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Penetrating the Box - Protestant Caucus/Devotional
Gracetoyou.org ^ | 1993 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

Posted on 12/03/2023 4:01:37 AM PST by metmom

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). Man can’t discover God on his own; God must reveal Himself to man.

Since the beginning of time, man has deceived himself by thinking he can discover God through various religions. But in reality, man lives in a box enclosed within the walls of time and space. God is outside the box, and man senses He's there but can't get to Him. Each new religion is but another futile attempt to penetrate the walls of the box and catch a glimpse of God.

Man's only hope is for God to enter the box, which Hebrews 1:1-2 declares He did: first by letter (the Old Testament), then in person (in Jesus Christ). Regarding God's Word David said, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue" (2 Sam. 23:2). Jeremiah added, "The Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 'Behold, I have put My words in your mouth'" (Jer. 1:9). Of Christ, the apostle John said, "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him" (John 1:14, 18).

The irony of people thinking they can discover God on their own is that apart from the Holy Spirit's leading, no one really wants to find Him. They merely want to add a cosmic good luck charm to their lives or satiate their guilty consciences. Paul said, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God" (Rom. 3:10-11, emphasis added).

God could have left us in our sin and ignorance, but He penetrated the box and revealed everything we need to know for redemption and fellowship with Him. What a privilege we have to study His Word and live by its principles! Be diligent to do so each day.

Suggestion for Prayer

Praise God for granting you the ability to appreciate His Word.

For Further Study

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, noting how natural (unregenerate) people respond to divine revelation.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

1 posted on 12/03/2023 4:01:37 AM PST by metmom
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To: Alex Murphy; boatbums; CynicalBear; daniel1212; ealgeone; Elsie; Gamecock; HossB86; Iscool; ...

Studying God’s Word ping


2 posted on 12/03/2023 4:02:00 AM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: metmom
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD...(Jerimiah 29:12-14)

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8a)

3 posted on 12/03/2023 4:18:55 PM PST by boatbums (When you dwell in the shelter of the Most High, you will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. )
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To: boatbums

Thanks.

I actually needed those verses today.


4 posted on 12/03/2023 5:39:14 PM PST by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: metmom

Thank you God for answering our prayers in our seeking.

Prayers Seeking Knowledge And Wisdom

Heavenly Father, the things that are happening in the world today are waxing worse and worse, just as the Bible said would happen in these end times, and we look to You to know what to do. Lord, we look to You for knowledge and wisdom at a time when all that is connected with God and godliness is being so severely attacked, and is so quickly being eroded away.

Father, we know that the Bible is Your Word of truth, and yet throughout the nations it is losing its authority and respect, and being replaced with secular humanism and an anti-God agenda. Father, we know that the Lord Jesus is coming soon to judge the nations with righteousness and truth, but we pray that as we wait for His any day return, that You would grant us Your knowledge and wisdom to know what to do and how to behave in a world that is spiralling out of control. We pray that Jesus will come soon. In His name we pray,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayers-seeking-knowledge-and-wisdom-1636


5 posted on 12/04/2023 10:14:50 AM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: ViLaLuz

Amen.


6 posted on 12/04/2023 4:32:52 PM PST by boatbums (When you dwell in the shelter of the Most High, you will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. )
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