More on David and the Lord's Lovingkindness
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. (Psalm 36:7)
Lovingkindness is one of the terms in the Old Testament that has profound spiritual kinship with the term grace in the New Testament. Lovingkindness speaks of God's zealous love for His people. This love includes ...read
Devotional
More on David Confessing the Lord as His God
For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me . . . I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long . . . in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God . . . Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! (Psalm 38:4, 6, 15 and 21)
When the battles raged with pain an ...read
Devotional
More on God Dwelling with the Humble and Contrite
The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap. (Psalm 113:4-7)
In our previous meditation, we considered the Lord's ...read
Devotional
More on God's Promises and God's Law
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions . . . Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be ...read
Devotional
More on Jeremiah Contrasting the Two Options on Trust
Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength . . . Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but her leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the ...read
Devotional
More on Josiah Humbling Himself before the Lord
Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard - because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD . . . "y ...read
Devotional
More on Living According to God's Word
You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word . . . Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word. (Psalm 119:65, 169)
Those who live according to God's word will characteristically have this testimony. "You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word." This is tru ...read
Devotional
More on the Most Precious Promise of Shared Life
By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him ...read
Devotional
Moses Pointing to the Lord for Battle
Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)
Moses is another example of those who lived by grace in th ...read
Devotional
Nebuchadnezzar Exemplifying God's Grace for Humility
And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever . . . He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth . . . At the same time . . . I was restored to my kingdom . . . Now I ...read
Devotional
Nebuchadnezzar Exemplifying God's Opposition to Pride
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar . . . he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is ...read
Devotional
Once More on God's Promises and God's Law
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who ...read
Devotional
Pride and Shame or Humility and Wisdom
When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom . . . The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. (Proverbs 11:2 and 3:35)
In order to live by the grace of God, we must be willing to walk in humility, instead of in pride. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). We must be ...read
Devotional
Responding Properly to God's Promises
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11)
Before we proceed in our consideration of God's promises, let's look at some examples of those who responded properly to His promises. This will assist us in the path of ...read
Devotional
Scorn for the Scornful, Grace for the Humble
Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34)
The scriptures emphasize the Lord's commitment to pour out grace upon those who walk in humility, while opposing the path of those who walk in pride. "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' . . . Be clothed ...read
Devotional
Spiritual Greatness through Childlike Humility
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as ...read
Devotional
The Certainty of All the Promises of God
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us . . . was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2 Corinthians 1:19-20)
As we have seen, some of the promises of God are "exceedingly great and precious." Others are very "unpopular." The ...read
Devotional
The Importance of God's "Unpopular" Promises
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24)
Generally speaking, God's promises are "popular" with many people. When most of the Lord's promises are read or taught, people are delighted. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed... C ...read
Devotional
The Most Precious Promise of Shared Life
By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law . . . that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (2 Peter 1:4 and Galatians 3:13-14)
Here, we get at the heart of God's "exceedingly great ...read
Devotional
The Promise of Freedom in Christ
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
As mentioned previously, one way to examine the life of grace is to look at living by faith in the promises of God. Let us now proceed in our consideration of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). The promise of spiritual freedom in Christ is cer ...read
Bob Hoekstra