What's been your favorite gift exchange?
Our family has had some doozies. This year an extended family side exchanged “guilty pleasures.” [I almost had the book I wanted!] It was almost as good as the chocolate year.
On another family side, a huge gallon-sized can of empty beans has appeared and reappeared in past white elephant gift exchanges. Let’s not forget the singing bass fish or a certain singing president. [Won’t say which one.]
Of course, there were serious exchanges, too, especially with our children. Yet sadly, none have ever contained the greatest physical gift I could ever imagine —a greenhouse. [Yet. Someday.]
Still, often what we ache for most at Christmas, money could never buy. But let’s put aside our longings and desires in this natural world and look to the greatest gift ever given to us in Jesus Christ.
For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 TPT
Let that sink in for a moment. He became actual sin for me so that I would become righteousness. My sin for His righteousness. His righteousness for my sin. Isn’t that the best gift ever?
Friends, welcome to the most glorious Christmas exchange that you will ever be part of!
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed in Jesus Christ, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. Jesus Christ took up all of my pain and griefs and bore my suffering and sorrows on the cross. He was pierced for my transgression and crushed for my iniquities. The punishment that brought me peace was on Him. By his wounds I am healed.
Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, became actual sin in my behalf, so that I could become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus poured out His life unto death—for me. I have been made right with God through Christ.
I am therefore in Christ—a new creature. The old things have passed away and now all things are new. In Him I am saved and I dwell securely. I call Him by the name—The Lord My Righteousness.
In the Lord I have righteousness and strength. The gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish. The righteous will live by faith. I will live my day today with my faith securely set on Jesus Christ.
(Based on 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:12, Romans 3:21, Jeremiah 33:16, Romans 1:17, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 45:24, Isaiah 53:4-5)
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Aleisha
* Please send this to someone who is a gift in your life. Let them know that Jesus Christ has allowed them participate in the greatest gift exchange ever known to mankind and how happy you are for them that you and they are together the body of Christ. Let them know you love them. Yah, let them know that too.