GRACE is the free favor of Jehovah, sovereignly fixed upon his people, and righteously communicating all spiritual and eternal blessings to them, for his own glorification. Every spiritual blessing flows from grace. Jehovah, the all-gracious God, is the fountain of all grace. His favor being fixed, he freely communicates to the unworthy and ill-deserving. He delights to give — as he delights to glorify himself. Grace is enthroned, and reigns “through righteousness unto eternal life — by Jesus Christ our Lord.” When coming to God for grace . . .no recommendation is necessary; every fear is groundless, and all your doubts are sinful. (James Smith, the predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street)
The word “grace” is perhaps the greatest and most delightful word in the English language next to the word “Jesus” and related words. It is not just the word, however, but how this word conveys delight to the soul is because it stands for how God relates to poor helpless sinners. It is wonderful to the soul to think of how all spiritual blessings come to the soul by grace alone rather than the soul working to earn them or merit them. The spiritual person lives by grace alone and not because of anything earned or merited. When it is said that a soul lives by grace alone, what is meant is that the soul lives by what it has received from Christ based on the worth and merits of Christ rather than that of the soul that receives the blessings.
The God of all wrath and justice who is so inflexible in justice and holiness for one sin plunged the whole race of human beings under wrath, delights to show grace to the unworthy and ill-deserving. It appears that not only are so many men who are under His wrath are working hard at religious things to earn His favor, but it also appears that some true believers are in bondage by constantly looking to themselves and their own efforts to obtain a blessing from Him. Yes, it is so gloriously true that God is under no obligation to a human being to give grace to them, but He is under obligation to Himself and His own glory to give grace. But it is not a duty to Him to do so, but He delights to show grace and to set forth the glory of His name in doing so.
The wonderful grace of God is not locked up in the safe of one who is hesitant to give, but instead He loves to shine forth His glory in Christ by His grace. This God lives within Himself as triune in perfect love and delight and the overflow of that is His grace toward poor sinners who cannot help themselves. God delights to show grace to sinners because it shows His love for Himself in sinners and it is a display of Himself to sinners. God delights to show grace toward sinners because this puts Himself on display for Himself to delight and enjoy. Let the people of God not be hesitant to come to God for grace, but instead come to Him eagerly and with expectation because He is a God of great mercy who delights to show grace.
If true believers understood the following statement by James Smith it would utterly change their prayer lives. “When coming to God for grace . . .no recommendation is necessary; every fear is groundless, and all your doubts are sinful.” Why do people hesitate to go to God in prayer? One reason is because they continue to have a nagging thought that they must be worthy or that they must turn from all sin before they pray. Another reason is that they think that God does not really want to show grace. A third reason is that they think that God will not give grace but for major things. All of these things are simply arguments that are false. God shows grace to those who have no recommendation and cannot have one. Not only that, those are the only kinds that He will show grace to. This great God loves and delights to show grace and so saved sinners should go to Him expectantly and seek the Lord to delight Himself in glorifying His name by showing grace. It is always a major thing for God to manifest His grace even when He does it for the things that seem so small to us.
How we need to examine our hearts to see the basis on which we come to God to pray. We are told to pray without ceasing, but this is only possible when it is understood how freely sinners may come to God and that we come to a God who delights to show grace. The Scriptures tell us to come to the throne of grace boldly or with great confidence. Is this confidence in ourselves or in God? We should have no confidence in self but have great confidence in God who delights to show Himself and His glory in giving grace to the unworthy and ill-deserving. God loves and delights to show grace. If by His grace God would teach us this in the depths of our souls, we would pray with fervor, joy, and tenacity because He gives us those things by grace as well.
God Loves... Himself 
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