Free but Not Cheap – March 14, 2024

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8,9

Free but Not Cheap

I know some people who go crazy for free stuff. Maybe you’re one of them. It doesn’t matter what it is—candy, a pen, a magnet, etc., some people get incredibly excited when they get anything free. To be honest, I’m not one of those people. You see, I’ve been given enough free stuff to see that most of the free stuff isn’t really all that valuable. It’s often cheap and breaks. And, just between you and me, most of the stuff people give me for free often ends in the trash.

You see, I know how the world works. If you want to find something of value, you have to work for it. It can’t just be given to you! People usually aren’t handed paid-for houses, cars, or a college education. Those things have value and are worth something. And to get them, you have to put forward effort. You have to pour your blood, sweat, and time into acquiring those types of things—things that have value. Right?

And yet, that’s not how forgiveness with God works. The Bible tells us there isn’t anything in us that compels God to love us or want us. And there isn’t anything an individual can do to earn their spot in heaven. No, the Bible tells us that God’s forgiveness and eternal life has been given to us because of God’s grace.

We might be tempted to think that this gift is cheap. After all, we know so often through life experiences that anything given for free isn’t worth all that much. But not so with God’s grace. No, this is an expensive gift, and the high price was paid so we could have it. This gift cost Jesus his life. Free, but not cheap!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for giving your life on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven, and heaven could be my home. Amen.