Lest anyone think that any action, however required or useful, could be a source of pride, Sibbes preached that "it is a sottish conceit to think that we can fit ourselves for grace, as if a child in the womb could forward its natural birth. If God hath made us men, let us not make ourselves gods."107

We are nothing with all our gifts be they ever so great, except God assist us.

grace (free forgiveness when you don't deserve it a bit).

Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17—24). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person's situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.

Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). He went on to say, in effect, "If you do judge, you will be judged in exactly the same way." Who of us would dare to stand before God and say, "My God, judge me as I have judged others"? We have judged others as sinners—if God should judge us in the same way, we would be condemned to hell. Yet God judges us on the basis of the miraculous atonement by the Cross of Christ.

I understand why many people who call themselves Christians are not excited about grace. If you think your environment is your problem, you won't esteem grace, but once you admit that you're your biggest problem, you will celebrate the grace that rescues you from you.

The way to begin to celebrate the grace that God so freely gives you every day is by admitting how much you need it.

It is only when we really do believe that life is bigger than us, that there is something more important than our wants, needs, and feelings, and that we have been given life and breath for the purposes, plans, and praise of another, that we will be willing to forgive.

The purpose of God's grace is not to make your little kingdom of one work better.

But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?

Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.

Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are brought low.