25 lines
4.1 KiB
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25 lines
4.1 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">April 28</div></div>
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<h2>Godly Sincerity in General</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>We conducted ourselves in the world in <b>simplicity</b> and <b>godly sincerity</b>, not with <b>fleshly wisdom</b> but by the <b>grace of God</b>, and more abundantly toward you.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',1,12);">2 Corinthians 1:12</a>)</div>
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<p>God not only wants our lives <b>characterized</b> with <b>godly sincerity</b> toward <b>His word</b>, He desires to <b>mark</b> our lives with godly sincerity <b>in general</b>. <i>"We conducted ourselves <b>in the world</b> in <b>simplicity</b> and <b>godly sincerity</b>…and more abundantly <b>toward you</b>."</i> As the Apostle Paul and his missionary team evangelized throughout the known world, and as they ministered among the churches, they functioned in both arenas with <b>simple</b>, <b>Christlike genuineness</b>.</p>
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<p>The world is filled with pretense and attention to outward appearances. Many within the Lord's church have yielded to temptation in these directions. The flesh of each of us is enticed to develop an exterior image that does not match what is going on inside. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for such an attitude. <i>"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, <b>hypocrites</b>! For you <b>devour</b> widows' houses, and for a <b>pretense</b> make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat',23,14);">Matthew 23:14</a>). These men were actually taking advantage of helpless widows. Yet, they stood in public and made long prayers, hoping to be considered as godly in the eyes of the people.</p>
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<p>Their hypocrisy was not only a matter of observable, contradictory behaviors, but the very core of their being was drastically different from what they appeared to be outwardly. <i>"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, <b>hypocrites</b>! For you are like <b>whitewashed tombs</b> which indeed <b>appear</b> beautiful <b>outwardly</b>, but <b>inside</b> are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also <b>outwardly</b> appear <b>righteous</b> to men, but <b>inside</b> you are <b>full of hypocrisy</b> and lawlessness"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat',23,27,28);">Matthew 23:27-28</a>).</p>
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<p>Our Lord loves sincerity and hates hypocrisy. Still, it takes the working of God's grace to effect the sincerity that God desires. <i>"We conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, <b>not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God</b>."</i> Human ingenuity cannot produce the genuineness that God wants to see in our lives. God's <b>grace</b> is the only sufficient resource to bring about this <b>godly characteristic</b> of life. God's <b>grace</b> works <b>within</b> our <b>hearts</b>, where <b>true sincerity</b> must be formed. <i>"First <b>cleanse</b> the <b>inside</b> of the cup and dish, that the <b>outside</b> of them may be clean <b>also</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat',23,26);">Matthew 23:26</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I humble myself before You. I do not want to be a hypocrite. Work in the depths of my heart by Your mighty grace to create in me godly sincerity, through Christ I pray, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0427.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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