Costly Repentance

September 29

(Acts 19:19-20 NIV) “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. {20} In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

(2 Corinthians 9:13 NIV) “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ…”

(Matthew 3:8 NIV) “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

(Jonah 2:8 NIV) “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

When the Ephesians saw the power of God, they responded with a costly repentance. They publicly burned all their expensive sorcery books. Their lives and their values had changed. When was the last time that your relationship with Jesus cost you anything? What have you sacrificed as a result of repentance? Churches today have become adept at touting what they offer to those who attend. Seldom is anyone asked what they have to offer to the church, or told what they must surrender in order to come. We try to make Christianity as easy and as cheap as possible. Costly repentance does not sell very well in a consumer-oriented culture. Advertising benefits will always draw a bigger crowd than calling for sacrifice. But here is the truth: God’s grace is offered freely, but following Jesus will always cost you something. Any gospel that tells you otherwise is a false gospel. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day