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REFLECTION

Grace is free, but it’s not cheap is the theme for our reflection. Grace can be defined as an unmerited mercy or favour. In other words, we do not merit God’s mercy, forgiveness and salvation yet Jesus saved us and called us to become His disciples and children of God. For this reason, Jesus said “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27). In other words, grace is free but not cheap! We must be ready to bear the cost of discipleship even as we recieve the free gift of grace. We must be willing to make Jesus the centre of our lives and put all others including our very selves at the periphery.

Truly, Grace is free but not cheap. Forsaking family or denying family to become a disciple of Christ is a big cost and a decision one has to make after receiving the free grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. The love we have for our family members can be so strong that we may turn to lose focus in our journey as disciples of Christ by having divided attention. In other words, because “blood is thicker than water” we may become sympathetic and influenced by family even to the point of compromising our call and service to God. Again, our individual interests and pursuit of pleasure may also compromise our call and discipleship.  It is for this reason, Jesus admonishes us that ” “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)

Grace is free, but not cheap because “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). If Jesus had not suffered and died a miserable and shameful death on the cross to save us, we would have incurred the wrath of God and perish in our sins. Paul again poses the question and gives an emphatic answer “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!…” (Romans 6:1-2). It is important to always keep in mind that grace was free but did not come on a silver platter because it took the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, hence anyone who receives this grace of salvation must carry the cross of suffering on account of Jesus Christ only but a little while as we await His second coming and our full salvation and final glory. Shalom.

PRAYER

Jesus our Lord and Saviour, we are grateful that your grace has found us, may it be sustained in our lives even as we bear the cost of discipleship and await our full redemption and Your final and glorious appearing.  Amen.