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key to grace


James 4:6-10  NLT
And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

We don’t have to believe it for it to be true.  If you try to be like the ostrich who sticks his head in the sand, you will miss what is going on all around you.  While the ostrich thinks he is missing everything or can’t been, 95% of his body is still out in the open.  

Friends, we have to take God at His word.  Open the Bible and take in what is there.

I have been walking through the book of James as I prepare to preach and study the book this year.  Honestly, some of these verses hit my heart in heavy ways.  Some are easy or I have a grasp on.  There are others that click in a new direction.

That is like part of James 1:6, that I shared yesterday, with the issue of doubting, and I learned some new things that are rich with truth and love from God.

Now take the verses above.  God gives grace.  He wants to give.  His plan is to give.  Grace upon grace is ready to be poured in to our lives we are positioned to receive it.  Are we ready?

Do away with pride.

Choose to be humble.

It is the grace of God that lifts us.  His grace provides our forgiveness of sin.  It is the grace of God that gives us wisdom and direction.  His grace opens our eyes to see and our hearts to understand.  

The last verse says that God will “lift you up in honor”.  Don’t just strive for the honor piece.  Look to the connection piece.  Humility pushes away pride, removes walls and issues that keep us from connecting to God and lifts us to experience new life and joy.  All that because we are open to God’s grace!
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