Easter: Grace That Changes Everythingਨਮੂਨਾ

Day 2: Price Check

In Day 1 of this plan, we discussed God's loving response to our sins. We mentioned that God was honest about what their sin had cost them in the story of Adam and Eve.

In the Christian tradition, one way we can think of sin is that it is anything we think, say, or do that drives us further away from God's love. Sin can cause us to reject the love that God has for us, and it can lead us to withhold God's love from others. But the cost of pursuing sin is not just fractured relationships with God and others but also robbing ourselves of joy and peace. Romans 6:23 summarizes this by saying, "The wages of sin is death…"

Thankfully, that's not where the verse ends.

"… BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Death is what our sin costs us, BUT God has a different plan. He calls this plan grace.

God's grace is an unearned gift. We could rewrite Romans 6:23 to say, "Death is what you earned, but because of Jesus, God is giving you life instead."

This is what is often called "The Great Exchange." We see this play out in the Easter story. We were the ones who sinned, yet Jesus paid the cost. Jesus was the one who was faithful, yet he gave us the gift of abundant life.

And what does Jesus want in return for this abundant life?

It could be easy to think that the main thing Jesus wants from us might be obedience. And, certainly, we should obey God. But we must be careful not to fall into the trap of believing that we must maintain a certain standard to keep the gift that God has offered freely.

Rather, the Christian writer Julian of Norwich said that the only thing Jesus wants in return for his gift is to give us pleasure. Jesus wants to be present with us in our lives and to help us enjoy his salvation in every situation we encounter. Even the correct response to God's love is not something we can do ourselves but a gift given to us! How crazy is that?

Next Step:

Watch this video, Price Check, and think about these questions:

1. What is some way God has been kind to you this week? Or how has someone else shown up for you? What did that kindness mean to you?
2. Who is someone you can encourage this week? Who needs a check-in text, a cup of coffee, or a ride to an appointment? How can you show up for someone who needs it?