A Precious Ruby

I unearthed some buried treasure last week.

My discovery led me to James chapter four. My initial intent was to find a Bible verse for Memory Verse Monday about drawing near to God. I know there are loads of verses on the topic, but I couldn’t think of one specific reference. So, off I went on my hunt. What I found was like opening a tiny treasure box with a ruby, a diamond, and an emerald.

The emerald about drawing near to God was in James 4:8, but as I read the previous verses, the Bible explained how to draw near to God. So, my Bible memory verse for last week was James 4:6 and what a beautiful ruby it is! This week will be the diamond and next week, Lord willing I’ll reveal the emerald. Here’s my ruby: “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” James 4:6

The verses in the beginning of chapter four talk about fighting and war. It doesn’t take much to look around and see the strife in this world. But on a deeper level, I thought about the strife that can be in our homes. Are our homes filled with peace – a peace that can only come from a relationship with God – a relationship that draws near to Jesus?

God says He will give us grace to stop the strife. But there’s something standing in our way. Pride. Someone once pointed out to me that the middle letter in the word prIde is the letter “I”. When we only think of ourselves and about our own happiness, the result is strife.

I don’t like living in strife, do you? But many times, I have been the cause of contention because I think my way is best or what I want to do is “right” - because of pride. Does that mean I can’t have any say in the matter? No, but what and how I say it does matter.

James 4:6 tells us God gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves before God, He will help us, giving us the grace we need. I don’t know about you, but that makes me glad because I can’t do it on my own. But then Jesus never intended for it to be that way, did He? He said He’d always be with us.

Notice, that twice in this verse God says that HE GIVES the grace. Are we willing to humble ourselves and accept His grace? His grace gives us the ability to humble ourselves before each other. I recently read a good thought at Susan at Penless Writer's blog. It went something like this: Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking or yourself less.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is deeper than all our sin… I need that grace, how about you?

Lord, I want to take this nugget of truth, this precious ruby from Your Word and let it sink deep into the dark recesses of my heart and soul. Thank you for your grace. May I humbly submit to You and let You do Your work in me. In Jesus most precious name I pray, Amen.

Photo Credit: Gem Select