Day By Day By Grace
Bob Hoekstra
May 23, 2009
Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)
As earthen vessels, we are to live by trusting in the treasure (the Lord Jesus) who dwells within us: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Also, we are to give Him all honor and glory as He sustains us day by day through the trials of life: "that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." In addition, to help us magnify the treasure who lives in us, there is to be an attitude (an outlook) carried about (embraced) by the earthen vessels.
The particular attitude that results in magnifying the treasure is the perspective we hold concerning the death of Christ: "Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." This is about dying in order to live. Jesus taught this. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it" (Luke 9:24). Those who hold on to the life they received from Adam lose what they are trying to guard and develop. They never find true life. However, all who renounce their sinful natural life and trust in Jesus find a new life from Him. This is the attitude that followers of Christ are to carry with them. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Day by day, our perspective is to include a rejection of any life that we could produce on our own ("deny himself"). We are to agree with God that the self life always deserves the cross of Christ ("take up his cross daily"). This leaves us with only one option: pursue after Jesus for the life He alone can provide ("and follow Me").
Such confessions are in harmony with what actually happened to us at the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism (that is, through identification) into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). When we placed our trust in the Lord, His death and resurrection became our death and resurrection! This is to be our confidence continually. "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:11).
When we carry about this attitude, we are actually trusting the Lord Jesus (the treasure who dwells within us) to live in and through our "earthen vessels," our humanity: "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
Dear Lord, I want to carry about with me Your dying. I want to embrace all that Your cross proclaims and provides. Thank You for dying in my place. I rejoice that I died there with You. Now, I ask You to live in and through me day by day, Amen.
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Friday, 22 May 2009
The Process that Magnifies the Treasure
Day By Day By Grace
Bob Hoekstra
May 22, 2009
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)
New covenant servants (followers of Jesus Christ) are "earthen vessels" (ordinary clay pots). Yet, in the container of their redeemed humanity dwells "this treasure" (the Son of God Himself). This arrangement calls for the treasure (Jesus), not the vessels (you and me), to be the object of all trust and the recipient of all glory: "that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." Appropriately, the Lord has also arranged a process that magnifies the treasure.
This process involves the every day pressures of life, which come from all sides. "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed." Clay pots cannot withstand much pressure, but the treasure within us (Christ) is able to keep us from being smashed. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1)
The process that draws attention to the treasure also involves many perplexities. "We are perplexed, but not in despair." We face difficult decisions and impossible issues, but our Wonderful Counselor protects us from hopelessness: "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).
Persecutions are included in the process: "persecuted, but not forsaken." People accuse us, misunderstand us, or lie about us. Still, we know we are not abandoned by our Lord who lives within us. "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5).
Even catastrophes are a part of the process that magnifies the treasure who indwells us: "struck down, but not destroyed." Circumstantial upheavals and overwhelming heartaches occur, but the Lord stabilizes our souls. "They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support" (Psalm 18:18).
Thus, life comes at us like an overpowering military tank, ready to flatten us. There is no natural hope, because clay pots can't handle tanks. Yet, as the dust clears, the flower pot of our lives can remain intact (if we are trusting in the able and faithful one who lives in our hearts). There is no attacking tank that can overcome the Lord Jesus Christ. "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Lord Jesus, You are my indwelling treasure. When pressures, perplexities, persecutions, or catastrophes come my way, teach me to trust in You. When others ask how I am sustained through these difficulties, remind me to give all glory and honor to You. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Bob Hoekstra
May 22, 2009
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)
New covenant servants (followers of Jesus Christ) are "earthen vessels" (ordinary clay pots). Yet, in the container of their redeemed humanity dwells "this treasure" (the Son of God Himself). This arrangement calls for the treasure (Jesus), not the vessels (you and me), to be the object of all trust and the recipient of all glory: "that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." Appropriately, the Lord has also arranged a process that magnifies the treasure.
This process involves the every day pressures of life, which come from all sides. "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed." Clay pots cannot withstand much pressure, but the treasure within us (Christ) is able to keep us from being smashed. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1)
The process that draws attention to the treasure also involves many perplexities. "We are perplexed, but not in despair." We face difficult decisions and impossible issues, but our Wonderful Counselor protects us from hopelessness: "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).
Persecutions are included in the process: "persecuted, but not forsaken." People accuse us, misunderstand us, or lie about us. Still, we know we are not abandoned by our Lord who lives within us. "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5).
Even catastrophes are a part of the process that magnifies the treasure who indwells us: "struck down, but not destroyed." Circumstantial upheavals and overwhelming heartaches occur, but the Lord stabilizes our souls. "They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support" (Psalm 18:18).
Thus, life comes at us like an overpowering military tank, ready to flatten us. There is no natural hope, because clay pots can't handle tanks. Yet, as the dust clears, the flower pot of our lives can remain intact (if we are trusting in the able and faithful one who lives in our hearts). There is no attacking tank that can overcome the Lord Jesus Christ. "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Lord Jesus, You are my indwelling treasure. When pressures, perplexities, persecutions, or catastrophes come my way, teach me to trust in You. When others ask how I am sustained through these difficulties, remind me to give all glory and honor to You. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Psalm 56:4
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Who I want to be like
Who can find a virtuous woman?
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
Proverbs 31:28
I would like to wish all mothers everywhere a very happy Mothers Day! There is nothing on earth more valuable to a child than their mother. When I was growing up it was my mother who was what most call today “a stay home mom” and cared for her children. My mother had eight children and six were boys and I must add not so easy to handle boys either, but by the grace of God she raised all eight of her children. And beloved I would like for you to know she was and is a blessing to all of us and today and we all call her blessed not just today or just once a year but everyday. My mother was not just a “stay at home mom” but she was a mother to her children and made every attempt to be a wonderful wife to her husband because this is what virtuous women do in this life. A virtuous woman is one who serves this life as the Lord our God has commanded her to and that is to be a help mate to her husband, one that cares for her children, and one who makes sure the house is kept for the family. It is the husband’s job to financially support the family not the wife’s. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”The bible asks a question I would also like to ask, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10. Where are they? Where is the woman that is serving the role that the Lord made her for? Who is tending to the children if not her? Beloved we have gotten so money hungry today, that it has caused mothers to find a career rather than tending to, and raising their children. Any woman who has children at home and has a career it NOT a virtuous woman. I know this will offend a lot of people but the word of God offends every sinner. Let’s not forget what the Lord continues to say in Proverbs 31:10 “for her price is far above rubies” The Lord goes on to say in Proverbs 3:15 “She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” There is nothing on earth more precious to a man and the children than a virtuous woman. To put it in terms we will understand today “she is worth more than gold”. Why? Why is so hard to find and why is she so precious? Beloved it is because there are so few of her. Women today think it is most offensive when a woman cares more about her husband and her children than she does about running a company, or running the world, but the Lord says different, He says she is rare and worth more than anything on earth. We often wonder why children are so bad in our day; well it is because they have no mother at home. Beloved God did not give us children for someone else to raise, it is the mothers job and if she fails then the children will also fail. This is exactly why children are at the mall instead of at home doing chores and homework. This is why so many children kill others or their self, they have no care at home, however on mother’s day she wonders why they are not calling her blessed. Mothers are supposed to discipliners not best friends to their children. A boss at work does not have the same respect form his employs if he is their good friend as he does if he keeps a distance from his employs. Neither does a mother who become a good friend with her children rather than one who rules them. There is nothing more precious than a woman who serves the Lord well.
Randy Johnson
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
Proverbs 31:28
I would like to wish all mothers everywhere a very happy Mothers Day! There is nothing on earth more valuable to a child than their mother. When I was growing up it was my mother who was what most call today “a stay home mom” and cared for her children. My mother had eight children and six were boys and I must add not so easy to handle boys either, but by the grace of God she raised all eight of her children. And beloved I would like for you to know she was and is a blessing to all of us and today and we all call her blessed not just today or just once a year but everyday. My mother was not just a “stay at home mom” but she was a mother to her children and made every attempt to be a wonderful wife to her husband because this is what virtuous women do in this life. A virtuous woman is one who serves this life as the Lord our God has commanded her to and that is to be a help mate to her husband, one that cares for her children, and one who makes sure the house is kept for the family. It is the husband’s job to financially support the family not the wife’s. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”The bible asks a question I would also like to ask, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10. Where are they? Where is the woman that is serving the role that the Lord made her for? Who is tending to the children if not her? Beloved we have gotten so money hungry today, that it has caused mothers to find a career rather than tending to, and raising their children. Any woman who has children at home and has a career it NOT a virtuous woman. I know this will offend a lot of people but the word of God offends every sinner. Let’s not forget what the Lord continues to say in Proverbs 31:10 “for her price is far above rubies” The Lord goes on to say in Proverbs 3:15 “She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” There is nothing on earth more precious to a man and the children than a virtuous woman. To put it in terms we will understand today “she is worth more than gold”. Why? Why is so hard to find and why is she so precious? Beloved it is because there are so few of her. Women today think it is most offensive when a woman cares more about her husband and her children than she does about running a company, or running the world, but the Lord says different, He says she is rare and worth more than anything on earth. We often wonder why children are so bad in our day; well it is because they have no mother at home. Beloved God did not give us children for someone else to raise, it is the mothers job and if she fails then the children will also fail. This is exactly why children are at the mall instead of at home doing chores and homework. This is why so many children kill others or their self, they have no care at home, however on mother’s day she wonders why they are not calling her blessed. Mothers are supposed to discipliners not best friends to their children. A boss at work does not have the same respect form his employs if he is their good friend as he does if he keeps a distance from his employs. Neither does a mother who become a good friend with her children rather than one who rules them. There is nothing more precious than a woman who serves the Lord well.
Randy Johnson
The only begotten!
The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
—John 1:14
Believer, YOU can bear your testimony that Christ is the only begotten of the Father, as well as the first begotten from the dead. You can say, "He is divine to me, if He be human to all the world beside. He has done that for me which none but a God could do. He has subdued my stubborn will, melted a heart of adamant, opened gates of brass, and snapped bars of iron. He hath turned for me my mourning into laughter, and my desolation into joy; He hath led my captivity captive, and made my heart rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Let others think as they will of Him, to me He must be the only begotten of the Father: blessed be His name. And He is full of grace. Ah! had He not been I should never have been saved. He drew me when I struggled to escape from His grace; and when at last I came all trembling like a condemned culprit to His mercy-seat He said, 'Thy sins which are many are all forgiven thee: be of good cheer.' And He is full of truth. True have His promises been, not one has failed. I bear witness that never servant had such a master as I have; never brother such a kinsman as He has been to me; never spouse such a husband as Christ has been to my soul; never sinner a better Saviour; never mourner a better comforter than Christ hath been to my spirit. I want none beside Him. In life He is my life, and in death He shall be the death of death; in poverty Christ is my riches; in sickness He makes my bed; in darkness He is my star, and in brightness He is my sun; He is the manna of the camp in the wilderness, and He shall be the new corn of the host when they come to Canaan. Jesus is to me all grace and no wrath, all truth and no falsehood: and of truth and grace He is full, infinitely full. My soul, this night, bless with all thy might 'the only Begotten.'"
Charles Spurgeon
—John 1:14
Believer, YOU can bear your testimony that Christ is the only begotten of the Father, as well as the first begotten from the dead. You can say, "He is divine to me, if He be human to all the world beside. He has done that for me which none but a God could do. He has subdued my stubborn will, melted a heart of adamant, opened gates of brass, and snapped bars of iron. He hath turned for me my mourning into laughter, and my desolation into joy; He hath led my captivity captive, and made my heart rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Let others think as they will of Him, to me He must be the only begotten of the Father: blessed be His name. And He is full of grace. Ah! had He not been I should never have been saved. He drew me when I struggled to escape from His grace; and when at last I came all trembling like a condemned culprit to His mercy-seat He said, 'Thy sins which are many are all forgiven thee: be of good cheer.' And He is full of truth. True have His promises been, not one has failed. I bear witness that never servant had such a master as I have; never brother such a kinsman as He has been to me; never spouse such a husband as Christ has been to my soul; never sinner a better Saviour; never mourner a better comforter than Christ hath been to my spirit. I want none beside Him. In life He is my life, and in death He shall be the death of death; in poverty Christ is my riches; in sickness He makes my bed; in darkness He is my star, and in brightness He is my sun; He is the manna of the camp in the wilderness, and He shall be the new corn of the host when they come to Canaan. Jesus is to me all grace and no wrath, all truth and no falsehood: and of truth and grace He is full, infinitely full. My soul, this night, bless with all thy might 'the only Begotten.'"
Charles Spurgeon
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