The King’s Grace

by Joyce Sykes
Published April 25, 2007

Grace – what a marvelous and beautiful word, however few today truly understand the depths of its meaning. Causal conversations use variations of the word to describe attributes in individuals such as; the ballerinas were so graceful and she is such a gracious host. However, I seldom hear the actual word grace outside Christian circles.

From Genesis to Revelations, grace reveals God’s heart toward His people. Genesis 6:8 states, “Noah found grace from God”. What a wonderful picture of the Lord’s loving favor toward one individual. Noah was a man who walked uprightly before the Lord refusing to allow the society of his day to corrupt his heart. Yet, nothing Noah did entitled him to God’s unmerited favor.

In this passage, grace literally means graciousness, favor and grace, and comes from the root word that means ‘to stoop over and bestow kindness on an inferior.’ Throughout the Bible, the meaning remains the same and includes graciousness, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. In reality, we are just like Noah, nothing we say or do will ever be deserving of the Lord’s grace. God, in the same sense of the definition is the Divine Ruler of the universe stooping over to show kindness to an inferior – namely us.

Imagine for a just second, you are standing with thousands of people watching a royal procession. Suddenly compelled the king stops at the edge of the crowd. Something or someone has captured his attention. As the king moves toward the people, the crowd strains to discover the object of his quest.

Fearfully everyone wonders why he has stopped. Has someone committed some trespass that he alone spotted? Will they hear the words “Off with their head?” Something that no one else has seen seizes the heart of the king. As his hand extends with infinite tenderness, you suddenly realize he’s reaching for you! With a deep look of compassion, he gracefully stretches out his hand and lays it upon your shoulder.

“Come, ride with me! You will dine with me this evening.” Words filled with infinite tenderness and kindness. Everyone looks on with amazement as the king wraps his royal robe around your shivering shoulder to chase the chill of the day away. By his royal design and desire, he has shown favor to a mere commoner.

It is the same for us in relationship with the Lord. Grace, God’s unmerited favor has always revealed His heart as He repeatedly stretches out His hand to humanity. We have captured the attention of the Creator and Ruler of the universe. The Lord sees from the beginning of time throughout all eternity. Looking out over the masses, He suddenly extends His hand full of grace and love to one individual – you! He has seen beyond the external and looked deep within your heart to the person you were created to be, His child.

He willingly offers to anyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the gift of salvation. Just as He revealed His grace to Noah, and we see, it extended down through time to Abraham, King David, and Saul of Tarsus. That same grace flows in abundance to us now. Grace -undeserved, unearned, yet freely given to those who are called to be the children of the Most High God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Rev. 22:21

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