GOD’S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 12, 2020

SUBJECT: GOD’S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE!

Memory verse: "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4 vs 6.)

READ: First Peter 5 vs 5 - 7:

5:5: Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yea, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
5:6: Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

5:7: casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.

INTIMATION:

Humble primarily signifies low-lying; lowliness of mind. Humility is seeing ourselves as we really are from God's perspective, and acting accordingly. It is not convincing yourself that you are worthless or nobody before God, but recognizing God's work in you. To be humble, we must recognize the sovereignty of God over all things, and eventually submit to His will. It is having God's perspective on who you are and acknowledging His grace in developing your abilities. When one does submit to God’s will, he or she will be lifted up, as God will give such persons the grace to function effectively in an exalted position. Humility is a prerequisite for accessing God’s grace.

The dictionary definition of grace is; beauty, kindness, good-will, mercy, reprieve, and pardon. God's grace will then be His beauty; kindness; good-will; mercy; reprieve; and pardon for sinful humanity. These attributes of God are freely, and undeservedly given to sinful humanity. Grace therefore, is the free, and unmerited power of God available to sinful humanity to meet our needs without any costs to us. it is received by believing rather than through any human efforts. 

The simple and uncomplicated nature of God's grace, and being a free gift, make many people to miss it. There is nothing more powerful than grace. In fact, everything in the Bible—salvation, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God and victory in our daily lives—is based upon the grace of God. Everything we are and do and have is by the grace of God. Without grace, we are nothing, we have nothing, and can do nothing. If it were not for the grace of God, we would all be miserable and hopeless. 

Jesus Christ, our Messiah—the Savior of the whole world, was an epitome of humility during His ministry’s walk on earth. He was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people (See  Philippians 2 vs 5 - 11). If we love and follow Jesus, we must also live as He lived, we should develop His attitude of humility as we serve. Humility puts others first and allows us to be content with God's leading in our lives. Such contentment gives us security so that we no longer have to prove ourselves to others. 

Humility will not allow you to be influenced by praise, honor, and popularity. It helps you not to allow popularity to twist your perception of your own importance. Though, it’s comparatively easy to be humble when you're not on center stage, but when praised, pride and arrogance usually come in. The psalmist in Psalm 131 vs 1 says; "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me." Humility, trust and contentment are the bedrock of the psalmist song here. Let humility and trust affect your perspective and give you the strength and freedom to serve God and others.

Prayer: Abba Father, I will humble myself before You, and serve You and others with lowliness of mind, that You may engrace me to function in accordance with Your Word, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!