Agents of Grace
Grace – such a beautiful word.
Have you ever been the giver or the recipient of grace? It is definitely amazing. The extension of grace from God to us is gift. The extension of grace from one human to another is God’s divine influence on our hearts. Without this divine influence, we are grace-less people.
There is no better story of human to human transfer of grace than that of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9. At this point in the life of David, he had earned the right to be king, things were peaceful in the land, and he could have relaxed and enjoyed the good life.
But remember, David was a man after God’s own heart. And God moved on his heart to show grace to Saul’s family – yes Saul – the crazy man who chased him all over Palestine trying to kill him. God reminded David he had made a covenant with Saul’s son, Jonathan (see 1 Samuel 24:21-22).
“Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1
Oh yes, David, there was someone left – his name was Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan, the grandson of Saul. He was crippled as boy trying to flee Jerusalem upon hearing of Jonathan and Saul’s death in battle.
Now that David was king, Mephibosheth lived in self-banishment in an obscure town, knowing that he no longer had a chance to become king. He assumed their would be enmity between his house and David’s house, even though Jonathan and David had been best friends.
But then the transfer of grace from one human being to another happened. David called for Mephibosheth to come to his house. Imagine, being called to the King’s house – the king whom your grandfather had tried to kill.
Grace poured out of David from the moment Mephibosheth stepped over the threshhold. Mephibosheth immediately threw himself face down – fearing what may happen. Get the scene in your brain – a crippled man scared out of his socks falling down and calling himself a servant in front of King David.
But then grace happened…David said, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness…”
Grace-filled restoration followed…Mephibosheth was restored all the land of his father and given servants to cultivate the land; a son’s place at King David’s table was restored; most importantly, his worth as a human being was ultimately restored (2 Samuel 9:1-13)
All of this beauty came from David’s obedient heart to extend kindness and grace to a family who had wanted to kill him. David was, in this moment, an agent of grace. This kind of grace does not flow naturally from us, but it is God’s divine influence on our hearts.
As you can well imagine, God always works on my heart through my writing. When God put the story of Mephibosheth on my heart this week, I knew to whom He wanted me to extend the gift of grace.
I wonder if God laid someone’s name on your heart too. What will you do about it if He did? I challenge you (and myself) to take action on the gentle nudge from the Father. Let your heart be divinely influenced to show not just a little grace, but abundant grace to someone today.
After all, God was not stingy with the grace He poured on us. Be an agent of grace! It may be just what someone needs to be fully restored.
For of His fullness we have all received,
and grace upon grace. John 1:16
…and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. (Paul speaking of grace shown to him in 1 Timothy 1:14)
