The Mercy of Grace

While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
But when He heard this, He said, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6) For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mathew 9:10-13

Jesus now begins to deal with attitude, especially self-righteous attitude. Sinners are not drawn to repentance by arrogant self-righteousness of the supposedly good, but by the mercy of the one who was good.

Grace draws like a magnet. As I do life and fail, the grace that my God gives me, again and again, draws me to Him. Yes I will fail, because of my fallen nature, but oh the joy of repentance and the coming back to the One who cleanses me. His grace has no judgement attached, no rules, no lists of penance required.

Jesus is reclining at table with the likes of prostitutes and thieves, drug lords and pimps. When I see how my Lord saves slave traders and gangsters, murderers and thieves I am told my God is gracious and compassionate, slow to judge, and quick to forgive.

In verses 13-17 the disciples of John the Baptist are also becoming judgemental, they want to know why Jesus' disciples do not fast. Perhaps that particular day was a fast day. Jesus replies beautifully, "can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them?" He then goes on the teach the deeper truth, "and no one puts new wine into old wine skins, otherwise the skins burst....but they put new wine into new wine skins."

He is saying 'change your heart attitude, things are different now, embrace the truth of grace.'

When I was born again I had a history of being a Catholic. I had the go through the process of having a new wine skin made. My catholic traditions would not mix with the freedom of grace. I could not put my born again experience into the same container, it would burst.

The grace of salvation has to be allowed to be the only experience so then it can transform totally. I cannot tell the Lord how it must look and feel. Grace is His product, not mine. Grace comes to liberate not be bound.

I am so grateful for grace and therefore must give it freely. Amen

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