Who receives God's Grace?
But he gives greater Grace. Because of this it says, God sets himself against proud ones, but he gives Grace to humble ones. James 4:6
Likewise, younger ones be subject to older ones; and all being subject to one another, gird on humility, because God sets himself against proud ones, but he gives Grace to humble ones. 1 Peter 5:5
Surely he scorns the scorners, but he gives grace to the lowly Proverbs 3:34
3 times our Heavenly Father says that he opposes the proud but gives Grace to the humble. So it must be very important. This is the “one thing” that we can do; HUMBLE OURSELVES before God. But even for that we need God’s Grace, because no man will humble himself of his own. We are by nature proud; this came with our flesh-nature, which we inherited from Adam. And throughout this life we “learn” pride as a way of life; nobody even really has to teach us, we just follow down that path. And even worse, the world encourages us to be proud; “you can do it”, “whatever you set your mind on…” Through all that we are supposed to learn to depend on ourselves and not on anybody else. So we become “rebellious”; whether it’s on the inside or on the outside. We become selfish, looking out for ME first and maybe others later. But it really is a trap.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death Proverbs 14:12
We are dealing with forces way stronger than any of us, and sooner or later we get trapped, enslaved and through it all, God brings us low. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me Psalms 116:6
An ant and an elephant crossed paths; the ant said to the elephant; get out of my way or there will be dire consequences!
Although this is a silly example, when comparing us and God, this will give you a glimpse of that we really have absolutely no reason to be proud whatsoever, yet we are and think nothing of being proud.
Or this one;
A drowning man said to the people trying to rescue him; I don’t want that blue life preserver, throw me a green one that matches my outfit….
These two examples border on ridiculous, so why are we “so proud” of ourselves?
The god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving…. 2 Cor. 4:4
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, Ephesians 2:2
Woe to those wise in their own eyes, and discerning in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:21
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth. And make your heart glad in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Eccl. 11:9
Pride is a grace killer!
Ask yourselves; who made who? Who knows better? Who needs who? Therefore;
God does the choosing and calling, God has what I need, God decides the terms….
O man, He has declared to you what is good. And what does Jehovah require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
What is being humble? Not the fake, pretend kind of humble we see all around us, but a real heartfelt kind of humble. What about considering who God is; and in relation; who I am. How great and amazing God is, all powerful, all knowing, all seeing, all loving all perfect and how “little” in comparison I am. I am nothing, know nothing, and am but a worm in God’s sight. Humble is accepting the truth about me, the reality that I cannot lead, help or change myself. I have no power in and of myself; in short, there is nothing good in me that is in my flesh.
Humble; me putting myself to the ground into the dust. Grace, God bending down from on high to us who are low.