September
21, 2003
GOD
GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE
"He
gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble' " (James 5:6, NKJV).
"Mary
had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the
circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished
every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He
who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she
had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart
and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father in
her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied
purity, and in His strength she had overcome.
"When
to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ saw in Mary
capabilities for good. He saw the better traits of her character.
The plan of redemption has invested humanity with great possibilities,
and in Mary these possibilities were to be realized. Through
His grace she became a partaker of the divine nature. The
one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a habitation of
demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in fellowship
and ministry. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned
of Him. It was Mary who poured upon His head the precious
anointing oil, and bathed His feet with her tears. Mary stood
beside the cross, and followed Him to the sepulcher. Mary
was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary
who first proclaimed a risen Saviour.
"Jesus
knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say, I am sinful,
very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you
need Jesus. He turns no weeping, contrite one away... He bids
every trembling soul take courage. Freely will He pardon all
who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration...
"The
souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing
and the strife of tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach
these souls. Christ unites them to His own divine-human nature.
"To
those who with steadfast perseverance strive to reveal the
attributes of Christ, angels are commissioned to give enlarged
views of His character and work, His power and grace and love.
Thus they become partakers of His nature."--God's
Amazing Grace, p. 118.
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