One of my favorite authors is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In his book, The
Cost of Discipleship, he wrote, “Cheap grace is grace without
discipleship… Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and
again… It is costly because it cost a man his life, and it is grace
because it gives a man the only true life.”
If you will
read Luke 14:25-33, you will see how Jesus addresses those following Him
who want to experience the excitement of His ministry without really
being part of any commitment. Just on the sidelines is what I call
Bonhoeffer’s “cheap grace” crowd. Jesus addresses their motives for
being there. If they want to follow Him without making any personal
sacrifice, they will never understand the depth of what it means to know
Him. Three times he reveals why they can't be be a disciple: they love
their family and their own desires more than Him; they will not carry
their cross and follow Him, and they will not give up everything for His
sake.
The Lord seeks a disciple who believes that loyalty
and love for Him is greater than any other attachment or even his
deepest relationship. He has counted the cost of this commitment, and is
willing to pay it. He has placed himself completely under the guidance
of His Master, and has a love for Him that is greater than he has for
anyone or anything else. This disciple has resolved to give and also
give up whatever is necessary to follow Him. Jesus’ question in Luke 14
about the crowd's willingness to give up everything is not addressed to
those twelve disciples who have have already given everything. His
question is directed to others on the sideline who offer quickly to
serve, and then fade away when the cost of commitment becomes too great.
Jesus' requirement to “carry your cross” calls for a
commitment to sacrificially follow Him, and make a daily decision to
deny self. Each believer has a cross made just exactly for the amount of
faith that needs to be tested and matured. His cross has to be more
than he can bear, or he will not be spiritually stretched. Carrying our
cross will mean nothing if it does not make us seek more of Him in order
to carry it. Each one of us must be willing to honestly evaluate
ourselves. Am I a part of that crowd that thinks I have carried my cross
for Him only to discover I have little sticking power? Am I one who has
cheapened His grace by not paying the price that is needed? Am I one
who hasn't counted the cost? Am I on the sidelines or a disciple? Do I
love other things more than Him? Have I sacrificially committed to
follow Him? Where am I?
Lord, I don't want to be part of
the “cheap grace” crowd, who by their callous hearts do not recognize
the cost that was paid on the cross. I want to be one of the “costly
grace” group, who understands the depth of your sacrifice, and gives all
for you. I want to be spiritually stretched until I become all you see
in me, and all that I haven’t realized myself. Take me and use me. I
have counted the cost and I am willing the pay the price....whatever it
might be.
No comments:
Post a Comment