“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. Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 2 Sam. 9:7-8 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, though we’ve never been “dead dogs” to pity, we have been dead in our sins and trespasses—utterly dependent upon a total-grace salvation. Being rich in mercy, you raised us from the dead, saved us by Jesus’ work, and rooted us in your love.
Indeed, Jesus is the greater Jonathan, to whom this passage points—our substitute to trust, before he is our model to follow. For Jesus’ sake, you are extravagantly, endlessly kind with us.
You greatly delight in us, and truly enjoy us. Even when you discipline us, it is in love. We struggle to believe this is true. So, by the power of the Holy Spirit, make it real Father, more real than anything.
May the Gospel radically stun, heal, and transform us. May this life of grace free us from our crippling insecurities and our lingering shame, from our easily-bruised pride and our ever-nagging fears.
And may the Gospel radically reorient how we relate to other people, Father. We want to be more intrigued, and less irritated with others; more accepting and less critical; better listeners and quicker forgivers.
Grant us special grace for loving the “irregular” people in our lives—confident we are somebody’s “irregular” person. What a glorious life of grace into which you have called us. What a good, good Father you are. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and worship-worthy name.
