Showing Grace

Scripture:
Matthew 9:9-13 (NIV)

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Devotional:

Grace, is it something you have?  Is grace something you offer others?  When we make mistakes we want others to show grace and forgive us.  Why is it important for us to offer grace to others?  A simple answer is because Jesus offers grace freely to any and all who turn to Him.  We are not any better than He is.  In fact Jesus is the only man to ever live a perfect life.  It is the grace that He gives that provides salvation to all.  If our Lord and Savior will freely give grace shouldn’t we do the same?  After all, the student is not greater than the teacher. 

There is no better way to show grace than to be with those that need it.  Jesus spent His time with sinners.  He reached out to anyone who wanted Him to.  Those who were seeking Him were themselves found.  You never know whose life you touch that will forever be changed.  Christ will use you if you allow Him to.  If you never show grace, how can others see grace through you? 

 One last thought for you to consider.  What are the benefits to you for offering grace to others?  We are forgiven as we forgive.  We receive peace within ourselves when we forgive.  Can you think of any other benefits to forgiving others?