Day 7

Cheap grace. Think about those words. What do they mean? The best way to work through words like this is to break them down:

• CHEAP: costing very little, inexpensive, of small value, embarrased. When you "cheapen" something, you make it have very little value. Think of the things that at first, you thought they were priceless. But, after time, they just became "things". That is "cheapening" something.
• GRACE: Favor, good will, unmerited favor. It's not just a prayer before you eat. It's deeper than that. It's something you get even though you don't deserve it. It's something meaningful you receive when you deserve punishment.

Think about God's grace. Why does God show grace on us? Is it because we deserve it? No, it's because He wants us to change. He wants us to become like Him. We cheapen God's grace when our relationship with Him doesn't change us... or ceases changing us.

Today, get someplace quiet. Limit the noise. Limit the distractions. Turn off your cell phone. get a notebook out. Get your Bible or go onto www.youversion.com (it's an online Bible program) and look up one or more of the verses on "grace" (you can type it in on the website on the top right and it will show you several verses with the word "grace" in it) Or read through Romans 6. It talks about how we "cheapen" grace by continuing to sin.

As you think and read... "chew" on this thought: Has God's grace changed you? Or have you stopped changing?

You see, when we keep our relationship with God to ourselves, we cheapen His grace. When we continue to do the same thing over and over, and we know God wants us to change, we cheapen His grace. And while this may be unintentional, it's true. And we need to think about the ways we "cheapen" His grace so that we can change.

The challenge... stop "cheaping" God's grace. Today, call someone you know that doesn't have a relationship with Jesus, and invite them to a youth group event or church this Easter. They need to know about God's grace. And you can make His grace a little more of a "big deal" simply by taking it out and showing it to those around you... your friends need to know about Jesus... introduce them to Him today. And if you don't know anyone who doesn't have a relationship with Him... then meet someone. Pray that God would connect you with someone who needs to know about His grace.