Ephesians 2:8-9

8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
9. Not of works, lest anyone should boast

When God created heaven and earth He had relationship in mind, relationship between God and man, between husband and wife, parents and children, friends and friends, and between pastors and members. And in all relationships, there are certain expectations we all have of each other. And in most cases, we all fall short. But don't be surprised that these expectations and the falling shorts started in the Bible. When God created Adam and Eve, He said they were good. But down the road, they showed they were full of it.

Imagine how joyful and pleasant it would be if those we relate with have no faults, and no weaknesses. Nothing is wrong with them, and they don't do anything wrong. But unfortunately, no one is without shortcomings. We cannot find someone that doesn't agitate us, or irritate us, and get us mad, and make us feel like we don't want to be here.

It is true we are created individually, but by divine arrangement, we are put together to live together. The question now is how do we live together in harmony? How can I make you count, and make you feel loved, welcome, and accepted? How can I make you feel worthy and deserving.

But if you find it challenging to relate with people, you don't have to worry. Even God had to deal with such dilemma with Adam and Eve. But God did not kill us. He did not cast us off forever. He simply came in the form of Christ to give us His Grace.

God loves us. But in order for God to express His love toward us, He first gave us His grace. We don't see the physical arms of God. But when your soul is caught in the grip of His grace, your heart would feel the warmth of His love.

Grace is more than talking with the mouth, or the strength of the arms. It's the attitude that comes from the warmth of the heart. The attitude of grace is the major factor of endearment. In fact, it's the winning attitude. John 3:16.

I am saying grace is an attitude that everyone needs, but not many receive. It is also an attitude that everyone has, but no one wants to give. Usually when anyone shows grace, it's to himself. Everybody loves to cover himself with grace, and place everyone else under the law, when we all know that no one can pass the test of the law. But how amazing and lovely would it be if everyone would show the attitude of grace to the next person? Matthew 7:3-5; Romans 9:31; 5:6-10.

Simply defined, grace is the inner power that enables you to see me, take me, and relate with me just the way I am, and loving it. By grace, you are blind to my wrongs, but only see my good. You are deaf to my noise, but only hear my voice. Grace is the inner ability that let you go beyond tolerating my shortcomings and weaknesses, but celebrate me anyway. Grace is a character of God. It is the attitude that God displays to attract us and keep us in a relationship with Him. Who does not crave grace for an attitude? It is the attitude of endearment.

We love to tell people we love them. But anybody can love in the mouth. Wait until your grace is called to question, when we have to talk together, walk together, live together, or work together. It is one thing to love me when I meet your expectations. But when I fall short a bit, that is a test of love. And only by grace can you pass the test.

Grace is the factor of love. It's the foundation upon which love is built. Love without grace is like a house built on sand. Or, how can you say you love me when you can’t take me? Romans 5:8.

It was grace that King David showed to Mephibosheth to bring him to his palace. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, that is, a grandson of Saul, the king before David. When Saul and Jonathan died in battle, and David became king, by tradition, the next king got to get rid of the family of the former king to establish his kingdom. But David did not do that. But the family of Saul did not know that. They took off. And while on the run, Mephibosheth fell down and became crippled. He was to be the heir to the throne. If David wanted to kill anyone, Mephibosheth was it. 2 Samuel 4:4.

Mephibosheth did not know that David had no mind to kill him. He went to live in a distant land called Lo Debar. Lo Debar literally means a barren place, a desolate place. This guy was too crippled to walk to the king in Israel. He was too fearful to talk to the king, and too weak to help himself.

That sounds like our relationship with each other. No one can help himself to satisfy your expectations of them. We start well, and think we love each other. But when the reality kicks in, and natural human frailties start to show up, we begin to find faults. And we get touchy and delicate. And we start to complain and grumble. “You are too white. You are too black. You are too loud. You are too quiet. I did not know you are like this.”

And we start getting careful of each other. And we drive away those who we love. We might still be together, but we are far away in Lo Debar. We forget that all these weaknesses are the natural tendencies that make us unique. The way I laugh, or talk or walk, no one else does it like me. And if you take out all my faults, there would not be much of me left. I can pick out my wife’s sound of laughter in a large theatre. No one I know laughs like her.

But despite all the deformities and enmity, King David went looking for Mephibosheth. He found him out, and brought him to his palace. What David did was not for any political reason or for people to hail him, or do something for him. David was driven by a thought of gratitude. He knew he too was once weak and helpless, and that in his weakness, he was helped by somebody. He thought, “If it was not for Jonathan who saved my life from his father, I would not be king today.” He was shown mercy and delivered. Now he desires to show mercy to somebody. Romans 5:6; I Samuel 20; 2 Samuel 9:1-13.

And that’s what grace does. It causes you to be grateful. It causes you to see others the way you love to be seen. We love to pick specks from somebody else eyes. But when you realize that you carry a log in your own eyes, and you know you have no capacity to remove it, and nobody is killing you for that, you will stop bugging about the little specks in my eyes. And you will want to show mercy to someone knowing that you got mercy too. Matthew 7:3-5.

David surely knew that the boy was crippled in both legs, that he had nothing to offer the palace. No wealth, no health, no education, no training. And all these years he has been living in Lo Debar. Yet he asked, “Where is this son?” Did David just refer to the boy as ‘this son’? No one called Mephibosheth ‘son’ anymore. He was always referred to as ‘Cripple’. Every mention of him was about his handicap.

You know how it is when someone keeps his eyes on your faults. Each time you are with him, that’s all he sees. He does not see what Jesus sees in you. He only pays attention to your affliction. He does not see you for who you are, but for what is wrong with you. He defines you by your ‘presumed’ shortcomings.

But God, He sees you sinful, rebellious, proud, poor, sick, frustrated, and discouraged. Yet, He seeks you out. While people say you are no good, your King says you are. When God speaks of you, He does not mention your disability or problems. He lets you bask in His glory. He calls you His child. People could not call Mephibosheth without adding his condition. But when the king called his name, he called him ‘Son’. And one word from the palace cancelled thousands of voices in the streets. Psalm 103:9-14.

I come to tell you that just when they are talking about you; just when they are saying you are no good; just when the enemy is accusing you, do not worry about she said, he said, or he does. God says I have grace enough to color your beauty. I don’t know who I am talking to. I don’t know what they are calling you out there. But God tells me to tell you that His grace is enough to call you His ‘son’. Hebrews 8:7-12.

Now, hear this. David showed Mephibosheth the attitude of grace. He brought him to the palace and let him sit and eat at the King’s table. David saw the boy was crippled, poor, and out of tune. He knew the boy came from Saul’s family, a king who wanted to destroy David. But David told him not to fear. ‘Fear not’ here means regardless of your fault, or mistakes, or weakness, feel free to be yourself. 2 Samuel 9:6-13.

And that’s what God does to us by giving us His grace when He sent His Son to die for us on the cross. He is telling us that He has turned His face away from our weaknesses. And His focus is on our good points, how He can empower us to be all we can be. Romans 5:6-10; Hebrews 8:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

Now you cannot imagine how sweet a home would be if husband or wife can have an attitude of grace toward each other, and not just talking, “I love you,” while you have your eyes on what's wrong with me. Imagine how we would all live together in harmony if we would cover others with grace as we love to cover ourselves. And if you have the attitude of grace, I bet you, grace will empower you to love like you don’t care.

You cannot buy me gifts simply because you have money to buy it. You cannot marry me simply because you hope to re-mold me. You cannot be my friend all because I look like you. You cannot be my neighbor because I am your ‘uncle’ of the same race, color, or nation. You got to be with me because you can take me, and accept me, and love me, just the way I am.

The first 17 years of my marriage was hell. That was because after the first two years of honeymoon, I concluded my wife was very stubborn. And I was bent on making her bend to my wish. Every day was a loud fight in our house. But when someone pointed me to '1 Peter 3:7', the game changed. And my wife is beautiful again, and forever. And I resolved to deal with her with grace and just enjoy her strong head.

Today, all I am asking for is that you give me some grace. I am asking you to give me a chance. Yes, a chance, a chance to be wrong, and you are not too mad; a chance to be different from your fairy-tale character, and you still take me; a chance to fall a little below your expectations, and you give me a break. I mean a chance to be me, and you still let me be comfortable with you.

If you will walk by faith and walk in the attitude of endearment, you will soon see that love is mightier than hate. And grace is more powerful than grudge. If only you will cover me with the grace with which you cover yourself, by which you justify your own faults, you will not see mine no more.

And now, you can take me, and accept me, and truly love me. And together we can overcome obstacles, we can defeat enemies, we can fulfill great dreams, and accomplish amazing destiny, together.
Hallelujah



LET'S PRAY:

Lift up your two hands toward heaven and receive His Grace:

The Lord will multiply His Grace
Unto you and your house
And position you all for His goodness

Grace will answer to you all
To save you, to heal you
To bless you indeed
And increase you very greatly

Sufficient Grace shall come for you
To break the cycle of sorrow in your life
And fill your heart with joy and happiness

I believe and declare
You will overcome every temptation
And defeat every opposition
You will find your place in His palace

You will take root downward
And flourish upward
And the Lord will make you
A thousand times more than you are

So shall it be
And it is so
In gracious name of Jesus

Thank You, Father Lord

AMEN.


Do you receive the King of Grace today?
If you do
Then, celebrate the Lord with a loud praise

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