Title: Greater Grace-James 4:6-10
Contents
A disciple of St. Francis of Assisi has a vision of heaven. When he saw an empty throne on a very high place, he said, "Who is that?" I asked Jesus, and he said, "This is the chair on which the most humble Francis in the world sits." Hearing this, the disciple, no matter how much he was a teacher, became envious and jealous of being too high. He asked Francis in a quiet hour. “What kind of person do you think you are?” Then Francis replied, "I think he's the worst person in the world." The disciple did not miss the opportunity and said, "Teacher, that is pride. Everyone calls you a saint. There are many robbers, murderers, and all kinds of sinners, so how can you say that you are the worst? Then Francis smiles and replies: "It's because you don't know me. If you had given the grace that God gave me to others, they would have been a better person than me. You don't know how much grace I receive." This is the true image of those who have received grace.
Grace is 'charis' in the original language. It means 'a good gift that brings joy'. Grace is given freely through the merits of the precious blood. We are people who live by grace. You cannot live a day without grace. We must live in thanksgiving to God who has given us grace. Verse 6 of the text says, “But He gives you greater grace.” 'Greater grace' means abundant grace. Therefore, if you do not receive grace in your life of faith, it is a heavy burden and a burden in itself. There is no joy, and the joy disappears. However, the person receiving grace is different. I do not get tired of serving. Because we do it with a voluntary heart. because I like to do it. There are limits to what you can do as a responsibility or duty. On the other hand, a life that is moved by the grace of God is different from this.
He has already given us a lot of grace, but looking at the text, we see that God gives us more grace. People are capricious, and their thoughts and attitudes change according to their moods and emotions. But God's grace grows deeper and richer as we go. It never changes. So it is a greater grace. May this great grace of the Lord come upon you. What should I do to receive greater grace from the Lord?
First, humble yourself
A young man asked an old scribe. "Sir! I have a question for you. May I ask you a question?" The old scribe is happy to answer. "Ask me anything". "I heard that in the golden days of old, people saw God with their eyes. It is said that people met with God and that God walked on the earth. God called people by their names and people said that they got very close to God. But somehow now Doesn't God walk on the earth? Why doesn't God hold the hand of those who struggle?" The old scribe answers. "Young man! God is still everywhere, but he forgot how to bend low enough for people to see him."
Second, draw close to God.
Russian human rights activist and novelist Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Templeton Prize. He said this while receiving the award. "When I was a child, I heard the grown-ups say that the great disaster that struck Russia was that people forgot God and that terrible things happened. Since then, I have spent almost 50 years studying the history of the Russian Revolution. I read numerous books and interviewed many people. and wrote 8 books. And the conclusion reached is that the main cause of the destructive revolution that killed more than 60 million people is that they forgot God. is."
Ernest Hemingway, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, grew up in a family of faith. My grandfather was a person who shared the gospel with Moody. His home was located on the beach in Florida, and it was a beautiful place. However, despite the seemingly splendid and rich life of his life, he confesses this. "I live in loneliness and emptiness like a radio tube that doesn't light up because the battery runs out and I try to plug in the cord," he chooses to commit suicide. He looked like a man who was rich and had all the conditions for happiness, but because he had left God, he could not overcome the emptiness and ended his life. It is the end of those who have turned away from God.
This is verse 8 of the text. "Draw close to God". The original word for 'get closer' here is 'Engisate'. It means 'to squeeze'. Closeness refers to the state of being squeezed tightly together. The relationship between God and us must be squeezed. The closer we are to God, the better. Listen to David's confession. Psalm 73:28. “It is a blessing to me to be close to God.” What are you close to? If you are close to money, your personality and faith will be corrupted. Even if you approach power, your personality and faith will be corrupted. Even if you are close to comfort and pleasure, you will be corrupted. However, when you draw closer to God, your personality and faith become mature and beautiful. The Bible testifies that Cain went away from God, and Jacob drew near to God. God is calling us to come closer now. He is calling all those who are thirsty, those who have sinned as red as scarlet, and those who labor and carry heavy burdens, to come near.
Psalm 65:4. “Blessed is the man whom you have chosen and brought near to dwell in your courts.” Psalm 16:2. "I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord, and I have no good besides you." Only God is our blessing, and coming closer to God is the blessing of life. And God is the source of grace. Therefore, those who draw near to God can receive great grace and enjoy it. To draw near to God is to resist the devil. Please draw close to God. God draws closer to those who are close to him. And he embraces you with greater grace and makes you happy. makes you win.
Third, don't be double-minded.
The book 'Starbucks' contains the contents of 'success stories in a cup of coffee'. The author, Howard Schultz, is the founder of Starbucks, a successful coffee brand. After 15 years of opening the first store on the floor of the Seattle market, it will take over the world. Schultz says: “Even if you mix 1% poor coffee and make a 50% profit, you end up losing 90% of your customers. We do not compromise on making the highest quality coffee. We operate as a franchise without artificial flavors. We create a corporate culture that respects people. Starbucks' management puts people above any value. He titled the book "Pour your heart into it." Pour your heart into it. put it in Even if it’s a cup of coffee, pour your heart into it.” He emphasizes that that is the only secret to maintaining the brand and the principle of success.
This is verse 8 of the text. “You double-minded, purify your hearts.” The 'two minds' here is the original word 'deepshikos' and means 'an uncertain state of divided interests or minds'. Therefore, the two hearts are not able to focus on God. But we are people who need to receive God's grace and live. In order for grace to be maintained, we must pour out our hearts to God. We need to pour our hearts into worship, pour our hearts out on hymns, and focus our hearts on the Word of God. Therefore, we must sanctify our hearts without being double-minded. You must clear your mind. In order to stay in the greater grace, we must have one heart, not two hearts.
This is a poem called "At the Window" by Sister Lee Hae-in. “Because there is a window, even those who are sick can watch the change of the four seasons from a sick seat, and because of the window, I can see the mountain from the restaurant every day, and I can bring the distant sea closer to my chest. I am not lonely even when I am alone. How beautiful are the stars in the sky from the window. At some time of the day, we must pray at the window and open it with someone's clear window." There are many things we see through the window. However, the window must be clear and clean. That window is the mind. You can see God only when the window of your heart is clear, and when you see God, you will receive greater grace from God.
Please pray for greater grace. Prepare to receive greater grace. Always be humble. Please draw closer to God. Please don't be double-minded. Please do your best to lead a godly life during the special early morning prayer meeting for Lent. Don't see what you shouldn't see, don't go where you shouldn't go, don't hear what you shouldn't hear. Please meditate only on the word of the Lord and live a life prepared through prayer. Therefore, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will enjoy a blessed life by the grace of God through Christ by longing for more grace than now.