38 lines
4.5 KiB
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38 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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October 11
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<h1>Great Blessings through Living by Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Therefore do not cast away your <b>confidence</b>, which has <b>great reward</b>. For you have need of <b>endurance</b>, so that after you have <b>done</b> the <b>will</b> of <b>God</b>, you may receive the <b>promise</b>: "For yet a little while, And <b>He</b> who is coming <b>will come</b> and will <b>not tarry</b>. Now the <b>just shall live by faith</b>; but if anyone <b>draws back</b>, My soul has <b>no pleasure</b> in him." But <b>we</b> are <b>not</b> of those who draw back to perdition, <b>but</b> of those who <b>believe</b> to the <b>saving</b> of the <b>soul</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 10, '35-39');">Hebrews 10:35-39</a>)</div>
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<p>Our present verses include the third time that Habakkuk's pronouncement on <b>living by faith</b> is repeated in the New Testament. <i>"The <b>just shall live by his faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hab', 2, '4-4');">Habakkuk 2:4</a>). In <a onClick="return mV('Rom', 1, '17-17');">Romans 1:17</a>, it was connected with the gospel of Christ. In <a onClick="return mV('Gal', 3, '12-12');">Galatians 3:12</a>, it was contrasted with living under the law. Here, it is seen as the pathway to <b>great blessings</b>, such as: spiritual <b>endurance</b>, God-pleasing <b>obedience</b>, and pressing ahead in <b>assurance</b>.</p>
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<p>The opening exhortation warns about forsaking bold dependence upon the Lord. <i>"Therefore do not cast away your <b>confidence</b>, which has <b>great reward</b>."</i> The loss of great blessing is the reason given. The Lord wants us to trust in Him without wavering, from the beginning of faith to the end of our earthly pilgrimage. This makes us consistent partakers of the blessings of grace that are ours in Christ. <i>"For we have become <b>partakers</b> of Christ if we hold the <b>beginning</b> of our <b>confidence steadfast</b> to the <b>end</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 3, '14-14');">Hebrews 3:14</a>).</p>
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<p>These blessings include endurance. <i>"For you have need of <b>endurance</b>."</i> The Christian life requires spiritual stamina. The journey of growth, trials, service, and battle can become wearisome. We can be tempted to slack off, to quit pressing ahead. Such is always vain thinking for us, and it is displeasing to the Lord. <i>"If anyone <b>draws back</b>, My soul has <b>no pleasure</b> in him."</i> It is by faith that we persevere in the Christian race. <i>"Let us <b>run</b> with <b>endurance</b> the <b>race</b> that is set before us, <b>looking unto Jesus</b>, the <b>author</b> and <b>finisher</b> of our <b>faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 12, '1-2');">Hebrews 12:1-2</a>).</p>
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<p>Also, these blessings of faith include obedience and assurance. <i>"You have need of endurance, so that after you have <b>done</b> the <b>will</b> of <b>God</b>, you may <b>receive</b> the <b>promise</b>."</i> As we walk by faith, we are enabled to do God's will. Walking in obedience with Christ builds assurance that we will some day be in the presence of the Lord. <i>"For yet a little while, And <b>He</b> who is coming <b>will come</b> and will <b>not tarry</b>."</i> As we grow in faith, we can be assured that our profession will not be in vain. <i>"Now the <b>just shall live by faith</b>… <b>we</b> are <b>not</b> of those who draw back to perdition <b>but</b> of those who <b>believe</b> to the <b>saving</b> of the <b>soul</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Father, I need more spiritual stamina. I desire to please You by obedience. I long to walk in more assurance. I praise You that all this is ours in Christ, by faith, Amen.</div>
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