Sacrificial Exchange

Saturday 29 July
READ: 2 Cor. 5: 15
MORE LESSON: Rom. 5: 6 - 8

Two identical twins were living together. The first was a rogue while the second was a child of God, who always implored his brother to accept Jesus but his preaching fell on deaf ears. The rascally brother continued in wanton living and revelry. One day, he ran home drunk and soaked in blood. He had fought at a party and mistakenly murdered someone. A crowd followed in pursuit as he hurriedly staggered home. He got home in the middle of the night and quickly locked the door behind him. The twin brother who was peacefully sleeping woke up as his brother dashed in and the police with a crowd banging at the door. He asked what the problem was and he cried as he narrated how a fight broke out at the party and he stabbed someone with a broken bottle. He never meant to kill the fellow but he did, and the whole lot of people and police were after him to arrest him for murder. He started begging the brother not to throw him out. By this time, the police were near breaking the door to come in and get him.
The brother looked sternly at the villain and knew that he would be sentenced to death for man slaughter. He further reasoned that he was born again and if he died, he would make Heaven but if his brother was killed, he would go straight to hell. So he took the blood stained clothe from his brother, put it on and stepped out before the police succeeded in breaking the door. He told his brother before he stepped out, 'I want to go and die in your place, promise that you will surrender your life to Jesus after I am gone'. Thus he surrendered himself to the police, who promtly arrested and charged him to court where he was declared guilty and was sentenced to death by execution.
This story depicts how Jesus died in our place so that we can escape eternal damnation in hell. He took our sins and was condemned to die even though He was innocent. The only thing He demands of us is to live for Him, having died for us. Jesus Christ took the judgement made for you so that you will not die but live. You have no right to live for yourself anymore; you should live for the One who died for you, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for giving Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb for you, in Jesus’ name.
* Tell Jesus you will not turn away from His love, in Jesus’ name.
* Declare to the Lord that you will spread the news to someone today.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I will trust in the Lord and He shall lead me in the path of righteousness all the days of my life, in the mighty name of Jesus.