Category: Monday Thursday

The Great Exchange: MT episode 14

Little over a year ago while driving down the interstate there was a suitcase on the side of the road. It had sat there for over a week, and I just had to investigate.

One of the very few treasures that made me chuckle was these gloves. These gloves made me go back in time, all the way back to college. We had intramural football. My buddies and I were average, maybe a little below average football player.

I knew what I needed to be great was a pair of gloves. Yes, these would make me much better. The cheapest I could find were around $70 which is way too much on a college budget. So, I kissed intramural football greatness goodbye.

That is the thought that made me laugh at myself. The gloves, NOW FREE, would have made no difference in my ability to catch the ball (unless I lathered on some stick ‘em). My best with the gloves is horrible.

Those gloves on the hands of Jerry Rice? Now you are talking. That would be perfect. It is not the gloves that make the receiver, it is the receiver who makes the gloves. I would need Jerry Rice hands, arms, legs and the gloves to be better. This is the exchange I need- his for mine. This is unrealistic and silly to consider.

How does this relate to Jesus? One of my favorite New Testament passages in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Martin Luther called this passage, “The Great Exchange.” Why?

“For our sake, God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

For the believer an exchange took place. Christ is my righteousness. Christ is in my place. Christ took my sorrow and shame (and there was and is plenty of it) and gave me His perfect righteousness. This is the exchange. realistic change. Christ in my place. I will take that all day!

S.D.G.

From East to West: MT e13

There is not a thanksgiving celebrated that at some point in the day I do not think of my oldest sister.  Many decades ago, when I was about 4, our family was getting ready for the Thanksgiving Day traditional meal: turkey. 

My sister was cutting the pieces of the turkey with an electric knife and somehow cut the end off one of her fingers.  Of course, panic ensues and quick action to wrap the injury and off to the emergency room.

They were able to stitch the injury and in due time normal use of that digit was restored (except she never regained the ability to feel in the end of that finger.)

Through all these years, I can only remember once that we even talked about this incident.  Every year, I think of this at least one time through this day.

What is the lesson for us?

  1. Be careful with this electric knife today
  2. Psalm 103 speaks of God’s great love and compassion for His people.  It says, He does not deal with us according to our sins. 

Then it makes 2 comparisons:

  1. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love towards those who fear him
  2. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us.

Why did it say east from west and not north from south?  I have an idea: when you begin from the south pole and start going north you eventually reach the north pole.  If you keep traveling, you will at that point stop going north and begin to go south.

But if you start in London and go to NYC you are going east from the west.  If you were to continue traveling, even if you make it all the way back to London  you will still be going west. 

It means, your sins are forever removed.  They are cut from you.  Not attached to you.  The thing they were able to do with my sisters finger all those years ago cannot be done to the believer. 

For this we who are in Christ are to be the MOST thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving (be careful Y’all) SDG