides. An astounding intimacy is declared in these words: <i>"<b>abides in Me</b>, and <b>I in him</b>."</i> We have not merely come near to Christ, nor has He simply drawn close to us. Rather, <b>we</b> live <b>in Him</b>, and <b>He</b> lives <b>in us</b>! We live by being <b>in Christ</b> (by being related to Him, by being united with Him, by drawing our spiritual life from Him). Moreover, He lives <b>in us</b> and desires to express <b>His life</b> through <b>us</b>.</p>
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<p>This unique arrangement for spiritual intimacy is experienced by the one <i>"who <b>eats</b> My <b>flesh</b> and <b>drinks</b> My <b>blood</b>."</i> Although the language sounds strange to the natural mind, the picture is common, that of <b>eating</b> and <b>drinking</b> to find <b>life-giving nourishment</b>. The unusual aspect is that the source of the nutrition is a <b>person</b>. Earlier in Jesus' discourse, He had indicated what this process encompassed. <i>"I am the bread of life. He who <b>comes to Me</b> shall <b>never hunger</b>, and he who <b>believes in Me</b> shall <b>never thirst</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',6,35);">John 6:35</a>). Eating and drinking of Jesus' flesh and blood involves simply <b>coming</b> to <b>Him</b> in <b>faith</b>. When we come to Jesus, we are counting upon <b>who</b> He <b>is</b> (His person, His flesh, the Son of God becoming a man). When we believe in Jesus, we are also relying upon <b>what</b> He <b>did</b> (His work, His blood poured out for us upon the cross). As we relate to Jesus in this manner, we are finding our spiritual sustenance in Him. Thus, we <b>abide</b> in <b>Him</b> and <b>He</b> in <b>us</b>.</p>
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<p>Of course, the <b>Holy Spirit</b> would participate fully in this process. <i>"At <b>that day</b> you will <b>know</b> that I am in My Father, and <b>you in Me</b>, and <b>I in you</b>."</i> Jesus was leaving His disciples soon to return to the Father. So, He comforted them. <i>"I will <b>not</b> leave you <b>orphans</b>; I <b>will come to you</b>. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. <b>Because I live, you will live also</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',14,18,19);">John 14:18-19</a>). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured forth in fullness and power. Now, the <b>Spirit</b> would make the very <b>life</b> of <b>Jesus</b> available to <b>all</b> of His followers. As they <b>trusted</b> in <b>Him</b>, <b>Christ</b> would <b>live</b> in and through <b>their lives</b>.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord of life, help me to learn to live this way—me living in You, and You living in me. Help me to see it is as simple as eating and drinking. As I trust food and drink for my physical life, I want to trust in who You are and what You have done for my spiritual life, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0407.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0409.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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