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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace &#8212; Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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October 7
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<h1>Jesus, the Ultimate Example of Faith</h1>
<div class="block"><i>And now the <b>LORD</b> says, who formed <b>Me</b> from the womb to be <b>His Servant</b>&#8230;(for I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and <b>My God</b> shall be <b>My strength</b>)&#8230;Thus says the <b>LORD</b>: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation <b>I have helped You</b>; <b>I will preserve You</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Isa', 49, '5-5');">Isaiah 49:5</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Isa', 49, 8);">8</a>)</div>
<p>Numerous times throughout these hundreds of meditations, we have examined the relationship of "<b>humility and faith</b>" to "<b>growing in grace</b>." Such repeated opportunities assist us in apprehending the means of living day by day by grace. <i>"God resists the proud, but gives <b>grace</b> to the <b>humble</b>&#8230;we have <b>access by faith</b> into this <b>grace</b> in which we stand"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jam', 4, '6-6');">James 4:6</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Rom', 5, '2-2');">Romans 5:2</a>). For a number of days, we have been considering <b>humility</b> and grace. In a recent meditation, we saw that <b>Jesus</b> is the <b>ultimate</b> example of <b>humility</b>. Now, we begin to give considerable attention to <b>faith</b> and grace. Concerning faith, we begin where we left off with humility&mdash;with Jesus as our example. Again, we will see that <b>Jesus is the ultimate example of faith</b>.</p>
<p>Our present verses are a prophecy involving the Father and His Son, the Servant Messiah, who would go forth to provide God's gift of salvation. <i>"And now the <b>LORD</b> says, who formed <b>Me</b> from the womb to be <b>His Servant</b>."</i> An angel would eventually announce this prophecy as coming to fulfillment. <i>"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is <b>conceived</b> in her is of the <b>Holy Spirit</b>. And she will bring forth a <b>Son</b>, and you shall call His name <b>Jesus</b>, for He will save His people from their sins"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Mat', 1, '20-21');">Matthew 1:20-21</a>). The confession of the Messiah is also given here prophetically. <i>"<b>My God</b> shall be <b>My strength</b>."</i> When the Son would leave heaven for His incarnation, He would function by faith in the Father. The Father's reassuring words affirm this trust in Him. <i>"Thus says the <b>LORD</b>: 'In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation <b>I have helped You</b>; <b>I will preserve You</b>.'"</i></p>
<p>The fact that Jesus lived by faith in His Father was a part of His own teaching ministry. <i>"Most assuredly, I say to you, the <b>Son</b> can do <b>nothing</b> of <b>Himself</b>, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever <b>He</b> does, the <b>Son also</b> does in like manner"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 5, '19-19');">John 5:19</a>). Herein, Jesus (who had laid aside the independent exercise of His deity) was exemplifying how man should live in <b>humble dependence</b> upon the <b>faithfulness</b> of <b>God</b>.</p>
<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Savior, I humble myself before You, expressing my desire to grow in grace. I know that faith accesses grace. Lord, please teach me to place my faith in You, just as You fully relied upon the Father, Amen.</div>
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