Matthew 24:3 "As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately saying: Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the close of the age?" And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray." For one day we will all stand before Him in a holy place. Our adversary knows how to tempt us astray. One plan the adversary has for each of us is to make us satisfied in working as hard as we can at being good, moral Christians. Making the right choices. Someone called it: Cheap Grace at the expense of holiness. The Olivet Discourse calls us to costly grace.
"God means for us to obey His rules, we say, but if we don't
(and no one does),
He's really quite understanding. That's our view of grace.
It's what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls cheap grace.
It develops when we talk about grace
before we tremble at God's holiness." Eugene Peterson
"And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another"
ReplyDeleteI was just talking with someone this past weekend who is falling away, while her children are watching on the sideline. Her marriage is falling apart. Her kids are trying to pull her back and in her selfishness she is making some very bad choices. I don't like watching a 25 year marriage fall apart and watch someone I love fall away. My loved one sees how I've made it through a divorce (several years later) and thinks it's not so bad. She sees my life on the other side after a lot of forgiveness and a lot of God's tender-loving care. Lord, please keep our eyes on You and protect the families. I know Your way is best!
xoxo
When asked of the Last Days, Jesus tells them there will be wars, earthquakes, famines and then tells them "See that you are not alarmed because this is not the end.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing Jesus says, however, is "See that no one leads you astray." He's talking to His own here not the lost. Many of our hearts will grow cold, void of love, and we will fall away. Lord, guard our hearts!
In light of yesterday's verses warning us to not get so caught in the small details of sin (straining gnats!) and ignoring justice and mercy, the greater Law--how easily I can be led astray, caught up in the details but missing the boat about Who He is, What He came for and my part in furthering His Kingdom.
Many come using His Name. And they have power to produce signs, miracles." We must be careful to know His Word, keep our hearts warm with love and mercy, and not worry even if the world is falling down around us. It will.
And then...this time in power and glory from that same mountain that He spoke from today:
" For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man!" Matthew 24:27
"Behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Revelation 22:6-7
Bev,
ReplyDeleteI so need to hear this reminder today! Thank you! We hear a lot about grace, but so very few are willing to talk about trembling at God's holiness. Few can handle the just and holy side of His Character. Understandably, He is too scary even in goodness. Yet His holiness must always be revered first to grasp authentic grace.
Keep reminding us. Let us embrace the whole character of God.
Bev, it's uncanny how you read my heart, so many miles away. "Cheap Grace", your title for the day, spoke to my heart. I was on a plane yesterday, sitting by a young lady with a Islamic-type headcovering, and I felt like I should share Christ with her, I didn't feel an opening to do so, so in the end, I said nothing, just silently prayed for her.
ReplyDeleteI feel for her today, I wish I had the courage to speak up, I don't want to cheapen the gift of Grace by not sharing the gospel.
So many times I either don't speak, because I am afraid to offend.
It is easier for me to write than to speak, I often say the wrong thing at an inappropriate time.
I pray to day for greater sensitivity.
2 Timothy 1:8 "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. "
And many will fall away, I watch with a broken heart as 2 family members fall away. One has decided the Bible was written by men and can be changed, the other doesn't understand why her life is falling apart because of an affair and divorce and her justification of her life choices.
ReplyDeleteWe have all made poor choices, but we cannot tell ourselves - God will forgive me, I'll do it and repent. We must endeavor to live a holy life, pleasing to the Lord.
Annette H
As we sang the doxology yesterday in church and one or two other songs about the holiness of God...I praised Him, yet part of me wondered IF I truly know how holy He is and IF I treat Him with the awe and respect that He is more than due. Great verses to think upon today. I do not want to be guilty of cheapening grace, His amazing grace. We do need to be aware of false voices around us, and they are around us. There are signs of His coming and may it be soon, however NO one can say when that will be for only the Father knows when that it is. May we each then live as though it were today and seek Him and reverence Him. What a blessing to read the other comments and see your hearts.
ReplyDeleteEach one of your have posted such great thoughts on Grace. Bev the thought of "Cheap Grace" makes me ill and yet I'm sure at some time or other I am guilty. Annette you penned it so well "trembling in God's holiness". Lord help me to move more in that direction. When I see his grace at work, I am so thankful and yet my thoughts move on and this is a call for me to focus more time on the holiness of God as I live my daily life.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the command in scripture where God says "Be Holy for I am Holy" is a thought I need to keep more in the front of my mind also.
God has given me gifts but writing is not one of them. Bev, Annette, Deborah and Jan you are such gifted writers as are many others on this blog. Thank you for encouraging me with your thoughts and this scripture selection today.
This is a Song I must Sing, Sylvia
"For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."
ReplyDeleteJohn the beloved saw Christ in His Glory when he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the Isle of Patmos.
Revelation 1 describes John's reaction when he saw the One he had supped with, had walked beside, had listened to and witnessed him alive and walking among them.
When John saw Christ as His Glorified self, John fell as dead!
Can you just imagine the difference between Christ's humanity and His divinity?
We would all fall as dead at His Glorious Feet!
He watches us now. He sees every single thing we do. Grace should shame us into greater obedience. I pray that a strong conviction would fall on us to stir us on to greater levels of faith.
My mom always had eyes in the back of her head. She knew when we were doing wrong. And she was not the type to let things go. She was not permissive. She loved us too much to let us get off track.
If we belong to God, we want Him parenting us in a way that KEEPS us from sin. It always takes us farther than we planned to go. And it always hurts innocent people.
Daddy ABBA, keep us in Your safe path. Don't let us stray. I pray that You would yank some wandering souls by their hair and get them back in line with Your Plan. Time is short. Today is the day to set things right and back in order. Let us be obedient to You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Sylvia, you always bless me with your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAlways.
Each one of you has brought such richness to our girl-time here. I know that a solitary pearl gives off great beauty...but a string of pearls...? That's the greatest display of the oyster's painful product...the pearl.
Twinkle, Thank you for your encouragement in my writing skills.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Sylvia Ann...I second Twinkle.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so cute. It's not the words that pierce it is the Living Word who divides asunder the present places of our hearts. And HE uses the thoughts and intentions of all our hearts. We may hear a profound word, a poetic device that shatters our world, but one never knows. Tonight I was at Taco Cabana with my husband for a treat. I went back for seconds on an item hoping I didn't have to pay more than $1.50. I asked the waiter how much? And he replied: don't worry about it. Free. Thanking Him and him, I turned and tears hotly and holy spilled down my cheeks. The Presence of my God in that moment has no words from me. It was an Emmaus moment. You might say I'm a little crazy but people don't give free food in restaurants, quite the opposite. You NEVER know what words God will use---"don't worry about it." It was as though God spoke it to me, Don't worry, Bev, I am providing for you this night, forever. You are going to be okay. That's my Taco Cabana story for tonight. Keep on sharing Sylvia Ann and every one of you. I need you! My Love, Bev
I'm pretty tender and tendentious and tired and teary and tawdry and ...
ReplyDeleteIt is such a joy for me to come for a respite here every day and find myself, find aha moments, find a Good God in midst of our messes, glorious messes! I cannot thank each of you enough for risking to bare a thought, a peek, a tale, a piece of your very soul.