'But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.'

What wonderful words to hear from God that He gives more grace. No matter where we are on our spiritual journey it is evident that we need more of God's grace to finish our course. Even the lost person, or should I say, especially the lost person, should realize his great need for more of the grace of God. I say more because God has already given a certain amount of grace to every man. 'For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.' - Titus 2:11 'But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.' - Luke 6:35 'That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.' - Matthew 5:45 According to the verses above, God has been good to all men, but it is what man does with this grace that will determine if he receives more. If man becomes prideful and continues to ignore the fact that it is God who has been good, God will begin to resist and pull away. 'Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,' - Romans 1:19-22

What every person who has realized their lost condition before God must see is their great need for the saving grace of God. Saving grace is that favor that helps a man repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 'And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:' - Acts 18:27 Upon realizing this truth, one might ask How can I receive more grace from God? The answer is found in John 1:16, 'And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.' The words 'grace for grace' mean grace in exchange for grace. When a person exchanges something at a store, he takes what he already has back to the store and swaps it for something else. This is the idea behind 'grace for grace.' This principle can best be illustrated in the story of the ten lepers.

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.' - Luke 17:12
 

In this story we see ten men to whom God was gracious enough to grant them healing of leprosy. Only one turned back and gave glory to God. It was because of this act by the Samaritan that the Lord gave him more grace, thus making him not only physically clean but spiritually clean, thus, the principle of 'grace for grace.' If you have found yourself lost and in need of salvation the attitude of your heart should be that of thankfulness and not of anger. It is of God s mercy that you have realized your condition before him. Do like the leper, draw near to God and give him glory by acknowledging God s goodness in your life.

- Pastor Owen