Let the Potter Work

Becoming a Woman of Contentment, Part 3

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

I love the Amplified Bible’s expanded take on James 4:6a—

But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation].

The HELPS Word study breaks down the Greek word that translates into “grace” for us in this way: “(xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord’s favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is “always leaning toward them”). xáris (“grace”) answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná (“grace, extension-toward”). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.”

It completely humbles me to realize that God, the One who created the entire Universe with all that is in it, who sustains it, maintains it, and provides all that it needs, takes special notice of every single soul inside of it.

No, that does not really describe it, either. He does not just take special notice, but is “freely extending Himself, inclining toward each person so that He can bless them.” What kind of amazing love is this?

Who am I that should benefit from such a love?

And He gives MORE grace. Not just enough to get by. Not a little today and come back tomorrow for a little more. He is prepared to heap it abundantly all over the place whenever I need it!

Here are a few verses to back up these claims, but to find more, just plug grace into an online Bible search, and you will be studying for a long while!

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:14, 16. (By the way, that “for” between the graces means on top of or above.”

 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Romans 3:23-25

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans 5:20

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 1 Corinthians 8:9

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Ephesians 1:6-8

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

I could go on for pages. God’s grace, literally, His lovingkindness, leans toward whosoever will receive it, because He is a gracious God.

In this context of James 4, as he speaks into the lives of believers fighting and envying and striving, he is reminding them that God offers more grace than anything they could gain for themselves. In fact, as Hannah Whitall Smith wrote above, God offered a grace to them that sanctified them.

Sanctify is a fancy word for cleansing, or to make holy for sacred use. (1828 Dictionary.) God wanted them to be mature enough that He could use them to teach or to lead, but their lack of contentment showed their lives in need of more grace.

This is where grace causes some discomfort.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14

God knows how to use grace to purify us from the inside out. Grace teaches, tries, and tests us with the purpose of putting aside the old patterns and allowing the new patterns to make their mark.  Like the potter in Hannah Whitall Smith’s above quote, God uses pressures from without and within a vessel, sometimes using tools to etch just the right pattern, stretching, molding, setting it aside for a time, and then, firing it with intense heat to make it stronger. Grace can be incredibly uncomfortable as it forces us to lean into the Potter’s wise and loving hands.

Let

In James 1, when the wise Pastor writes to a people in the fire of life’s circumstances, he gives them specific direction. First, he tells them to “let patience have her perfect work.”

I found an interesting definition for the word “Let” from James 1:4

Let, from Strong’s Concordance: to have, hold, to possess.

Let, from the 1828 Dictionary: To permit; to allow; to suffer; to give leave or power by a positive act, or negatively, to withhold restraint; not to prevent.

Put together, let means to hold on to one thing while letting go of another. Literally, this “let” implies that you cannot hold on to both your will and allow the Lord’s will at the same time. Consider Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross in agony of mind, while praying, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” He was letting His Father decide what was best and letting go of His will.

Like Hannah Whitall Smith wrote above, God is the one that does the molding, our part is to yield to whatever means He deems necessary to accomplish His purposes. That yielding, though, takes a strong will choosing over and over again to “let” God accomplish His purposes.

The only thing that stops the potter from working is pride. Pride says, “Not Thy will, but mine be done.”

When discontentment rears its ugly head in any situation, consider that God is using that very situation to mold the perfect, complete vessel He has in mind.

The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax. The same tests that harden the discontented will soften the content one. Which one do you want to be?

 If you would like a little more study, look at 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 and consider why God allowed this thorn in the flesh to be a part of Paul’s life.  Did Paul soften or harden to the Lord’s will? How did grace work through his weakness?  

I hope this study is the blessing to you that it was for me. Tears poured down my face while I looked at the verses showcasing the amazing grace of God. My verse to meditate this week is James 4:6.

I am praying for you this week, my friends! Please feel free to message me if you have any comments, questions, or prayer requests!