The Gift of Grace

“For the sake of His great name the Lord will not reject His people, because the Lord was pleased to make you His own.” 1 Samuel 12:22 NIV

The second part of this verse in 1 Samuel 12 really stuck out to me. “…because the Lord was pleased to make you His own.” He was pleased to make us His.

How hard that is to really, truly grasp.

We live in a world and a society that we have to work so hard to be accepted. We have to strive for people to notice our hard work in the workplace for that promotion or recognition bonus. We have to be the one that stands out in the interview to get the job. We even have to post things about our personal life to create a perfect image to be liked (literally) by our peers and family. So much so that we even check to see how many “likes” we got on the photos.

How tiring it is to constantly have to project this image of perfection and “put-togetherness.” And still we carry that same mentality over to our relationship with God.

We think we have to appear a certain way before Him for His approval. We strive to do all the things, go to all the bible studies, wake up each and every morning to be in His word, join every volunteer group we can at church - all because we want Him to be pleased with us.

And not to say that any of those things are bad. They are great. We should have a fear of the Lord. We should want to make Him proud and be a part of His Church body and serve Him and study His word. We should try to wake up every morning and read and study His word.

But what happens when we don’t? What happens when we can’t measure up to the perfection that we have in our heads that we should be? What then? Have we displeased the Lord and let Him down after all that He has done for us?

Have we?

… Let’s look at what God says about that.

In the Bible we see human failures time and time again.

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from that which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshipped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you from the land of Egypt.” - Exodus 32: 7-8

God had literally just delivered these people from their oppressors and they couldn’t even wait on him when God delayed something that they were waiting for, so they made for themselves a new god.

In 2 Samuel 11 we see David struggle with his lust over a married woman and ultimately gives into it.

“So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Elian, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ So David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned home.” - 2 Samuel 11: 3-4

In the New Testament we see examples of this as well.

Jesus warns and prays for Peter to turn from the temptation to deny Him.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22: 31-32

But before the chapter is over, Peter gives in.

“And a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in t he firelight and looking intently at him, said, ‘This man was with Him too.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know Him.” - Luke 22: 56-57

I could go on and on about the countless times that people have fallen short in the Bible because that is what we are - imperfect humans. We sin, we stumble, we fall.

But the good news is, we don’t have to stay down.

We have a beautiful savior who is there with an outstretched hand every time, ready to redeem us and put us back on our feet.

Why? Because He loves us.

We only have to reach out in repentance and take His hand.

“But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, ‘ Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your plans and other peoples in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you.” - Isaiah 43: 1- 5a

No matter how hard you work, no matter how hard you strive, and no matter how much you fall short - you are redeemed and you are made righteous in God’s eyes when you repent and seek Him.

The truth is this, the Israelites never got it right and neither will you. You are always going to strive and fall short. Perfections will never be achieved.

But the good news is, you don’t have to get it right! You don’t have to be perfect!

You can rest secure in knowing that no matter how wrong you are or how much you mess up, you are not unforgivable. Jesus has called you to be His own!

So instead of striving and beating yourself up and continuing on that never ending circular cycle of striving and shortcomings, rejoice that you have a savior who loves you and has given you his free gift of grace. Receive the gift and walk in it today!