Day 301

Matthew 24:36-25:46; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-38. “Cheap Grace”

         “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
         In illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus told a story about three servants.  This story teaches us about the appropriate response to God’s grace.  To receive God’s grace and never change your life, actions, or behaviors is to be like the third servant, to not receive God’s grace at all.  This is what the great German theologian Bonhoeffer called cheap grace.
         The Apostle Paul was accused of promoting cheap grace by the Jewish believers who wanted the Gentile believers to follow the law.  In Romans 6:1-2, Paul sets the story straight, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness?  Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?  The invitation to receive God’s grace includes an expectation to take up your cross and follow Jesus (Matt. 10:38)

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?