Counting the Cost

 The grace that comes with the Christian life is costly grace! Yes, it is transforming and powerful, but we must never forget it also came at a price. It is easy, in our circle of believing friends to talk about grace, but we very rarely speak how costly this grace is. Often someone will remind us that grace is a gift that God offers to all who will come to him through Christ, and this is true. But we must also understand that the giver paid a price for the gift, God's price was his Son.

A costly gift can also prove costly for the one receiving the gift. As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to live as his disciples. Our lives are no longer our own but belong to the Savior and here is where we experience the cost of the gift. Here is where we must understand that to follow Jesus we will pay a price. The bigger question is this, are we willing to count the cost?

Are we open to be challenged by friends or family over our new "religious views"? Are we strong enough to walk away from relationships that do not honor God? Are we able to stand up to the mocking of others? Yes, grace is a gift but following Jesus can prove to be it a costly gift.

We Christians are justified by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. However, we must understand it is grace through Jesus Christ, not through any other association or any actions of anyone other than Christ. And let us remember it is costly grace. When I think about this costly grace I am often reminded of a phrase spoken by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book The Cost of Discipleship, "The only man who has the right to say that he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Jesus."

RefRev