Grace That Humbles and Lifts

Grace is more than just God’s undeserved favor. It’s also a tool He uses to teach us to walk in humility. Understanding that everything we have is a gift from Him makes boasting unnecessary. To stay humble, we must ask ourselves what we have that God hasn’t given us; grace reminds us that our accomplishments aren’t our own doing, but God working through us.

Humility positions us to receive more grace. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, He promises to lift us up in due time. This lifting isn’t about status—it’s about being empowered to fulfill His purpose.

Just as a sluice channels water, faith is the channel through which grace flows. As Paul reminded the Romans, it’s of faith, that it might be by grace. We don’t earn grace; we receive it by trusting in Jesus’ finished work. We’re justified by the faith of Christ, not by our own efforts.

Paul’s life was a testimony of grace that overcame unworthiness. He admitted that whatever he had become, it was all because God had poured out His special favor on him. Despite his less-than-perfect past, grace transformed him into a vessel of purpose. He acknowledged to the Ephesians that although he was the least deserving of all God’s people, God graciously gave him the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

Grace doesn’t just forgive but goes several steps further to empower. It humbles us so that God can work through us. It saves us from ourselves and our own empty self-efforts. When we stop striving and start trusting, grace takes over and does what we can’t.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your grace that humbles and empowers us at the same time. Help me to trust in Your work and not in my own, so that You may be glorified through me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

1 Peter 5:5, 6, NLT
1 Corinthians 4:7, NLT
Romans 4:16
Galatians 2:16
1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT
Ephesians 3:8, NLT