Laying False Claim


As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:1 NIV
Over the years I have met far too many people that lay false claim to God's promises, particularly to grace. One would say that he or she is a "child of grace" as a means to do, say and act as they please, without concern for consequences. They practice Cheap Grace which has no real value at all. Genuine Grace always precedes and follows a sincere act of repentance. Real Grace sort of hems us into a place of reconciliation with the Father. Genuine Grace is when God gives us what we need versus what we deserve.
Years ago I would have said that people that have not gone through trouble should not speak of grace - I was wrong. People go through all sorts of hell and never realize a need for Christ or for grace. Your circumstances are irrelevant. The one real factor is to recognize your need and to respond to the aid that God is offering. Just like the salvation we have in Christ. It is always present in this world, but cannot be had unless we acknowledge a need for him. Likewise, grace is also something that is ever present, but can only be acquired by calling for it in honesty and sincerity.
People that practice Cheap Grace think of grace as a commodity. They think grace can be saved in a heavenly account or stored in a spiritual cabinet for a rainy day. The truth is that we get all the grace we need, but only for the day. Everyday there is a new supply that covers our needs. Just like manna, you can gather a lot or a little, but you will only have what you need (Exodus 16:18). I think grace (among other things) is designed that way so that we can remember to depend on the Lord everyday, for the rest of our lives.