Re:Verse passage – James 4:1-12 (day five)
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Did you ever imagine that being a believer would be so difficult? Require so much discipline and diligence? Demand so much effort and intensity? That it would be… work? Well, God did. It’s all throughout scripture, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
Why is it so difficult? James answers that in verses 1-4 in our Re:Verse passage this week (it’s you and it’s me). If the Christian life is hard (because of us), it is also heavenly, because of the grace of God. The limitless, inexhaustible, fresh, and generous grace of God.
I was blown away by the words of Alec Motyer this week: … (God) does not see the inexhaustible supply of grace as sweeping us along to an effortless holiness…The benefits of grace and more grace are ours along the road of obedience and more obedience. The God who says, ‘Here is my grace to receive’ says in the same breath ‘Here are my commands to obey.’
What an amazing economy. The God who knows well the weaknesses and liabilities of the human mind and heart, generously gives a greater supply of Grace.
“The God who says, ‘Here is my grace to receive’ says in the same breath ‘Here are my commands to obey.’” So profound! Thanks for sharing.
Makes singing AMAZING GRACE take on new and greater meaning. Thanks Scott
Wonderful words to hear, Scott. On Wikipedia, J. Alec Motyer is quoted as saying, “I’m not really a scholar. I’m just a man who loves the Word of God.”
Perfect example of humbleness, isn’t it?