“My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30, NIV)

We are taught early in our relationship with Christ that grace is given freely – that Christ died to free us from our sins. His grace has set us free. And His grace is free.

Am I to understand that since Jesus did it all, we don’t need to do a thing – other than to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior? But doesn’t that mean we can keep on living the way we always have? We can continue to sin and not worry about the consequences? Some people would say that’s the way it is. They accept Christ so they’re on their way to live with Him in eternity! Nothing in their lives needs to change – other than the fact that they now believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior!

But wait! What about confessing your sins? What about living a “transformed” life – one that mimics the way Christ lived? What about giving up your old way of life and living (and dying) for Christ? In my mind, there is a price we must pay to receive the grace that Christ gives us so freely!

True grace has a cost. It’s found when people go and sell everything they have in order to develop their relationship with Christ. It’s found in Christ’s sovereignty, when we are willing to tear out an eye if it causes us to stumble. It’s found in the call of Jesus Christ which causes a person to leave his “net” and follow Him.

It’s costly, because it calls us to discipleship; it is grace, because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly, because it costs people their lives; it is grace, because it thereby makes them live a transformed life. It is costly, because it condemns sin; it is grace, because it justifies the sinner. Grace is costly, because it was costly to God, because it cost God the life of His own Son and because nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God. Above all, it is grace because the life of God’s Son was not too costly for God to give in order to bring us to everlasting life!

So the next time you consider the gift of grace, consider the cost – it really isn’t free. But when we accept it, and we live under His “yoke”, we become free – free to love like never before!

Enjoy your day, “Working for Christ!”