GUARD YOUR BEHAVIOR

1 Kings 8:22-2622
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: "O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below--You who keep Your covenant of love withYour servants who continue whole heartedly in Your way. 24 You have kept Your promise to Your servant David my father; with Your mouthYou have promised and with Your hand You have fulfilled it--as it is today. 25 Now Lord, God of Israel, keep for Your servant David my father the promises You made to him when You said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before Me as you have done.' 26 And now, O God of Israel, let Your word that You promised Your servant David my father come true."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a young German pastor who had the courage to oppose the Nazi party during the Second World War. His opposition cost him dearly--his very life.

Bonhoeffer is perhaps best remembered for his book The Cost of Discipleship. A phrase from this book you'll hear believers in Jesus use is "cheap grace." Here's how this modern-day martyr defined the concept:

"'Cheap grace' means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks'wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing."

No one can earn life eternal and gain the privilege of being considered a child of God by being good, working hard, following prescribed rituals, or inflicting pain and hardship on ourselves. These are gifts of God's grace--meaning that we cannot do anything to merit them.

This fact is what often sets faith in Jesus apart from other faiths. But it can also lead us to feel that the heavenly Father has no behavioral expectations for us. As a result, some people who claim to be followers of Jesus believe they can live carelessly and sin deliberately and assume that God just winks at such actions. Solomon's prayer of dedication for the Temple ought to dispel that "cheap grace" idea. Solomon repeated in his prayer what God told his father David: The children of Israel were to be "careful" in behavior if they expected His continued blessing.

We can't expect God's blessing on us if we don't guard our behaviorand live in a way that Jesus is honored by what we do. Forgiveness for our sin cost Him His very life. Let's not cheapen that sacrifice by continuing to act sinfully and carelessly. --Dean Ohlman

DESTINATION POINTS

* How often have I deliberately done something wrong and just assumed that it's no big deal since God will forgive me anyway?
* How can a "cheap grace" attitude ruin my witness for Jesus and turn me into a spiritual weakling?
* How much am I willing to sacrifice for the One who gave His life for me?

LINKS:
http://www.dbonhoeffer.org

bottom line: Selling grace short keeps us from God's riches.

soul journey