Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “An Undeserved Favour”

*DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Friday, May 13, 2022

*Topic: An Undeserved Favor*

_Then David said, ‘Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’”… So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.” (2 Sam 9:1, 13)._

After taking the throne through God’s will, David asked if there was any other relatives of Saul, the previous king who, in jealousy, had tried to murder him. David wanted to show Saul’s family kindness because of his bond with Saul’s son, Jonathan, who had died in war.
Johnathan had a son who was crippled and living in hiding because he was afraid that David would kill him. In those days it was common for a new king to kill the rest of the royal family, so there was no other challenger to the throne. David sent for Mephibosheth, Johnathan’s son, so he could, “show the kindness of God to him” (2 Samuel 9:3).
When Mephibosheth came to David, he was expecting to be killed and fell on his face and paid homage to him. David responded and said, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Johnathan and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father and you shall eat at my table always” (2 Samuel 9:7).
This story is full of love and a reflection of God’s love. David’s promise to Johnathan’s son is like how God’s grace is to us. We are like Mephibosheth:
We are hiding, weak, lame and fearful before the King who comes to us.
We are separated from our King.
We separated ourselves from the King because we didn’t know Him or His love for us.
We must receive the King’s kindness in humility.
The King returns to us more than what we lost when we hid from Him.
We can eat at the King’s table.
We have access to a relationship with Him.
He does not immediately take away our weaknesses and lameness, but gives us a favor and standing that overcomes its sting and changes the way we think about ourselves.
No matter who we are, what we have done, the King still loves us unconditionally.
This story is like ours and God’s and shows the relationship we have with Him. We are weak and broken and yet God has a place for us at His table, regardless of our flaws and shortcomings. He loves us so much and wants us to get to know Him.
David’s kindness is a reflection of God to us ,- a wonderful example of what we know as “grace”. Although we were helpless and hopeless – like Mephibosheth – God found us and welcomed us into his family. We have done nothing to deserve this favor; it is God’s gift to us. Like Mephibosheth, all we can do is gratefully accept God’s wonderful gift of love and kindness and realize that God is coming to us and inviting us to eat at His table. Accept it and get to know how great He is. Three things about God’s grace that are illustrated in the story of Mephibosheth: Grace seeks us where we’re at, brings us to the King’s presence, and keeps us for the King’s return

We are the crippled man in this story and Jesus has not only restored us from judgement but he has invited us to eat at his table – as part of the family of God – forever! Freely we have received – now freely we must give.

*Song*
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out poured
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled

*Refrain*
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God’s grace
Grace that is greater than all our sin

*Prayer*
Thank you Lord for saving me, thank you for seating me at your table. Help me to take full advantage of this privilege you’ve given to me. Please teach me to live in a way that honors you as my king and spread your kingdom. Help me to invite others to the table and to not keep this invitation to myself. Lord, I pray you’d use me today to lead somebody else to come to your table. Use my life toward this end. I love you Lord and praise you for the privilege of a seat at your table In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.