As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see,now is the day of salvation!
--2 Corinthians 6:1-2
It was first published in 1937. The concepts and teachings in the book have had a triumphant march through the ensuing years and have touched the hearts and challenged the thoughts of its readers. The book is The Cost of Discipleship and the author is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran theologian, who was executed by the Nazis toward the end of World War II.
Bonhoeffer's book is a treatise on the grace of God. He unpacks phrases such as "cheap grace" and "costly grace." One classic example of "cheap grace" is suggested by the Apostle Paul in this week's epistle reading. It's this possibility of accepting the grace of God in vain. When that is done, grace is cheapened. When people, having heard the Gospel of God's love in Jesus Christ, seek to put it off for consideration at another time, then what does that say about the Gospel for them? It's not that important. They have, as it is said, "other fish to fry."
But the acceptable time is not at some point in the future when we get around to it. The acceptable time is not when we've determined that all our prerequisites for religion and spirituality have been met. The acceptable time is not when all our "felt needs" have been addressed.
The acceptable time is always right now. The grace of God, wonderful and life-giving as it is, is costly. It cost God the life of His Son. The proper response is receptivity -- receiving the gift. Gratitude for such a gift flows from that. Then comes the desire to live the gift and share it with someone else. Not a single one of these things are said and done in vain. None of them cheapen the grace of God.
PD
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