37 lines
4.3 KiB
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37 lines
4.3 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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November 30
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<h1>The Observable Nature of the Grace of God</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>The hand of the Lord was with them, and a <b>great</b> number <b>believed</b> and <b>turned to</b> the <b>Lord</b>. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had <b>seen</b> the <b>grace</b> of <b>God</b>, he was <b>glad</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 11, '21-23');">Acts 11:21-23</a>)</div>
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<p>Fundamentally, the work of God's grace takes place within human hearts. <i>"It is good that the <b>heart</b> be <b>established</b> by <b>grace</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr', 13, '9-9');">Hebrews 13:9</a>). Yet, whenever grace is at work in lives, visible indicators inevitably appear: <i>"When he came and had <b>seen</b> the <b>grace</b> of <b>God</b>."</i> This statement raises for our consideration the <b>observable nature of the grace of God</b>.</p>
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<p>After Stephen was stoned by the religious leaders, an expansive persecution arose. God used this widespread difficulty to extend the proclamation of the gospel. <i>"Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, <b>preaching the word</b> to no one but the Jews only"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 11, '19-19');">Acts 11:19</a>). Others began to reach out to those whose background was Grecian. <i>"But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, <b>spoke</b> to the <b>Hellenists</b>, <b>preaching</b> the <b>Lord Jesus</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act', 11, '20-20');">Acts 11:20</a>). God used them to touch many lives. <i>"The hand of the Lord was with them, and a <b>great</b> number <b>believed</b> and <b>turned to</b> the <b>Lord</b>."</i> Word of this spiritual harvest soon reached Jerusalem. <i>"Then <b>news</b> of these things came to the ears of the <b>church</b> in <b>Jerusalem</b>, and they <b>sent</b> out <b>Barnabas</b> to go as far as Antioch."</i> So, Barnabas traveled to Antioch, where the first great Gentile church was being birthed. When he arrived, the invisible was being made visible: <i>"When he came and had <b>seen</b> the <b>grace</b> of <b>God</b>."</i> It was <b>obvious</b> to Barnabas that <b>God</b> had been <b>working</b> by His <b>grace</b>. Souls were being saved. The saved were growing in godliness.</p>
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<p>What Barnabas saw was undoubtedly similar to the spiritual phenomenon that had occurred in the church at Colosse. When the gospel was embraced there, it clearly impacted lives: <i>"the <b>truth</b> of the <b>gospel</b>, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is <b>bringing forth fruit</b>, as it is also among you since the day you <b>heard</b> and <b>knew</b> the <b>grace</b> of <b>God</b> in <b>truth</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Col', 1, '5-6');">Colossians 1:5-6</a>). In Colosse, the outward effects of the inward work of the grace of God was spiritual fruit. When Barnabas saw this same process unfolding in Antioch, <i>"he was <b>glad</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I praise You that Your grace has given me a new spiritual heart. Now I ask You to impact my heart deeply by Your grace. I pray that the visible evidences of grace will be seen by all who observe my life. May it bring gladness to them and honor to You, Amen.</div>
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