Chapter 110—To Lift the Most Sinful
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6
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Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the
circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every
spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from
despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that
controlled her heart and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father
in her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, and in
His strength she had overcome.
When to human eyes her case appeared hopeless, Christ saw in Mary
capabilities for good. He saw the better traits of her character. The plan of
redemption has invested humanity with great possibilities, and in Mary these
possibilities were to be realized. Through His grace she became a partaker
of the divine nature. The one who had fallen, and whose mind had been a
habitation of demons, was brought very near to the Saviour in fellowship
and ministry. It was Mary who sat at His feet and learned of Him. It was
Mary who poured upon His head the precious anointing oil, and bathed His
feet with her tears. Mary stood beside the cross, and followed Him to the
sepulcher. Mary was first at the tomb after His resurrection. It was Mary
who first proclaimed a risen Saviour.
Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say, I am sinful,
very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He
turns no weeping, contrite one away.... He bids every trembling soul take
courage. Freely will He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and
restoration....
The souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and
the strife of tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach these souls. Christ
unites them to His own divine-human nature.
To those who with steadfast perseverance strive to reveal the attributes
of Christ, angels are commissioned to give enlarged views of His character
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