Daily Devotion - Page 25

Boanerges · 07-03-2008, 01:26 PM

July 3

The Father Promising His Messiah as a Covenant
I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people. (Isa_42:6)
Once again, multiple promises reveal God's plan and guarantee His purposes. These promises are actually being made from God, the Father, to His Messiah, the anointed King (who is God, the Son). The promises show that the Messiah would be the new covenant of grace for His people.
In the opening words, the Father is describing the call of His Messiah (later referred to as "My Servant" — Isa_49:6). "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness." Also, the Father is promising full participation in His Messiah's mission. "I, the LORD . . . will hold Your hand; I will keep You." This would be essential, because the Messiah would go forth as a humble, dependent Servant ("My Servant"): "taking the form of a servant . . . He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Phi_2:7-8).
Then, the Father offers this great promise of Christ's primary role in going forth to earth. "I will . . . give You as a covenant to the people." Jesus Christ Himself would be given to God's people as His new covenant with them. The new covenant of grace was supplanting the old covenant of law. Yet, it was not just a matter of new terms being prescribed. Rather, a Person was being given, and He Himself would be the sum and substance of the covenant. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . full of grace and truth" (Joh_1:14).
This new covenant of grace that God has for His people is all related to a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He Himself is the embodiment of all that the new covenant promises. In the new covenant, the Lord promises righteousness. This righteousness is found in a Person. " 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS' " (Jer_23:5-6). Peace is promised in this covenant of grace. This peace is also found in a Person. "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace" (Eph_2:13-14). Yes, all that the Lord promises by grace is entered into initially, and continually, by a humble, dependent relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Father, I praise You for Your grace. I rejoice that the provisions of grace are not about performance or procedure, but are about developing a relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ!

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-04-2008, 03:24 PM

July 4

God Promising the Gentiles to His Messiah
I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles . . . It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. (Isa_42:6 and Isa_49:6)
As we have seen, God, the Father, promised to give Jesus, the Messiah, to His people as the new covenant of grace. "I, the LORD . . . will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people." Thus, all of the resources of God's grace are only available through relationship with Christ. Furthermore, the Father promised that His covenant of grace through his Son would extend to all the Gentile nations: "that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth."
It is clear that the Messiah's mission would initially be to the house of Israel, to the Jewish people. " 'Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness' " (Jer_33:14-15). Jesus' initial instructions to His disciples were in line with this truth. "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: 'Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' " (Mat_10:5-6).
Yet, God's promises were much larger than solely reaching His chosen people, Israel. "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel." God wanted His light to shine out into the nations. "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles." The Father wanted His saving grace to extend throughout the world: "that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth."
At the appropriate time, Jesus also instructed His followers in the world-wide dimensions of His mission. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature . . . that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem . . . But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Mat_28:19; Mar_16:15; Luk_24:47; and Act_1:8)

O Lord God, how extensive are Your promises. I thank You that they reached to me. Yet, I need my thinking to be enlarged by Your promises. Transform my vision and my prayers to include the entire world, in Jesus name, Amen.

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-07-2008, 12:11 AM

Sorry for not posting yesterdays devotions as I was tending to sick family members.

Boanerges · 07-07-2008, 12:11 AM

July 5

Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth . . . There is nothing too hard for You . . . Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? (Jer_32:17, Jer_32:27)
In a few brief days, we have meditated upon many of the strategic promises of God. When considering promises, the ability of the one making the promises is a vital concern. If we examine God's ability and His promises with an open heart, growth in faith will always be the result. Here, God's ability is explained by His role in creation and by His rule over mankind.
How able is God to fulfill His promises? Well, Jeremiah saw the implications of God being the creator of the universe. "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You." Whatever the Lord promises to do has behind it His ability to create everything that has ever existed. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen_1:1). He was able to do this merely by His spoken word. "God said, 'Let there be light; and there was light' " . . . "Then God said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters . . . and it was so' " (Gen_1:3, 6-7). The Psalmist understood the proper response to such a great God. "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth . . . Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" (Psa_33:6, Psa_33:8-9). When our God, the creator of heaven and earth, speaks forth His promises, we should bow before Him and say with Jeremiah, "There is nothing too hard for You."
The Lord later added a perspective for Jeremiah that should intensify our appreciation of His ability. "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? " Our God not only created the universe, He is the ruler of all of humanity. The Psalmist also saw this truth. "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations" (Psa_33:10-11). When our God, the ruler of all nations, addresses His promises to us, we can respond rhetorically, "Is there anything too hard for [Him] ?"

Ah, Lord God, You are the creator of all the universe, and You are the ruler of all mankind. Surely, You are able to do everything that You have ever promised. Nothing is too difficult for you!

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-07-2008, 12:12 AM

July 6

More on God's Ability and His Promises
With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible . . . For with God nothing will be impossible. (Mat_19:26 and Luk_1:37)
God's ability has a critical relationship with His promises. The greater we see His ability, the more sure we are of His promises. Man's ability is one of the basic reasons we generally doubt his promises. This is one of the significant differences between God's promises and man's promises. Man's ability often runs into human impossibilities. The Lord is not limited by "the "impossibility factor." This truth is reflected in two stories of "seeming impossibilities" that lie behind our present verses.
A young rich man came to Jesus, seeking salvation. "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? " (Mat_19:16). Jesus quoted the law to stir conviction of need. The rich man wrongly thought he was performing well. "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack? " (Mat_19:20). Jesus identified with precision the man's basic sin, putting money ahead of the Lord. "Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Mat_19:21). However, the rich young man would not put Jesus ahead of his riches. "When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (Mat_19:22). Jesus then elaborated on the man's difficult situation. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Mat_19:24). The disciples (who wrongly assumed that rich men were the most likely to be saved) wondered how anyone could then be saved. Jesus corrected their faulty thinking. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Mat_19:24). Later, Jesus demonstrated God can even save a rich man (Zacchaeus — see Luk_19:1-10).
Our second story concerns the "impossible births" of Jesus and John, the Baptist. When the angel proclaimed to Mary that she would have a child before she even knew a man in marriage, she was initially staggered by the impossibility of it all. "How can this be, since I do not know a man? " (Luk_1:34). The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you." (Luk_1:35). Then, the angel announced that Elizabeth (Mary's elderly, barren relative) was now pregnant. Finally, the angel summarized Jesus' divine conception and Elizabeth's miraculous pregnancy with the heavenly explanation. "For with God nothing will be impossible."

Dear Lord, You are able to do much more than put camels through eyes of needles. You are able to get sinners forgiven and into heaven. Lord, Your ability to do the impossible assures the certainty of Your promises, so I trust in Your word, Amen.

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-07-2008, 06:08 PM

July 7

Even More on God's Ability and His Promises
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace . . . Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Dan_3:17 and Jud_1:24)
The basic subject matter in this section of our meditations on growing in the grace of God pertains to the promises of God. Living by the promises of God is just another way to consider living by the grace of God. Again, our present verses speak of the ability of God. The more our understanding grows concerning what God is able to do, the more extensively will we trust in His promises.
Three young Israelites (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) gave powerful testimony of the ability of God. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the people to engage in idolatry, under threat of severe consequences. "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn . . . you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (Dan_3:4-6). The three young men had a bold answer, based on the ability of God. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." They did not bow down, so they were thrown into the blazing furnace. Yet, the Lord demonstrated His ability on their behalf. When the king looked into the furnace, he exclaimed, "Look! . . . I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Dan_3:25). Yes, God proved able to deliver them.
Hundreds of years later, Jude addressed God's ability regarding two other important arenas. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." This aspect of God's ability offers assurance that God can keep His people from stumbling while on earth and present them faultless when they reach heaven. We all know our own capacity to stumble spiritually into transgression or compromise. We also struggle with the condemnations of the enemy that rob us of expectation to eventually stand before our Lord in glory fully forgiven, cleansed, and transformed. Our God is able to work effectively in both arenas for all who humbly trust in Him.

Lord, how able You are! You are able to deliver us from the threatening situations of life. You are able to keep us from stumbling into sin. You are able to present us faultless before You some day in heaven. Lord, Your great ability encourages me to humbly depend upon Your many promises!

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-08-2008, 03:23 AM

July 8

Still More on God's Ability and His Promises
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2Ti_1:12)
A growing appreciation of God's ability produces in us an increasing tendency to rely upon God's promises. In this present meditation, we will be reminded of how relationship with the Lord is always at the heart of the Christian life.
The setting for Paul's "one verse testimony" was the suffering that he was experiencing. "For this reason I also suffer these things. " The reason he suffered was related to his calling to preach the gospel, "to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles" (2Ti_1:11). When the Lord first called Paul to serve Him in the good news of grace, his future sufferings were addressed. "I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Act_9:16). Suffering is inevitable while serving God in an ungodly world. Jesus Himself was our example. "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (1Pe_2:21).
Although Paul suffered, he was not shamed by his suffering. "Nevertheless I am not ashamed. " If our suffering is for godly reasons, we likewise do not need to be ashamed. "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter" (1Pe_4:16). The faith that Paul had to endure sufferings properly came from His growing relationship with Jesus. "For I know whom I have believed. " Since he originally believed in the Lord, Paul had become increasingly acquainted with Him. A wonderful consequence of increased intimacy with Christ is that we become increasingly convinced of His ability. "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able. " This conviction covered every matter that Paul entrusted into the care of His Master. "He is able to keep what I have committed to Him. " Also, it covered every day right up until the return of the Lord: "until that Day. " Again, Jesus left us a similar example. He committed His daily situations into the hands of His able heavenly Father: "When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1Pe_2:23).

Dear heavenly Father, again I see that it is all about relationship. As Jesus related to You in His day by day living, I want to relate to Jesus. Lord Jesus, help me to know You more and more. This is how You want to persuade me of Your ability to fulfill Your promises. Lord, I have many sufferings that I need to trust You to handle, from now until You return for me. In Your mighty name I pray, Amen.

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-09-2008, 01:43 PM

July 9

Once More on God's Ability and His Promises
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . . (Eph_3:20)
These opening words from one of the most well-known benedictions in all of the New Testament offers a unique opportunity to consider God's ability, as related to His promises. How able is God? He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. " Could we possibly ask for more than God has already promised? Could we properly think greater things than God has promised? Well, let's reflect upon some of the promises of God that we have already considered.
We have seen that God promised to make a mighty nation with world-wide blessings from one man, Abraham. "I will make you a great nation . . . and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen_12:2-3). God also promised to deliver His people from bondage into an abundant land. "I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt . . . to a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exo_3:17). He also promised to fight for His people. "The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you" (Deu_1:30). Additionally, God promised an eternal kingdom for his people, through the line of David. "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever" (2Sa_7:16). Further, God promised that His Messiah would sit on that eternal throne. "A Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him" (Isa_11:1-2). Moreover, God promised that Messiah would be a unique King. "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench" (Isa_42:3). Ultimately, the Father promised that the Messiah Himself (Jesus) would be the new covenant of grace. "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will . . . give You as a covenant to the people" (Isa_42:6). Correspondingly, the Lord promised that this covenant of grace would provide forgiveness of sins ("I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more" — Jer_31:34), intimacy with God ("They all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them" — Jer_31:34), and an inner work of God to change us from the inside out ("I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts" — Jer_31:33).
Certainly, we could not ask or think beyond these promises. Yet, our God is able to do far beyond these extraordinary matters. What confidence this gives us regarding God's promises, as well as every prayer we offer based on these promises!

Almighty God, how often I underestimate Your ability and thereby end up doubting Your promises. Lord, I praise You that You are able to do far beyond my prayers or thoughts — and every promise that You have ever made!

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-10-2008, 01:38 PM

July 10

God Promising Eternal Life
And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life. (1Jo_2:25)
We have examined a number of strategic promises from God in the Old Testament. We have also considered how a growing awareness of God's ability builds our faith in His promises. Now, let's begin to examine some of the promises that God has made in the New Testament.
The first promise that we will look at could actually be called "the promise of all promises," as far as that which impacts man the most. This promise is the culmination of all the others. " And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life. " As in human life, eternal life has a quantitative aspect (related to duration) and a qualitative aspect (related to substance).
The quantitative aspect of eternal life pertains to the fact that it never ends. Consequently, it is sometimes translated as everlasting. "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (Joh_6:40). As humans, who begin natural life, limited to a brief number of years, the thought of a never-ending life is overwhelming. Yet, as amazing as the quantitative side of eternal life is, the qualitative side is even more stupendous.
Jesus spoke of the qualitative aspect of eternal life. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (Joh_10:10). This would be a life in which the fullness of Jesus' grace was being increasingly manifested. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . . full of grace and truth . . . And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for (upon) grace" (John 1:14, 16). This would be a life in which the Holy Spirit was being trusted to produce Christlike characteristics in an increasing manner. "But the fruit of gentleness, self-control" (Gal_5:22-23). This would be a life in which we could not be the source of sufficiency, but God would be. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2Co_3:5).
Appropriately, this eternal life is offered to man as a gift. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, in Christ Jesus our Lord . . . And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (Rom_6:23 and Joh_10:28). Necessarily, this gift can only be received by faith: "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (Joh_3:15).

O gracious Lord, what a wondrous gift is ours through faith — eternal life! I praise You that it will never end. I seek You that it may grow abundant in and through me. This I pray for Your glory and honor, Amen.

Bob Hoekstra

Boanerges · 07-11-2008, 02:21 PM

July 11

More on the Promise of Eternal Life
And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life . . . And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (1Jo_2:25 and 1Jo_5:11)
We previously referred to the promise of eternal life as "the promise of all promises" (regarding its impact upon man). Thus, we will give it additional attention. We saw that eternal life (everlasting life) has both a quantitative aspect (lasting forever) and a qualitative aspect (growing in fullness). Also, eternal life is a gift of God's grace, which is received in humble faith. There are other distinctives of eternal life that are very edifying to contemplate.
The gift of eternal life is to be possessed now, not just awaiting us in eternity. "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life . . . Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life . . . Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life" (Joh_3:36; Joh_5:24; Joh_6:47). Those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus already have eternal life here on earth. Furthermore, that reality can be embraced with assurance. "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1Jo_5:11-13). Eternal life is innate to Jesus Christ. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life" (Joh_11:25; Joh_14:6). He is the life. All who have trusted in the Lord Jesus have Him dwelling in their lives. Therefore, they are assured of having eternal life.
In addition to granting us assurance, these verses emphasize the most profound aspect of eternal life. The realities of that life are all related to Jesus. "I am the resurrection and the life . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life . . . God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (Joh_11:25; Joh_14:6). In order to grow on that life, one must only pursue a growing relationship with the one who has the life. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent . . . but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (Joh_17:3 and 2Pe_3:18).

Dear Lord, I rejoice that Christ dwells within my life. Therefore, with full assurance I know that eternal life is my present possession. Now, I desire to grow in the fullness of that life, so I set my heart to know You better. Please reveal Yourself to me more and more through Your holy word, Amen.

Bob Heokstra

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