Five Manifestation of Grace

We know that it is only by grace that we are saved. No matter how wicked or
bad we are, grace can save us and put us in the place where God wants us to be
in His presence.
We define grace as undeserved, unearned, unmerited, unwarranted favor
from God. But how do we describe grace in such a way that we can comprehend it
more fully?
The parable of Jesus Christ about the lost son, also known as the prodigal son,
depicts how grace is manifested in five ways. But let us first understand the scene
where and when does grace manifests.

THE REJECTION

A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his
father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he
divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son
gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his
possessions with prodigal living. Luke 15:11-13 (NKJV)

The story began with a father who has two sons, and the younger one decide
to take his inheritance or share of his fathers property. During those times, take
once inheritance while the father is still alive is dishonourable. It is as if you want
your father dead. It is a declaration of rejection. The son rejected his father. And yet
the father, knowing that his son rejected him, gives the inheritance to his younger
son.
In practical sense, we are like the younger son who rejects God. God gives us
life so that we can live with Him but we only do what we want to do. We reject His
commandments and His will for our lives.

THE REMORSE

But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land,
and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen
of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he
would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and
no one gave him anything. Luke 15:14-16 (NKJV)

There comes a time when everything that son have has lost. All his money
and possessions, all was gone. Because of hunger, he tries to find a job, and landed
as a swine feeder. During that time, feeding swine is a disgraceful job because pigs
are considered unclean, but the son has no choice. He even long to fill his stomach
with pig pods.
 Like the prodigal son, we too have the same situation. Because we spent our
lives with selfish living, doing only what we want to do, we will lost it and we will lost
it baldly to the point of regret. When this situation happens, it seems that theres no
escape. The more we try to get out from the situation, the more we are drowned.

THE RESOLUTION

But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's

hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called
your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." Luke 15:17-19

While the prodigal son contemplates on his situation, an idea arises. His
fathers servants have good food and some left overs, while he, a son, eats pig
pods. He resolves to return home and ask forgiveness to his father. If his father
would not accept him, at least he could be accepted as slaves.
Some believes that the son repented at this point, but hes not. His reason for
returning home is simply to fill his stomach with good food. He is not returning
home because he loves his father, but because he loves his stomach. He doesnt
care about what his father would say or do, as long as he is accepted as a hired
servant.
As we deal with our problems, we think that the church can help us or better
yet God can help us. It doesnt matter if God will punish us as long as He will help us
solve our problems and that will be fine. We didnt really come to God because we
love Him, but because we want His help.
But no matter what your reasons are, God has His grace to accept us again as
sons and daughters.

FIVE MANINFESTATION OF GRACE

After the son resolves to return home, finally he faces his father. What he
expects to happen to him did not happen. What is unexpected was fully manifested
by how the father accepted his son back. Lets take a look at Luke 15:20

1. The Father Was Always On The Lookout

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him

The first manifestation of grace is that God is always seeking his son. God is
always on the lookout. Remember that the manifestation of grace was fully shown
before the son could even speak a word of forgiveness. Imagine finding something
or someone that was lost, what it is to have it back. That is how the Father felt when
we return home.

2. The Father Is Compassionate

and was filled with compassion

The moment that the father saw his son, his heart was filled with compassion.
If the father felt anger and hatred to his son as he saw him from a distance that
would be normal. But the father was filled compassion. The Fathers love is always
greater that His hatred.
Our God is merciful and is full of compassion. He is not angry with us when
we leave or forsake him but He was saddened for He doesnt want his children to go
astray. So when we return, He will show compassion.

3. The Father Runs

he ran to his son

Remember that the father is already at old age and probably could barely
walk. We must also consider that their robe dangles to the ground that could lead
him to stumble, but the father has no second thought of running. He would rather
fall and gut hurt than to lose his son again.
Our God also runs towards us. Every small step we make, God will counter
with a big leap. Its a leap of joy that his son has returned.

4. The Father Hugs

and he threw his arms around him

For a son that lost everything, a hug is the best comfort he can get. God
understands our situation and what we have been through. He gives comfort to
those who are tired and weary. And more than that, a hug expresses the Fathers
welcome and acceptance of the son who in the first place, rejected Him.

5. The Father kisses

and kissed him.

Now, think about it. The son came from the pigs pen and walked a mile or
two. Probably the sons smell stinks due to sweat and pig smell. But the father did
not bother. Instead, he kissed him several times.
Our sins are as stinky as a filthy rag. But nonetheless, God kissed us and
cleanse us from all our sins that make us unclean and stinky before God. God has
already taken care every sin that we have on the cross. Now, we are a sweat aroma,
like burning incense before the presence of the Most High.

Conclusion:

Before the son could ever speak his rehearsed speech, the father silenced
him with this word, Lets have a feast and celebrate. For the son of mine was dead
and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

God would never intend us to be slave to sin and its sting. He wants us to live
free as His beloved sons and daugthers.