Today is well…Resurrection Sunday.
Tomorrow is well…Monday. Another day in the calendar. Another first day of the work week.
Will it be as always? Will the lesson from Sunday change the outlook on Monday? Actually, that is the question which should be asked each week.
This coming Sunday I will be resuming my study in Galatians and I read something this past week which knocked me for a loop. So much so that I actually rearranged my sermon schedule to preach another week on Galatians 2:20. After reading this I couldn’t help but do it:
Jesus Christ identified with us in our death in order that we might be identified with Him in His resurrection. We give Christ all that we were-spiritually dead, guilty sinners-and Christ gives us all that He is-resurrected life, forgiveness, righteousness, acceptance…Christians are continually trying to change their lives; but God calls us to experience the exchanged life. Christianity is not a self-improvement program. It isn’t a reformation project. It is resurrection! It is new life! And it is expressed in terms of a total exchange of identity. (Bob George quoted in Everything-p.78)
To put it another way: Christianity is more than a changed life; it is an exchanged life. Mine for His. It is only when that is done does the lesson from Sunday change the outlook on Monday (or any other day).
Have a great post-Resurrection Sunday week. 🙂 Make a difference in somebody’s life.
I like the passage that you quoted. It has some real teeth as they say. Hope your week ahead bring excitement, adventure, hope, and laughter. Cheers.
Thanks Daniel. It sure hit me.
Amen, amen, amen…
Amen. 🙂
I love this concept, Bill. I will, indeed, try to live an exchanged life from here on out.
Blessings!
We ought to start the Exchange Club. Oops there is already one of those. 🙂 But I’m there with you Martha.
He is risen! Hallelujah!
I discovered this powerful difference in perspective when I read Grace: The Power to Change. I don’t agree with every single thing that Dr. Richards writes, but this perspective I do. Christianity doesn’t mean we feel guilty or even so blessed that we want to change. We ARE changed because of what Christ did for us and gave us. The only work we have to do is to BELIEVE it.
For example, I struggle to believe that Christ has power over my tongue. So I try and try to master it. Instead, I need to believe that He has indeed conquered the evil that has previously come out of this mouth. We resist that way of thinking, because we want to be in control. We also want to brag about how we overcame our own vices.
Anyway, great post! Happy Easter!
So totally agree Melanie with your thoughts by Dr. Richards. It is not based on my feelings at all.
Praising God for that incredible exchange … where would we be without Jesus!
I’ll join in your praise.
Love that idea and thought.
Thanks Larry.