(Read 1 Samuel 26)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” It’s Friday and I would like to take a pause to do some reflection on what we have been learning in this series. In just the last few messages we have seen David be “the bigger man,” on two separate occasions, by extending grace to Saul when he had an opportunity to kill him. David did not see it as his place to kill a man who God was operating through. However, this same David got upset with Nabal and did not think twice before deciding to kill him and all the men in his household. David had no considerations for God, or His workings in Nabal’s life, once he got offended. Offense clouded his heart and he almost made a major mistake.
Nabal’s wife Abigail was able to talk David “off the ledge” and he decided not to kill Nabal. However, Nabal wound up dying the next day in a strange twist of fate. So then David, a man who had his wife taken away by his father-in-law, decided to re-marry as he proposed to the recently widowed Abigail. For Abigail’s part, her heart was still bleeding for her husband when she accepted David’s proposal. And along the way David married Ahinoam of Jezreel, making both of them his wives.
Finally, as we saw yesterday, David got fed up with Saul’s antics and he basically said, “If I am the one int he wrong, then may a curse fall upon me. But if you are the one in the wrong, the Lord will deal with you in His wrath.” The same guy who was operating in love, mercy and grace towards Saul was ready to call down fire from heaven.
What is my point? The same guy who spared one man was ready to kill another. The same man who lost the woman he loved, found a way to move on and married not just one, but two more wives. The same man who kept extending grace to his persecutor, finally got to the point where he was ready to release the wrath of God. My point is that David was not perfect, but God never expected him to be and He still chose to operate through David, by grace.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The Father does not expect you to be perfect. We are saved by grace, and we are then used by grace. If we could only make it to heaven on our righteous deeds or our perfection (even post-conversion perfection), then heaven would be an empty place. Like He did with David, the Father already knows all the mistakes you are going to make, and He chose to use you anyway. So don’t allow the devil to cause you to factor-in (your mistakes) what the Lord already factored-out when He destined you for your purpose.
2. Life is complicated. Don’t waste your time comparing yourself to others, because there is way too much going on in your life and in their lives for the comparison to be fair. Look at Saul, David, Jonathan, Nabal, Michal and Abigail. These are just a few of the characters we have dealt with in this story and they are all very different and clearly unique. The same holds true for us today. Don’t waste your time comparing yourself to someone else, because you don’t know their story. There was so much that went into getting them to the point where they are today, that your life could never truly lineup with theirs. The only thing you need to measure up to is your God-given purpose. God’s purpose for your life was tailor-made for you.
3. History will be kind to you. We all know David was far from perfect, but in the New Testament, when the Lord, through Luke, was looking back at the Old Testament to say something about David, this is what Luke wrote: “When he [God] had removed Saul, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’” (Acts 13:22). When the Lord makes a record of your life, to be displayed in heaven, in the halls of eternity, believe me, He will conveniently choose to leave out the bad parts. Do you know what that’s called? It’s called GRACE!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your amazing grace. You know I am not perfect, but You thankfully never required me to be perfect. You did not save me because of my perfection. Your snatched me like a brand from the burning, imperfections and all! You saved me by grace. And now that I am saved and on my way to heaven, You choose to use me by grace. You see my heart and You know I have a desire to do all that is right in Your sight, but You also see when I go astray. You quickly forgive me when I repent and You cast my sins into the sea of forgetfulness. You don’t hold my failures against me as You willfully use me by grace. Thank You Father, for being so good to me. You know me better than anyone on earth and better than I know myself. You know how complicated my life is and how complicated the lives of others are. With that in mind, I resist comparing myself to others, because they have their own race and they have to run it with their own grace. I run my race with the grace You have so freely bestowed upon me and I thank You for a tailor-made assignment. No one else on the planet has my purpose. I was born for a reason and I am determined to arrive at Your desired destination for my life. And lastly Father, I want to thank You in advance for being kind to me in the record-books. When people read about me in heaven they will only see what You choose to write about me, and I know it will be good. You conveniently choose to leave out my failures, fears, faults, and flaws. Once again, You do it by grace. If I had 10,000 tongues, I could not thank You enough for Your amazing and immeasurable grace. I love You Father! Let’s make a difference today! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
