http://esv.literalword.com/?q=isa+46%2C+47%3B+proverbs+23%3B+Hebrews+11
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 23 September 21:
Hebrews 11:1 — Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith trusts in the promises of God and enables and inspires us to live as if we have already received the fullness of our inheritance in Christ, though we haven’t fully experienced it yet.
The Bible tells us, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having
forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” (2 Peter 1:3-9)
Faith ‘partakes’ in the “divine nature” which has already been “granted” to us so we can experience and grow in what we already have. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:3, 22, 23) If you are a Christian, you have already been saved into eternal life and have been empowered with the Holy Spirit to experience unity with Him and with fellow Christians now, though we have yet to realize the fullness of that unity. So, we are called to take hold of that reality now, to “make every effort” to live out that reality now and experience that reality more fully with each day. If someone gives you a present, but you never open it, you possess it but never really experience and enjoy the fullness of its value. God calls us to use the gift He has bestowed upon us now, to enjoy it, and to share it with others. In faith, we live out our divine nature with the assurance that “he who began a good work in [us] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) As we live out the new life we have in Christ, we will powerfully proclaim the truth of the Gospel to others who “will see your good deeds and glorify God.” (1 Peter 2:12)
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 23 September 21: Today, walk in faith and take hold of, live out, experience and enjoy the divine nature you have been granted in Christ.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 