Living in light of eternity

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does .” (James 1:22-25) James has a special way of cutting to the heart of a matter.  He paints the portrait of two vastly different types of people.  They have but one thing in common.  They are both hearers of the Word.  But this is where they differ.  One hears but takes no action.  He is described as a person seeing his image in the mirror one morning, needing some adjustments.  Maybe there is a hair out of place or a smudge on his face.  He sees that correction...

  But He gives a greater grace . Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James makes a curious statement in this passage, “But He gives a greater grace.”   When I saw this phrase, I wondered what he meant by “a greater grace”.   I’m pretty sure James is not thinking of “saving grace” (Eph 2:8-9) but something else.   What could “a greater grace” be referring to? It appears there is a special kind of grace reserved for the humble.   That is why he goes on to say, “ God is opposed to the proud , but gives grace to the humble .”   This sentiment is reminiscent o...