37 lines
4.2 KiB
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37 lines
4.2 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 27
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<h1>Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>These all <b>died</b> in <b>faith</b>, <b>not</b> having <b>received</b> the promises, <b>but</b> having <b>seen</b> them <b>afar off</b> were <b>assured</b> of them, <b>embraced</b> them, and <b>confessed</b> that they were <b>strangers</b> and <b>pilgrims</b> on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they <b>seek</b> a <b>homeland</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '13-14');">Hebrews 11:13-14</a>)</div>
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<p>We looked at Sarah's testimony in Hebrews previously (in the meditation on God's promises on August 8). Now, we will move on to consider a strategic facet of Abraham's testimony regarding his <b>obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith</b>. Therein, we saw him traveling through life on earth as an alien, a stranger (in the world, but not of it). Now, we will see <b>Abraham's patient, heavenly pilgrimage, by faith</b>. His previous testimony concluded with this pilgrimage theme: <i>"For he <b>waited</b> for the <b>city</b> which has <b>foundations</b>, whose <b>builder</b> and <b>maker</b> is <b>God</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 11, '10-10');">Hebrews 11:10</a>). Early in the present continuing testimony, the two themes are coupled. <i>"They were <b>strangers</b> and <b>pilgrims</b> on the earth."</i> A <b>stranger</b> (sojourner) is one who does <b>not belong</b> to the given locale. The <b>pilgrim</b> is one who is <b>marching</b> toward a given <b>spiritual destination</b>.</p>
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<p>Abraham and his family (Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob) were promised the land flowing with milk and honey. <i>"These all <b>died</b> in <b>faith</b>, <b>not</b> having <b>received</b> the promises."</i> They did not personally possess the promised land. Yet, they lived with a sense of guaranty that God would fulfill His promises: <i>"<b>but</b> having <b>seen</b> them <b>afar off</b> were <b>assured</b> of them, <b>embraced</b> them."</i> They fully accepted the certainty that the Lord would some day give that land to their seed. Meanwhile, they confessed that they were content to live as strangers concerning this world and as pilgrims anticipating the world to come: <i>"and <b>confessed</b> that they were <b>strangers</b> and <b>pilgrims</b> on the earth."</i></p>
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<p>Now, the pilgrimage aspect of Abraham's testimony (and his family's) is emphasized. <i>"For those who say such things declare plainly that they <b>seek</b> a <b>homeland</b>."</i> As the years passed and the promised land was not given to them, their hearts yearned for a true, lasting, eternal homeland. <i>"For those who say such things declare plainly that they <b>seek</b> a <b>homeland</b>."</i> God wants to develop this perspective of heavenly pilgrimage in our hearts as well. <i>"Beloved, I beg you as <b>sojourners</b> and <b>pilgrims</b>, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('1Pe', 2, '11-11');">1 Peter 2:11</a>). The Lord wants us to set our daily course toward heaven, rejecting earthly cravings that diminish spiritual vitality.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Father God, You have fulfilled so many promises for me here on this earth. I praise You and thank You for such loving grace. Still, my heart yearns for that which heaven alone can provide. Thus, I press on as a pilgrim, bound for my homeland above.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/10/1026.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/10/1028.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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