More Grace Given

James Smith, 1842

"He gives more grace!" James 4:6

If you have been receiving from Jesus for years — you are as welcome to come again, as you were to come at first! "He gives more grace." He is never wearied of giving — though we are often wearied of asking. Those who have received most — may still have more. How inconceivably gracious! He gives grace upon grace! We have grace to raise us superior to every danger and difficulty that is to be found in our way. More grace, even though we have mis-employed what we have already received; He bids us to look again to the throne of grace; to "ask and receive — that our joy may be full."

You have been reflecting, perhaps, upon the former days, when you received from Jesus plentifully; and enjoyed His presence in almost every ordinance; you are thinking, perhaps, of some who are now in the same happy state; and are led to deplore your condition, and to cry out with Job, "But it is not so with me!"

My brother, or sister, Jesus has plenty of grace, He remembers you, the kindness of your youth; the love of your espousals, when you went after Him in a wilderness, in a land that was not sown; and He says, "Hearken to me, even to your old age I am He; and even to hoary hairs will I carry you; I have made and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." Precious promise of a faithful God! "He knows our frame — He considers that we are dust." "Like as a father pities His children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him." "He will give grace and glory, and no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." "He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint!"

Thus the Lord promises. And in answer to prayer, all His people realize the fulfillment of the same. They go from strength to strength, until every one of them appears before God Heaven. His fullness is as great, His grace is as free, His promise is as firm, and His nature is as gracious as ever! He is without variableness. He says to you, as weak and pained as you are, as vile and unworthy as you are, "I give more grace! Hitherto you have asked nothing, in comparison with what I have to give; ask and receive, that your joy may be full." "Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." "In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God!" O what a testimony is this!

"The Father Himself loves you!" If God loves us, we are welcome to all He has provided, to all He has promised, to all our circumstances need. Nothing is too good, or too great for us. "He who spared not His own Son — but delivered Him up for us all — how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Never lose sight of this, "The Father Himself loves you!" He loves you in Jesus, and because you love Jesus. Approach the Father in Jesus, assured that He is love; that He loves you, as Jesus has assured you; and ask for grace to help you; grace to comfort you; grace to enable you to glorify God in your body and spirit, whether it be by life or by death.

In me, dear Lord, exert your power;
Make old things pass away;
Transform, and draw my soul to you
Still nearer every day.

Lord, let your voice of mercy speak,
And give me ears to hear;
Still love, forgive, and pity me,
And hear a sinner's prayer!