A MERCIFUL EXCHANGE

EQUIPPED: LIVING WITH FAITH-FILLED PERSEVERANCE EVEN UNDER PRESSURE - DAY 6

Imagine the scene: A homeless man is dragged into court in handcuffs by his arresting officer. The disheveled man stands before the judge with eyes bowed down to the ground. The clean shaven magistrate towering over him is wearing a Rolex watch and an Armani suit. From his elevated leather seat and podium, he pulls down his designer glasses and glances at the vagabond standing before him and then turns his view to the case file before him. All the witnesses present at the tribunal quietly wait for the Justice to speak.

After a few moments of tension, the judge does something quite unexpected. He rises from the bench and comes to stand beside the indicted. Instead of condemning him, the reconciler determines to excuse him from the room and assumes his place as the one accused. A merciful exchange transpires to defer judgment.

Friends, this unthinkable act of generosity captures the heart of God. He sent Jesus to take our place. Our glorious Savior vacated His exalted position at the right hand of the Father to come stand beside you and I. We come before Him clothed in our filthy rags of sin. We deserve judgment, but He absorbed the wrath on our behalf.

Whenever we look at others, we have to remember the rags we once wore instead of lording over them with judgment. The way we speak to others and our compassion for the hurting are evidences of how well we are living out our faith. You and I must remember we are on a mission of redemption.

If I say I love God, but I can’t open up my heart to help a person unlike me, and I am constantly snippy with people I undervalue instead of viewing them with compassion, then God’s Word is not really at work in me. The Truth applied to my life should change how I think, speak, and behave. My response to others should mirror God’s heart of mercy.

The merciful exchange that transpired on calvary’s cross forever transformed how we should respond to others. James challenges us to not show partiality to the rich and dishonor the poor. We need to remember that every soul we meet here on earth is designed by God and has value, so we should regard every individual equally. May God help us extend His grace to all men and view each individual as our neighbor to be respected and encouraged instead of as a stranger to be shunned.

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Father, may Your Word do a work in me and change me so that it’s evident to everyone that I am Yours. Help me to love with an open heart that embraces others. I want to respond to people with Your compassion. Give me Your eyes of mercy and teach me how to extend your kindness to everyone even when it’s hard. Amen