RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

Thousands of Hindus were walking on the highway in Northern India, far from the nearest city. I asked my host where they were going. He said they were going to a temple to worship one of their gods. I thought my next question was reasonable: “Why don’t they catch a bus?”
My host laughed. “Only an American would ask that question. The farther they walk, the more karma they earn. They are appeasing their God by walking.”
As I listened to my Indian friend, I realized the great distinctive of Christianity: grace, amazing grace, marvelous grace. It’s not by our works of righteousness that we find favor with God. When we were broken, helpless, and hopeless, He accepted us because of the grace that flows from the cross. Thus our relationship with God is established wholly by His grace. We can sit at His table and feast and live as His child — all because of His grace.
The Old Testament is filled with stories that illustrate great New Testament truths. David’s relationship with a son of his late friend Jonathan paints a picture of God’s amazing grace. When news of Jonathan and Saul’s death spread throughout the land, Mephibosheth’s nurse had panicked. She fled and in the process dropped the child. He became crippled for the rest of his life.
Many years later, David asked a question that would change the course of Mephibosheth’s life. “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). He called on Ziba, who had been a servant in Saul’s house. Ziba told David about Jonathan’s crippled son. David sent for Mephibosheth.
He must have arrived scared to death. He bowed in humility in David’s presence.
“‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table’” (2 Samuel 9:7).
Mephibosheth’s response revealed the poor self-image he had developed. Mephibosheth bowed said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” (v. 8).
But David had not accepted Mephibosheth because of his physical abilities or anything he had done for David. He accepted him by grace. David had a grace covenant with Jonathan, and out of that covenant flowed amazing grace. The Bible says that Mephibosheth “always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet” (v. 12).
It’s one of the Bible’s most beautiful pictures of what God has done for us. God didn’t save us because we were seeking Him. He sought us and brought us to Himself. Though we were spiritually crippled, helpless, and hopeless, He extended His grace to us “for Christ’s sake.” Every true believer in Christ is what he is today because of the grace of God. There’s only one reason I’m able to write these devotions: because of the grace of God. There’s only one reason I can travel the world proclaiming the good news of God’s love: because of the grace of God.
Mephibosheth sat at the king’s table, yet he was still crippled. What a beautiful picture of our relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When he sat at the king’s table, no one could see he was lame. At that table, only his upper body could be seen. At that table, he was treated not as a cripple, but as royalty.
Many believers struggle with a poor self-image. They’re always down on themselves, feeling they’ve gotten a raw deal. Dear brother or sister, if you are one of those, then sit down at the King’s table today — and feast on his grace and love. King Jesus will treat you like royalty. The Father will show you kindness for Jesus’ sake. Under the table, you may be crippled. But all that anyone sees at the King’s table is a whole person. Grace. Amazing grace. Wonderful grace. Marvelous grace. Thank Him today for His grace.