Costly
Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus how precious is your faith to you? How precious is God’s Grace to you?
The other day a friend on Facebook noted she’d been at a sporting event when a friend of hers seeing her son do something wrong said, “O my G___”. This person was suppose to be a believer in Christ Jesus yet she was taking the Lord’s name in vain. It shocked my friend.
Sadly many of who go to church and claim to be believers in Christ Jesus do take the name of the Lord in vain.
Christianity has in many circles become a culture in which God and Jesus are simply a part.
Many come to church to socialize. They come because in their social circles going to church is the thing to do. Such people know the right things to say in church. They know how they are expected to act. Sadly however many do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still others while they have a personal relationship with Jesus, they fail to see the true cost of their salvation. The true cost of the grace that brought them salvation.
Dietrich Bonhoefer a German Cleric wrote,
“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.
It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.
It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.
Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us.
Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
Please think about it.
Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus how precious is your faith to you? How precious is God’s Grace to you?
The other day a friend on Facebook noted she’d been at a sporting event when a friend of hers seeing her son do something wrong said, “O my G___”. This person was suppose to be a believer in Christ Jesus yet she was taking the Lord’s name in vain. It shocked my friend.
Sadly many of who go to church and claim to be believers in Christ Jesus do take the name of the Lord in vain.
Christianity has in many circles become a culture in which God and Jesus are simply a part.
Many come to church to socialize. They come because in their social circles going to church is the thing to do. Such people know the right things to say in church. They know how they are expected to act. Sadly however many do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still others while they have a personal relationship with Jesus, they fail to see the true cost of their salvation. The true cost of the grace that brought them salvation.
Dietrich Bonhoefer a German Cleric wrote,
“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.
It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.
It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.
Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us.
Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.
Please think about it.
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