But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6
On Christmas Eve 1866 in a small New Jersey town, Annie Johnson Flint was born. After finishing high school, she earned a teaching certificate and began teaching primary grades. Soon after, she began experiencing symptoms of arthritis. During her second year of teaching, she suffered a “severe form” of the disease which developed into a chronic condition. She never recovered. Despite her infirmities, she began writing Christian poetry, and some of her words were set to music. One is He Giveth More Grace. She experienced the lyrics in her own life. “He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater; He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; To added afflictions, He addeth His mercy; To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.”
You may not be dealing with health issues. Your struggle might be with relationships, work, or your own thought patterns. Perhaps you have been compromising with the world’s system. Theologian Henry Morris says, “Compromising with the present world-system–whether in philosophy, dress or behavior –is surely one of the most prevalent characteristics of modern Christianity, even evangelicalism. This indictment of such compromise urgently needs emphasis today .”
More grace is needed among Christians. Saint Augustine said, “God gives what He demands.” He explained that the Lord demands your love and loyalty while He Himself offers up more love and loyalty than you could ever be able to give Him. His affection for you exceeds all of your affections for Him.
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary states, “The difficulties of living wholly for God in a wicked world are many, but he giveth more grace, which here seems to mean ‘gracious help.‘ And this gracious aid God makes available, as Proverbs 3:34 declares, not to proud, self-sufficient persons, but to humble, dependent men.”
As a new Congress is sworn in today, pray for Christians in the House and Senate to humbly seek the Father’s grace, resisting the urge to be prideful. And continually seek that same grace for yourself.
Today’s Verse: James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 4:1-10
4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
