Cheap Grace

After the last church service I was ask about what I thought about "cheap grace" and whether I would write something on the blog about it.   I responded with an answer that I really hadn't thought much about but it leaped from my heart. I said something like this, "there is no cheap grace, we only treat it cheaply.  After that answer I decided to write about it because I started to feel a little convicted about my own response to grace at times.

When people talk about cheap grace it usually means two things to me. The first is licentious behavior, which has very little (if anything) to do with grace. This sounds something like this, "since Jesus died for my sins, I can do whatever I want because He has forgiven me"  (Jude 1:4). The second thing cheap grace reminds me of and I am occasionally guilty of is "the little foxes."

These are the little foxes that ruin the vineyard as it is blooming (Song of Solomon 2:15). There are times in my life that I have lost patience and "I just want what I want and I want it now!!" Unfortunately, these are times when I most likely damage the chance for new growth in my life. I trade the "opportunity for change" (my definition of grace) with some momentary satisfaction. I have slowed down my rate of change. It is at these moments that I cheapen grace.  I have traded now for some later chance at grace that I did not buy or earn. God's amazing grace is free but not cheap. The price was the sacrificial life of God's son, Jesus. 

I show little honor at the cost of God's grace when I trade away an opportunity that I did not buy.  Every opportunity to be changed into the likeness of Jesus is a precious gift. The opportunity for change is always now.  Now is the time of salvation (2Cor 6:1-2).

 

The Attitude of Gratitude

This is my (expanded) outline to a church homegroup I led the other day. It's about the attitude of gratitude.


Opening Question:
What was your most significant highlight for the week?

Question:
As an American what do you think is our worse character trait? My answer is "entitlement." The definition of entitlement is "the right to do or have" (Oxford Dictionary). It seems like Americans are programmed to think that we are entitled to whatever we want or can afford.

Question:
What was the most important character trait that you were taught in grade school?
Sharing
Teamwork
Honesty
Staying Within the Lines

For me it was saying Thank You. I had a fourth grade teacher who taught the class to say thank you and then if we did not say it in time, she would say "your welcome" anyway. Being competitive, I learned how to say thank you real fast. I learned to be polite, but being grateful is another lesson.


Topic: The Attitude of Gratitude
I'm a man stuck on learning to live by grace. In this way I am being taught by grace (Titus 2:11-12). There are enemies to living by grace and one of the most predominant in this culture is entitlement. Entitlement says we have earned (deserved) what we have and it is my right to have it. Entitlement does not acknowledge the gift (grace) or the giver.

Question:
What do you deserve today?
Sustenance- food & shelter
Liberty
Justice

Doesn't a single mother in the Sudan desert have a right to these things? Why doesn't she have them?


Entitlement presumes we are deserving and have earned the right to the things we have and enjoy. If we have earned the right to the things we have then we void grace and stop acknowledging God's hand in the world. Grace is a free undeserved gift not a reward. It is God who supplies.

The attitude of gratitude reminds and reinforces that the things we receive are gifts. It is a grace-tude. The word root of gratitude is gratis. This is Latin for grace (free gift).

Gratitude is more than polite behavior. Being polite is about respecting people. Gratitude is about living in humility and grace. This is where my soul is going to live for eternity. Ultimately, gratitude is a happy response (recognition) to God's love and care for us.


Question:
How do you feel about being thankful for eternity?
Thinking about this is humbling to me.

Gratitude verses: Colossians 2:7, 3:16 (There are a lot more)

Anti Grateful Verse: Romans 1:21


Question:
How do you show gratitude?

My suggestion:
Be appreciative and smile. Look people in the eye and say thank-you. Acknowledge the giver and the grace (gift, service) given to you.
Rejoice in the Lord always, be anxious for nothing, in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:4).

Conclusion:
Being grateful and showing gratitude are powerful ways to remind ourselves that by grace God supplies our needs. The attitude of gratitude is the anti-entitlement weapon of choice. Gratitude by its nature helps us to live in humility. With gratitude we become a more able instrument to receive and live in God's wonderful grace.


Worship Time: Two songs


Prayer Time: Pray for needs


Desert Time

Change of Service

A few weeks ago I was asked to serve the church I attend in a new capacity. I was asked to serve as a member of our Board of Elders for the next couple of years. I do not find such titles very liberating. In fact, for the last couple of weeks I've been "looking over my shoulder" wondering about every movie I rent, every word I say, and every helping of dessert I eat. I'm wondering about how I look, how my actions might be (mis)interpreted, or why someone else wasn't chosen for the position. From not meeting expectations to being too sanctimonious, I wondered what I looked like to others. Obsessing on this kind of stuff is not too good, but I can't just ignore these things because they can be important indicators. How I act can give a peek into my soul and you do want someone of good character in the position of Elder (1Pet 5:1-4). So why do I say yes to this chaos of uneasy feelings (hopefully short lived) and choose to serve in an expanded capacity?

Three things persuaded me to say yes to this service despite the uneasy onslaught. First and foremost was the definite feeling that the Holy Spirit was telling me to say yes and the definite knowledge that He was going to be unhappy if I said no despite my feelings of inadequacy. The second thing that compelled me to say yes is related to the first. Though His son, I am a steward to the Lord and the Master has called and given me new duties. Who am I to say no, as I am His servant. Although I have my weaknesses, it is His grace that is sufficient (2Cor 12:9) and this will be enough for me.

The third thing that persuaded me was my wife. She has been encouraging and supportive of this event even though she has several chronic and debilitating illnesses. Even though she would not be actively involved with the Board of Elders, without her support I would have declined the position. I have no illusions, she is my better half. God has used her as a crucible for my character. Learning to be with her through her suffering (twenty plus years) is one of the most instrumental lessons of my Christian life. She is very loyal, brave and loving. Yet, her biggest gift to me has been the opportunity (grace) to teach me how to grow a loving relationship through and in spite of suffering. I have learned to be a better servant of Christ because of her.

This decision has brought me through a storm of reasoning, emotional chaos, and prayer. After all is said and done, I stand resolved with this hope and prayer, to humbly and lovingly serve the Body of Christ (Luke 17:10).

Your Brother in Christ,

David C.