43 lines
4.2 KiB
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43 lines
4.2 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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August 14
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<h1>Coming to the Lord for Edifying Grace</h1>
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<div class="block"><i><b>Coming to Him</b> as to a <b>living stone</b>, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, <b>you also</b>, as <b>living stones</b>, are <b>being built up</b> a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 2, '4-5');">1 Peter 2:4-5</a>)</div>
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<p><b>Coming to Jesus</b> habitually for the <b>grace</b> that we need <b>daily</b> is at the <b>heart</b> of <b>growing in grace</b>. These closing verses of our previous meditation provide a profound example of this <b>relational emphasis</b> in the Christian life. The spiritual impact in view here is edification: <i>"<b>being built up</b>."</i> As we saw earlier, God's grace is the edifying resource for our lives. <i>"And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of <b>His grace</b>, which is <b>able</b> to <b>build you up</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 20, '32-32');">Acts 20:32</a>). Now we will look at the <b>relational path</b> that God has designed for accessing that edifying grace.</p>
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<p>Jesus is likened here to a <i>"living <b>stone</b>."</i> He is solid and reliable, like a rock. Yet, a rock is lifeless, insensitive, unresponsive. Jesus is a <i>"<b>living</b> stone."</i> He is alive, tender, lovingly responsive. The Lord wants to build us up to be like Him (solid and stable, yet loving and caring). The Lord's way to build us up <i>"as <b>living stones</b>"</i> is to call us to an ongoing process of coming to Himself: <i>"<b>Coming to Him</b> as to a <b>living stone</b>…<b>you also</b>, as <b>living stones</b>, are <b>being built up</b>."</i> In order to practically grow <i>"as <b>living stones</b>,"</i> we must be coming to the one who already is innately what He wants us to become. He alone can provide what is needed in our lives.</p>
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<p>How do we come to Jesus in this manner? Well, again, it is a matter of <b>relating</b> to Him. When we get into the word of God, we are not merely looking for more biblical information. <b>Jesus</b> is the one we are to be <b>seeking</b>. When we are praying, we are not merely "saying our prayers." <b>Jesus</b> is the one <b>in whose name</b> we are praying and whose <b>will</b> and <b>work</b> we are seeking. When we are worshiping, we are not merely singing songs, we are singing to the <b>Lord Himself</b>. When we are going forth in ministry, we are not merely carrying out a valid task. We are <b>looking to the Lord</b> for <b>enablement</b>, while <b>desiring</b> to <b>please</b> and <b>honor Him</b>.</p>
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<p>The more we come to Jesus in this way, to that extent His <b>edifying grace</b> will be building us up <i>"a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, You are the true living stone, stable and
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loving. So often I am unstable and unloving. I need to be built
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up as a living stone. I need to be more like You. Lord, help me
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to come to You daily, habitually. When I am studying the
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Scriptures, praying, worshiping, or serving, help me to seek
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You in and through it all, in Your mighty name I pray, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/08/0813.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/08/0815.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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