Good morning! Today we will continue our reading in James chapter four (4). Yesterday, we read about the cause and consequences of conflict. Today we will continue to read about humility.

Bible Verse – James 4:5-6 NLT

“⁵ Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.^{[b] 6} And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”^[c]”

Reflection

Throughout our lives we may have learned about saying grace at the dinner table or over our food. We may have also learned that grace is given by God, but what we tend to forget is the other words in scripture around who God gives grace to.

In the following verses, we are reminded that the Word of God says:

• Proverbs 3:34 –
  “The Lord mocks the mockers
      but is gracious to the humble.”
• 1 Peter 5:5 – “In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
  “God opposes the proud
      but gives grace to the humble.”

Sisters and brothers, we may not be able to avoid every conflict in our lives, but our reaction and actions toward conflict is where we can display spiritual maturity. The challenge in these verses is to steer away from being proud – ‘so proud that we fail to see God’s grace in a dispute or conflict’. The key is to allow enough time for God’s wisdom and discernment to lead us (slow to speak and slow to anger), be humble in spirit, and we will reap the fruit/reward of God’s grace.

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for your grace and mercy. We thank you for always being faithful to us even when we failed to be faithful to you. Lord, forgive us for the times when we have been proud or arrogant. Lord, help us to be humble in spirit so that we may experience the fullness of your grace. Lord, help us to respond to conflict with discernment, wisdom, and obedience to Your Word. Lord, help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

In Jesus name we pray, amen.

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