“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:34-35

While at the gym this morning I listened to a Chip Ingram message on what it means to fully surrender to God.

This is the first day of a new year. Over the last few days of each year, I typically set a few goals and for me this year I’ve been thinking about reevaluatiing that idea of surrender and how that realates to the topic of discpleship.

When I consider the topic of what it means to be a disciple, the most challenging book I have read – outside of Scripture – inludes the quote below:

“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

For me the line that jumps off the page is “It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.”

I believe it is the difference between taking our Grace for granted and realizing the extreme price Christ was willing to pay for us by responding with total surrender holding nothing back.