Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Grace”
Our Bible verse for today: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God blesses a humble spirit.”
Do you remember our working definition for God’s grace? Grace is, “Undeserved blessings freely bestowed upon people by God.” In James 4:6 we’re told that God gives that grace, those undeserved blessings, to the humble. Those are the ones who are His favored recipients. The less humility we have, the fewer blessings we should expect to receive from God. And if our hearts are full of pride, God actually resists us. His most and best blessings are for the humble.
I witnessed a wonderful example of this on my recent fact-finding trip to Haiti. There I had the privilege to meet and begin a working relationship with Pastor Joel Jeune. Joel’s actual title is “Bishop” because he’s the leader of a vast Christian network which includes over 260 churches, 3 orphanages, a widow’s home, a hospital, and more than 65 Christian schools across the island of Haiti. His ministry is called “Grace International”. It’s a great name and it describes the ministry as well as the man very well.
Bishop Jeune is one of the most influential Christian leaders in Haiti. He has met with Presidents and Prime Ministers in his own country and in the USA; he is often on television and radio programs in both countries; and he speaks to gatherings of thousands.
I met him on my first night in Haiti. There was a soft knock on my door and when I opened it, there stood the Bishop. With a big smile on his face he half-bowed to me and in a gentle voice said, “My brother Pastor Jim. Thank you so much for coming to my country.” And then he gave me a big hug. We then sat and talked for almost two hours.
The thing that impressed me most about him was his gentle spirit and his deep humility. He was soft-spoken, warm, kind, funny, and very easy to be with. As we talked, he explained how over forty years God repeatedly poured out His blessings upon the ministry of Grace International – growing it from a small collection of little churches to what it is today. Joel gave all the credit and all the glory to God; saying many times that there was no good reason for God to have chosen to work through a flawed vessel like him. He reminded me a little of Billy Graham – a great man of God with a humble spirit.
The lesson we learn from such examples is the same truth James taught in his letter, that God blesses the humble in spirit. God’s grace – His most and best blessings, are reserved for those who are humble.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 