1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian The Colours of Grace - Week 1 | Page 9

own religious behaviour. We do not approach this throne with arrogance, as this would
indicate that we have done something to deserve grace. I remind you that grace is not
something that is deserved but is a gift that is given.
There is a beautiful picture of this approach to the throne that we find in the book of
Esther, where Esther hears of the plot of evil against the nation of Israel and knows
that she has to be courageous and cross the threshold into the presence of the king to
make her request. She does not do this lightly, but she does it boldly, and as she
crosses the threshold she is met with the approval of the king and the raising of his
golden sceptre. I love that picture: it is the picture of us approaching God to make our
requests and to know that we win His approval to do so.
Jesus spoke many parables in this regard. The parable in the reading above illustrates
the uniqueness of God’s grace in that God gives grace to whom He will and to us it
doesn’t seem to make much sense that the guy who worked all day, got the same
payment as the guy who worked for an hour that day. That may not make economic
sense and appear to be unfair and certainly undeserving on behalf of the last person,
but is that not the wonder of God’s grace? It doesn’t make sense and it is certainly
undeserving.
Once again, we conclude by saying God’s ways are not our ways as His ways are far
higher than ours. (Isaiah 55 v 8)
Prayer Thought: Won’t you apply today’s verse (Hebrews 4 v 16) to your prayers
today. Feel, if you will, amazed that you can with confidence draw near to His throne of
grace, receive of His mercy, and find grace to help in your time of need.

SUNDAY
Romans 5 v 8 / 2 Samuel 9
So far this week we have discussed the description of grace, the desire for grace, the
dilemma of grace, and I would like to conclude this week’s devotionals by talking about
the demonstration of grace.
One of our primary Sunday school principles is based upon the fact that God is Love (1
John 4 v 8). It is out of this love that God expresses His grace. This demonstration of
God’s love is seen by way of the gift of salvation. Might I remind you of Ephesians 2 v
8 where it is written, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…”
Another expression of grace is seen in the fact that grace brings with it an invitation.
Once again we see this illustrated in Scripture in the story of David and Mephibosheth;
when Mephibosheth was totally undeserving to eat at the table of David and should, by
all rights, have been killed. But David expressed his love to him by an offering of grace
as he invited Mephibosheth to eat at his table for the rest of his days.