Grace for the Humble

“When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding.  Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the office that he would have to appear in court.

“The judge asked, ‘Guilty, or not guilty?’  When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, ‘That’ll be ten dollars – a dollar for every mile you went over the limit.’

“Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister.  ‘You have violated the law,’ he said.  ‘The fine must be paid – but I am going to pay it for you.’  He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! ‘That,’ said Billy Graham, ‘is how God treats repentant sinners!’”  (Progress Magazine, December 14, 1992)

In the first three chapters of James we are told about our sinfulness.  It is not that we have great potential to be sinful, but that we are completely sinful by nature.  In fact, the words that James uses for our sinfulness is adultery.  We cheat on God when we disobey him, no matter how small or large we may think of our disobedience.  Adultery is adultery.  A sickness of sin permeates every pore of our body, mind, and soul.

But James does not leave us hanging in our own realization of our dark hearts.  There is hope and joy.  All this sinfulness and darkness within us has a cure: grace.  More specifically, God’s grace.  What a beautiful picture of God’s love for us.  But to whom is this grace given?  Where does repentance and humility come into play?

Join us this week at First Baptist Church in Emery, SD

as we explore God’s grace for us and His call for us as his children to humble ourselves and repent.