Making a trade with God . . .

Usually the cult duos that come to my door are a trainer and the young person they are mentoring. Only once was that trainee an older woman. She seemed tentative, not yet totally convinced that she was learning the right way. I opened my Bible to 2 Corinthians and asked her if she had experienced the “great exchange.” She was curious and her ‘trainer’ seemed interested also. I read to them most of this passage . . .

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:14–21)

Then I explained that the “great exchange” was God taking our sin and putting it on Jesus Christ, and by this reconciling us to Himself as He put the righteousness of Christ on us, making us new creatures with a new purpose in life, forgiven and never ever having our sins counted against us.

At this, the trainee grabbed at my Bible and said, “Let me see that . . .” but the trainer grabbed her arm and pulled her away, down the steps and away from my house. I learned later that anyone who gives that message to their people is considered ‘satanic’ and their house is marked with an X on a map. They are told never to return to any house with that mark.

Why is that? The above Scripture is the good news of God, that message of salvation. Christ sets sinners free from the burden and guilt of sin and changes our lives. Because of Jesus, I am no longer in bondage to sin. I am new, able to see Him and others in a new way, the way God sees, because I am in Christ.

Also, this ‘great exchange’ makes me a citizen of heaven and an ambassador here on earth. My task is to implore others to be reconciled to God, to take part in the gospel, to become His ambassadors too — through faith in His Son.

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Lord Jesus, so much of the world is ‘living on the wild side’ or living for themselves. Many people hope they are doing right things and are ‘good enough’ to enter heaven when they die. Yet You said that You are the Way, the Truth, the Life and no one comes to the Father by any other way or name (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). Salvation involves total trust in You, not in me or what I can do. My part is willingly trading my sin for Your righteousness. What an awesome plan! Give me many opportunities to tell the people around me about this great exchange!

Today’s thankful list . . .

Salvation, free to me, costly to God.

Grace that is greater than I could ever dream or imagine!

A good community of believers that we can worship with.

Lunch with our friends.

Messages from a dear friend, and from my 101-year-old cousin.

Lovely weather and a drive in the country.

Yesterday, because I enjoy watching horses run, I wanted to see horses racing, and we did today — a surprise and so much fun.

Cowboy boots.

Some days feeling like God’s spoiled brat.

Pizza and a good movie.

A restful day.

Tough love? Or twisted love?

Last week I finished a fiction crime mystery in which the antagonist killed his first wife and tried to kill the second when they were pregnant. He didn’t want children. The odd part of the story is that this man was weeping as he did his evil deeds.

The story has him mentally ill, but it made me think of how twisted human thinking can be concerning love. The word is not only used for chocolate and pizza, but people claim great love for their family members as the reason for putting them to death. Sometimes they do it to ‘spare them’ from suffering. Sometimes they do it because they feel unloved in return.

The love of God is not like that. First and most important, His love is not conditional. That is, it does not depend on what we do or do not do. He loves because He is love and the very source of it . . .

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7–8)

This love wants the eternal best for His people. If His love is accepted, it becomes real and enjoyed. The problem comes when it is rejected. Then Satan’s biggest lie is readily accepted (“God does not love you”) and the idea of love is in danger of being perverted.

For instance, it is possible to discipline children because of love. Parents want their children to be safe, self-controlled, and able to treat others with respect. If love gets twisted, then parents might discipline because their children are annoying them or only because they had a bad day at work. This is not love.

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth with strong words of discipline. He didn’t want them to think he was being mean but to realize his words were driven by love. Love cares that other Christians live godly lives. Love will, if need be, do whatever is necessary to get those who stray back on track. At the same time, the one who is administering that loving discipline may feel conflicted . . .

But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. (2 Corinthians 1:23–2:4)

I can relate to Paul’s anguish. Who wants to speak harshly to those they love? I don’t. However, there are times when another person is harming themselves and others by their actions. Sometimes God puts it on my heart to say something, to speak the truth in love with whatever level of bluntness is required.

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Lord Jesus, this is always a tough assignment. I’m hoping You won’t test me on it today yet a test would not come as a surprise. Help me remember that love is not mushy nor is it cruel. Your love is about godliness. When I act like an unsaved person, it is love that wants a change. Because I can be stubborn, that change might require a swift kick or a smack to wake me up to my foolishness. Yet You do it in love, hugging me as You discipline me. Grant me the grace I need for whatever comes my way today.

Today’s thankful list . . .

Hot baths.

Apricots.

Visit from another granddaughter who came over on her day off work.

Quick mail order service.

PayPal making it easy to get paid.

Flowers, ferns, herbs and berries.

My incredibly thoughtful husband.

Making good decisions . . .

Because the Spirit of Christ lives in Christians, we often have two voices telling us what to do — His Spirit and our flesh. The flesh is that “I want . . .” nature and the Holy Spirit is that “God wants . . .” nature. Since the flesh is a sin-producing thing for which Christ died, and since Jesus said His people know His voice, it should be easy to tell the difference between the two, but that is not always the case. Throw in the pressure of the world, our peers who are not listening to God, and the devil who is an expert liar, and confusion can easily reign.

A friend called with a problem of two voices. She thought God was telling her to go speak to a woman involved with a married man. She thought her flesh was telling her not to do it. We prayed. It turned out that it was God telling her to stay put and the flesh that really wanted to give this other woman a piece of her mind.

The two voices are not always about something so serious. Sometimes I don’t know what to wear or cook for supper. I have a friend that used to pray as she stood in front of her closet. I used to think she was silly, but now I’m not laughing because I know that God will direct every step I take if I just listen. Is it important whether I wear the green or the red? Maybe not, but sometimes God’s plans include what seems like trivia to me.

Paul went through this two voices thing when he made his travel plans. He wanted to do the will of God and wanted to make decisions that fit with God’s plans. He wrote this:

I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:16–22)

Here he gives clues to discerning God’s will. One major one is to consider how God makes decisions; they are based on His character. He always wants the best for His people and always does what will reveal His glory.

Paul also looked at Jesus to see what kind of decisions He would make. Christ is the plumb-line. He clarifies the way so I can know how to live.

The Holy Spirit is also involved. He lives in my heart and He can give me an anointing and a special kind of peace that is assurance as I make decisions.

My application for today is making decisions in this way. If there is a conflict between my “I wants” and the “will of God” I may not realize which is which. I need to consider the character of God, the life of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit to my heart.

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Lord Jesus, this sometimes happens naturally and without much thought or struggle, but that can be dangerous if I happen to slip into complacency and stop paying attention to You. Make me very aware of the choices that I need to make and any voices of conflict that might interfere with making the godly choice. May all that I decide today honor You!

Today’s thankful list . . .

Sunshine.

Peanut butter and banana bunwiches.

The postal clerk who smiles every time I come in.

Email and other forms of quick communication.

Getting tested on decision making and having this devotional help me pass the test!

Able to start quilting that pink ballerina quilt.

Finding some fun games to send to a fun great-grandson.