37 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
37 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 14
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<h1>More on the Source of Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>And <b>His name</b>, through <b>faith</b> in <b>His name</b>, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the <b>faith</b> which <b>comes through Him</b> has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 3, '16-16');">Acts 3:16</a>)</div>
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<p>The path of discipleship can only be traveled by <b>faith</b> (by trusting in our unseen Lord). Progress can never be made by sight (by relying upon that which our human senses can gather and process). <i>"We <b>walk</b> by <b>faith</b>, <b>not</b> by <b>sight</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr', 5, '7-7');">2 Corinthians 5:7</a>). Therefore, it is vital that we understand where we must go for the source of our faith: <i>"Looking unto <b>Jesus</b>, the <b>author</b> and <b>finisher</b> of our <b>faith</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 12, '2-2');">Hebrews 12:2</a>). <b>Jesus</b> is <b>the source of faith</b>. The Scriptures often expound upon this fundamental truth.</p>
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<p>This truth was again declared when the lame man was healed at the temple gate. This miracle occurred when two of the Lord's disciples were going to the temple in Jerusalem to pray. <i>"Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 3, '1-1');">Acts 3:1</a>). A crippled man requested a gift. <i>"And a certain man <b>lame</b> from his mother's <b>womb</b> was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful… asked for alms"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 3, '2-3');">Acts 3:2-3</a>). Peter and John had no money to give, but they offered far more than the man had sought. <i>"Then Peter said, '<b>Silver</b> and <b>gold</b> I do <b>not</b> have, but <b>what</b> I <b>do</b> have I <b>give</b> you: In the <b>name</b> of <b>Jesus Christ</b> of Nazareth, <b>rise</b> up and <b>walk</b>'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 3, '6-6');">Acts 3:6</a>). They offered this man healing in the name of Jesus Christ. <i>"And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones <b>received strength</b>. So he, <b>leaping</b> up, <b>stood</b> and <b>walked</b> and entered the temple with them—<b>walking</b>, <b>leaping</b>, and <b>praising</b> God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 3, '7-8');">Acts 3:7-8</a>). The miracle was extensive. The lame man was not only <b>strengthened</b> to <b>walk</b>, he was also <b>enabled</b> to <b>leap</b> and <b>stirred</b> to give <b>exuberant praise</b> unto the Lord.</p>
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<p>As an astonished crowd gathered, Peter explained how the miracle was related to the name of Jesus. <i>"And <b>His name</b>, through <b>faith</b> in <b>His name</b>, has made this man strong, whom you see and know."</i> The name of Jesus referred to His person and His power (that is, all that Jesus was and all that He was able to do). This demonstration of Jesus' power was experienced through faith in His name (that is, reliance upon who He was and what He could do). Then, Peter explained the source of such faith. <i>"Yes, the <b>faith</b> which <b>comes through Him</b> has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."</i> Jesus is the source of faith. Those who know Jesus to be a wonder-working Lord will trust Him to do extraordinary things.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O glorious Lord, I see many matters that only You can handle—problems in the world, needs in the churches, difficulties threatening loved ones, burdens in my life. I trust in Your name. Please show again who You are and what You alone can do, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/10/1013.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/10/1015.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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