God Gives Grace to the Humble

Your grace is enough, O God.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite spirit; a broken and contrite heart, He will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

Jesus once spoke about the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who were praying in the temple. The Pharisee stood and prayed a prayer of self-exaltation that came out of his proud heart. Meanwhile, the tax collector who can’t even look up to heaven cried out a desperate prayer asking for mercy because he recognized what a great sinner he was. Jesus said that the tax collector went home more justified than the Pharisee. Why? Because those who lift themselves up will be humbled down and those who humble themseleves before God will be lifted up. Maybe some of the people who were there condemned the tax collector the same way the Pharisee did but God didn’t. People look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

Pride is the root of all evil and God is against any form of evil. But He gives grace to the humble and grants forgiveness to the contrite heart. God is moved by the tears and desperate cry of a truly repentant heart.

“This is who God esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at His word.” Isaiah 66:2

God honors the meek and those who submit to His Word. He never pushes away anyone who seeks Him, who cry out for mercy and forgiveness and who longs to be restored.