Grace does not run in the blood

Grace pours out from Heaven in such a flood that it cannot even be compared to Niagara Falls. But grace does not run in bloodlines.

A study of Jesus' lineage shows a curious mixture of good and bad royalty. Even in those written in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews were counted righteous, but certainly were not sinless. Humans have this wonderful tendency to be oh so very good, but when bad are particularly horrid.

Something I had not thought about before is those wicked kings that show up in Jesus’ lineage. Matthew Henry points out that grace does not run in the blood. Here’s what he says:

Some observe what a mixture there was of good and bad in the succession of these kings; as for instance (Matt. 1:7-8), wicked Roboam begat wicked Abia; wicked Abia begat good Asa; good Asa begat good Josaphat; good Josaphat begat wicked Joram. Grace does not run in the blood, neither does reigning sin. God's grace is his own, and he gives or withholds it as he pleases.

Often times we think because of who our father is or who our mother is  that gives us a hall pass to do as we please. Some of that is ego, but most of it comes from a false belief of entitlement. That respect paid to the “great” person in our life has a tendency to bleed down (or over) to us, but it truly is because of nothing we have done.

By the same token, that respect and love given to us as believers in Christ from other believers in Christ first comes because Jesus commanded it. Then as relationships blossom that trust and respect comes to us because of who we are in Christ, how we relate to others, and even returning that respect and love we initially received.

Then, because we are humans and fallible, something goes wrong, tension rises, anger flares, feelings are hurt and we suddenly withdraw our trust of the other believer. We steer clear of him or her. We hold grudges. We might hold back gossiping about it, and feel very pious about that. When all the time Jesus is saying, “Forgive, love, because that is the only way the world knows Who I AM!”

Grace.

Just as God delivers grace to those whom He will so, too, should we. Who are we to withhold grace from our brothers and sisters in Christ when the ultimate forgiveness and love was poured out from Heaven to the cross and swept the world?

Grace does not run in the bloodlines, but receiving it is a definite choice. There are we happy. That is a two-way heart throb that God pours out from Heaven directly into our hearts if we open them up to it. We sing the song, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord. My question is, how can He if we lock the doors of our heart and keep them embedded in stone?