One step at a time…
Cheap grace (according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer) is when grace becomes an idea, a doctrine, a set of beliefs.
Check the boxes, believe the things, and you’re good.
He doesn’t believe this. To him, grace is an encounter with a person; namely, the risen Lord, Jesus Christ…
Grace is (you guessed it) an epiphany. A theophany. A manifestation. An encounter with Jesus Christ who is alive in the world calling us - begging us - to follow him because the full manifestation of God’s love is found in that encounter.
Relationship with Jesus is a wild ride. He’s unpredictable. He challenges our ideals and loves us when we see no love looking back at us in the mirror.
There is no law in this. No map.
One step at a time, fellow traveler. Onward.
In Joy,
Jonas+
Strangely, I experienced that relationship when I first believed in Jesus, and lived in that for some years.
Regrettably that gradually turned into living by works & rules & guidelines and I lost the intimacy of a relationship. Even though I kept on reading the Bible, praying, going to church, worshiping... it was stale & unsatisfying.
But the Lord kept on calling out my name, saying "come back to me, I love you dearly, and have always loved you. All your sins (of yesterday, today & tomorrow) are forgiven!" The mercy & grace & insistent / persistent love of my Lord is awesome!
Over the past several years I slowly began to turn back to Him and every step in His direction became easier and better. Along the way my dearly beloved wife and best friend of 40 years went home to Jesus. God was closely with me in all my grief!
I'm never going back to my old ways. Each day I strive to know Him better, to know His presence, and each day He keeps calling me closer, to walk with Him and talk with Him. to live in a living relationship with Him. I love you dearly my beloved Lord Jesus ❤️
So, my friend. I'm back to spending time with you every morning. So many years.