Applying Grace

How do you figure out how much to give to the Lord?

Perhaps a different question first, “What does it mean to give to the Lord?” (If the only thing that comes to your mind is the Sunday collection, you may need to rethink your giving.)

The Good Samaritan gave up his time, his energy, his money, and probably some supplies he had on hand. I think we would all agree that the Good Samaritan was using gifts (blessings) from God which he then offered to assist the injured man. In other words, he applied God’s grace that had been shown to him.

Someone might think, "The Good Samaritan is a great example, but it was a parable. What about a real-life example?"

King David wanted to build a permanent dwelling for God that would replace the portable tabernacle. The prophet Nathan assured David that he could do so, but God stopped Nathan and said that David’s son Solomon would be the temple-builder instead of David.

Was David disappointed? No, he was not. King David desired to build a temple for God, but God gave an astounding promise to David:

The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 

—2 Samuel 7:11

God was not referring to a physical dwelling. He was using the word house figuratively for the descendants of David who would reign over Judah. God spoke of David’s son, Solomon:

He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (v. 13)

David was ecstatic. In fact, shortly after that, David applied that gracious promise. David saw the grace of God presented to him, and he wanted to extend grace to someone in a similar way. It was as if he wanted to have the same experience of joyful giving as God. David said,

Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God? (9:3)

David’s servants found Mephibosheth, the crippled son of his best friend, Jonathan. Mephibosheth was brought to Jerusalem, given the inheritance of King Saul, and given a place at the king’s dinner table as if he was the king’s son.

Did you see the intention of David’s heart? He wanted to “show the kindness of God.” He had received the promises of God, that is God’s kindness, God’s grace. Then, in his heart, he wanted to extend the same grace to someone.

The grace given David was a promise, but one that he would never see fulfilled. Yet, by faith, he accepted the promise as having been fulfilled already, because God keeps His promises.

Are you able to make the same kind of connection between the grace of God and material gifts? Consider Paul’s rhetorical question:

For if we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 

—1 Corinthians 9:11

Applied, we, like David, can extend the grace (kindness) of God through our physical gifts. It may be a gift in the Sunday collection, an act of benevolence involving time, effort and/or money, or a gift to a missionary. It is a gift that you give because of the tremendous grace that you have received from God. Are you applying the grace you have so bountifully received?

Take time to read Ephesians 2:1-10. Look for God’s grace, and how you can apply it today.


Mark Stinnett

December 12, 2021

"I AM": Grace

Have you ever had an occasion in which you were so happy that you wanted to celebrate? You received a promotion or a bonus at work, or a new child was born into the family, or very difficult circumstances were resolved. You wanted to celebrate and share your happiness with friends. So...YOU threw the party. YOU bought the meals. YOU provided for friends and family because you had received a special gift.

That kind of giving is an illustration of grace, and few shine brighter than King David of ancient Israel.

King David desired to build a more permanent temple for God that would replace the portable tabernacle that had been made at the time of Moses. The prophet Nathan gave him the 'go ahead' to proceed with his plans. However, at God's instruction Nathan quickly returned to tell David that as a warrior he had too much blood on his hands. He would not build a temple for God, instead, the temple would be built by his son Solomon.

Nathan continued with God's message to David, a prophecy and a promise:

     Your house and your kingdom
        shall endure before Me forever; 
     Your throne shall be established forever.
     --2 Samuel 7:16

Though David may have felt a little sad over not being the builder of God's temple, he understood the magnitude of the promise. In response to God's gracious promise, David searched for someone on whom he could show grace. He found Mephibosheth, the crippled son of his dear deceased friend Jonathan.

David brought Mephibosheth to his palace in Jerusalem, restored his family's land to him, and invited him eat daily at the king's table. Mephibosheth recognized his inability to offer anything in return and referred to himself descriptively as a 'dead dog.' Yet David was delighted to offer his gift of kindness. (Read about Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9.)

In a figurative way every Christian is a Mephibosheth before the King of heaven. In reality, as sinful creatures we are nothing but 'dead dogs' before God, useless and undeserving.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

--Ephesians 2:4-8

God does not try to be gracious. It is not 'second' nature to him. It is not a battle of the inner will in which grace wins out over something else. God is, in himself, by nature, full of grace. It is as if God could have said to Moses, "I AM who I am, I am grace."

Oh, wait . . . He did.

     The LORD God . . . gracious....
     --Exodus 34:6