The Divine Exchange
BRD REFLECTIONS
Romans 5:1-11 and Psalm 126 (NIV)
(Adam Leong, Chairperson, Family Life Ministry)
READ:
Romans 5:1-11 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8b)
This verse reveals to me the nature of the God we worship and adore. A loving God who takes the first step in reconciliation (even though He did not cause the estrangement). A just God who seeks to show mercy and grace. A holy God, who will not tolerate unholiness, sets up the divine exchange so that sinners, who cannot save themselves, can turn to a Saviour and be saved … for eternity.
As I begin to let this sink into my being, I realise how much God loves me and how precious I am in His sight. Somebody asked, “How do you define the value of an item”. The reply, “It depends on how much someone is willing to pay for it.” In the case of my soul, God deems that it is worth the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. But praise be to God, Jesus did not stay dead …. God raised Him from the grave on the third day. Hallelujah!
At Calvary, Christ took my sin and gave me His righteousness.
The divine exchange not only saved me from the punishment and wrath of God but allowed me to spend eternity with God and to call Him Abba, Father.
The thought of this fills my heart to overflowing with gratitude and love for God.
APPLY:
Knowing that I have been forgiven, now I can follow Christ’s example and forgive those who have offended or hurt me. When I realise how unworthy I am and the cost for my redemption, I am moved to a posture of humility and gratefulness.
However forgiving others, or following Christ’s example, has not been easy for me. In fact it would be impossible if not for the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ sent to me. The Holy Spirit reminds me of Christ’s work at Calvary and this creates in my heart a deep compassion for others who have hurt me.
At the end of the day, to forgive those who have hurt or offended me is a choice I make, not depending on my feeling. I choose to follow Christ’s example and obey His command to forgive. The pain and anger may still be there after releasing forgiveness but over time as I continue to submit to God my decision to forgive, the divine exchange takes place. His love and grace is poured into my heart and He removes my anger and heals my pain. But I need to let go, I need to forgive before the healing can take place.
DO:
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will also work in your heart as you journey with Christ as His disciple.
Learning to forgive and the practice of forgiveness is a lifetime process. As I continue to journey on this earth, there is always a chance that someone may offend or hurt me. And so I will always need to choose to obey Jesus and forgive.
I pray that you will also choose to do likewise.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your forgiveness and love for me. Thank You for Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sin at Calvary. And because of Jesus’ death at Calvary, I can call You Abba, Father and spend eternity with You, worshipping You, knowing You.
Thank You Jesus for Your divine exchange.
I ask that You, Lord Jesus, continue to remind me what it means to believe You, follow You and love You. Help me to forgive those who seem unforgiveable to me by remembering that in Your Holy presence, I was unforgiveable.
In Your most Holy Name I pray, Amen.
