03.07.19 Cheap Grace

March 7

Jeremiah 6

13 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”

When it comes to spiritual growth, one of the most dangerous pitfalls is cheap grace. Spirituality never comes quickly or easily. Those who say it does are always selling something.

The prophet Jeremiah railed against those who dealt with the spiritual needs of his people as if a quick band-aid would solve the problem.

They say, “Peace, peace,” but there is no peace.  They are worse than an enemy. They are highly developed spiritual liars.

In twenty-first century America, we believe quick and easy are our birthrights. Our lives are full of things that leave us full but unsatisfied. It is as if we enjoy a spiritual diet of cream soda and marshmallows. We are so full we are about to burst, and so empty we are about to die.

Some folks realize this, and they go out looking for something real. Inevitably, there are those who offer to fill that need with something easy and quick.

If you Google, “Vision Quest,” you will find about 233 million web results. It only takes 1.35 seconds to find them all. (Those are Google’s figures, not mine, so they have to be true.)

Most of those web sites offer quick and easy ways to inner truth. Many of them tell you where to send your money to get expert advice. Some of them may be sincere. Who knows? A few might even be helpful.

But it took Jesus Christ 40 days of intensive fasting and praying to fulfill his quest. Do we really believe we can accomplish it faster than that? Are we so addicted to ten second sound bytes that we have forgotten how to listen to God?

Is it possible that God almighty wants to speak to you? Not to the world… not to the nation… not to your church or your clan… but to YOU? Could it be that God is only waiting for you to take time to listen?

Are you willing to get out of your car… out of your house… out of your own space… to go listen to God? Do you have time to wait for God to heal you… Deeply?

O Creator, my needs are too deep for a surface treatment. I will give you as much time as you need. Forgive me for seeking easy healing, and touch me from the inside out.