As Good Friday rapidly approaches it’s the perfect time for us to take a deeper look at Jesus’ death on the cross. The crucifixion is the single, most pivotal, life-changing moment in history because of what Jesus accomplished through it. Truly, the cross is the place of exchange!
The crucifixion has always been incredibly emotional for me as I see the incredible price Jesus paid to redeem me. It’s something I haven’t been able to watch because of all the indescribable anguish, pain and suffering Jesus endured. And when I read the accounts of it in the Bible it leaves me with tears in my eyes.
However, in recent years God has helped me to understand what truly happened at Calvary. Yes, it was a time of unimaginable pain, suffering and anguish for Jesus but it was also the time when God made redemption of sins available to every person who would receive it.
WE ARE REDEEMED THROUGH THIS EXCHANGE
I have come to understand that the cross is truly the place of exchange. We come to God by faith with our filthy robes of sin and shame and in exchange He gives us Jesus’ robes of righteousness as He forgives us of our sins. Remember that Jesus is the perfect lamb of God who never sinned and because of this He is the only one who was able to pay in full for our sins. And with this incredible exchange comes salvation and redemption for us. We are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to God’s kingdom of light! (Colossians 1: 12-14)
It’s mind-blowing when you think about it. Yet, it reinforces to us in a powerful way the depth of our incredible God’s love, forgiveness, kindness, grace, mercy and compassion. It’s overwhelming to think of this incredible gift of salvation that God makes freely available to everyone who would receive it.
This great exchange that happens at the cross means that we receive eternal life instead of eternal death, righteousness in place of our sins, healing for our sickness, peace in place of our fears and joy in place of depression. It’s incredible to see what God has lavished on us through this exchange.
HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO THE INVITATION OF THIS GREAT EXCHANGE?
How then can we respond with anything less than a complete surrender of our lives to Jesus? And as we do our God will save us, transform us into Jesus’ image and fulfil His every purpose for our lives.
If you have never given your life to Jesus won’t you consider this incredible exchange that is available to you? God’s love, forgiveness, kindness, mercy and compassion are freely available if you will just come to Him, turn from your sins and receive Him by faith. What will you say today as God offers you this incredible exchange?
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