GRACE
TO THE HUMBLE
BREAD
34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 3:34 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and
shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to
your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture
says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (NIV)
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who
are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves,
therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast
all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)
16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful
man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not
from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who
does the will of God lives forever. 1
John 2:16-17 (NIV)
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a
life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make
every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness
and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and
the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about
himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers,
adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance.
He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have
mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home
justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he
who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)
14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will
I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now
my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this
place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my
Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 (NIV)
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift
you up. James 4:10 (NIV)
BUTTER
“God gives grace to the humble. To those who humbly
trust him with all their heart, he gives the grace of guidance. To those who
humbly refuse to be wise in their own eyes, he gives the grace of refreshing
peace. To those who humble themselves under his hand, he will give the grace of
exaltation. And to those who humbly cast their cares on him, he gives the grace
of carrying their cares.” Jon Bloom
“The path to deep, refreshing peace from God is living humbly
before God.” Jon Bloom
“To be much alone with God is the
sovereign remedy for pride and self-complacency. May we know the reality of this in the secret
of our own souls. May the good Lord keep
us truly humble, in all our ways, simply leaning on Himself and his grace…” C H
Macintosh
God, as it works in us by the Holy Spirit, that can
make us thus meek.” Charles
H. Spurgeon
“Guidance in life and soul-restoration are both graces God
gives to the humble.” Jon Bloom
“All
of God’s resources will be made available to the soul that is humble enough to
be able to receive them without growing proud because of it. When a man is sincerely humble and
never tries to take the credit or the praise, there is scarcely any limit to
what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of
all grace and equips us to deal efficiently with our fellows. True humility is
a flower that will adorn any garden. This is a sauce that will season every
dish of life and improve it in every case. Whether in prayer or praise, whether
in work or suffering, the genuine salt of humility cannot be used in excess.” C. H. Spurgeon revised by Alistair Begg
“Strive to turn
your heart from loving things that are seen, and to set it upon things that are
not seen…How much better is a lowly peasant who serves God than a proud
philosopher who watches the stars and neglects knowing himself…We must not
trust every word of others or feeling within ourselves, but cautiously and
patiently try the matter, whether it be of God.
The more humble a man is in himself, and the more
obedient toward God, the wiser will he be in all things, and the more shall his
soul be at peace.” Thomas a Kempis
HEART SAVOR
·
God opposes the
proud but gives abundant grace to the humble of heart.
·
Humble yourself
under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time.
·
God is the great
bestower of grace to all humble enough to receive it. Indeed it is grace giving way to grace giving
way to grace.
