Thoughts for Life: THE EXCHANGE

Jasmine GOH- Elijah had accidentally ripped a ten-dollar bill while playing with his friends. But instead of admonishing him, his father offered to exchange the torn bill with a fresh one from his wallet. $10 bill

"Why would you do that?" Elijah asked, confused. "For one, you're my son," his father explained. "It's also a reminder of what Jesus did for us. Because Jesus came and gave His life in exchange for ours, as we can not live new lives."

Every human life is valuable to God because He created each of us. But our sinful nature—"the body ruled by sin" (Romans 6:6).—keeps us from living a life worthy of God's holiness. So God, in His great love for us, willingly gave up His Son to pay the price of our sin. Our old self was put to death, and in exchange, He offers us a new one—"no longer . . . slaves to sin" (v.6).

When we accept God's offer of new life, we can be assured that even though our old self was sinful and broken—"corrupted by its deceitful desires: (Eph. 4:22), we are now being perfected "to be like God in true righteousness and holiness' (v. 24)

Elijah's father was willing to offer him something of his own because he loves him. But the even better offer is the one God extends to us: the redemption of our lives. When we accept His offer of new life, we aren't the same as we were before.

Let's pray-

Father, You have made it clear that each of us is valuable to You, as you created each of us individually in our mother's womb. Because of the inherent sin nature, we are not worthy of being in Your presence. Thankfully, You gave us Your beloved Son to pay the price of our sin!

When we become new creatures in Christ Jesus by being born again through the Salvation He provided, we put off our old sinful self and exchange it for a new one to be true to You through Christ's righteousness and holiness. This redemption of our lives, brings new life so we aren't the same as we were before!

We thank and praise You for all You have done in and through the Lord Jesus! It's in His Mighty name that we pray. Amen

My weekly advice from the book, Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo by Elaine W. Miller: (p. 27)

"No one chooses cancer. Those lousy test results aren't our idea. But we do choose how we respond. What good does sulking do? Let's replace sad thoughts with songs of praise. Ask, allow, and expect God to use this illness for His purpose, to show God's power, so His name will be proclaimed wherever our cancer journey leads us."

#139 Testimony- Notes from A. W. Tozer's book, The Knowledge of the Holy

"When God infuses eternal life into the spirit of man, the man becomes a member of a new and higher order of being. What peace it brings to the Christian's heart to realize that our Heavenly Father never differs from Himself.

In all our efforts to find God, to please Him, to commune with Him, we should remember that all change must be on our part.

God knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us. Atonement too was accomplished with the same flawless skill that marks all of God's acts.

God has charged Himself with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him.

His all-sufficiency makes it unnecessary for Him to look outside of Himself for a renewal of strength. All the power required to do all that He wills to do lies in undiminished fullness in His own infinite being.

The knowledge that we are never alone, calms the troubled sea of our lives and speaks peace to our souls."

1841-1565 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1841- Is. 53:12b "He shall divide the spoil with the strong."

1842- Pro. 21:6a "The getting of treasures."

1843- Ps. 142:1 "I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD

did I make my supplication."

1844- Is. 28:11 "For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this

people."

1845- Job 11:13 "If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him."

Some encouraging words- Lois Stucky

"Living in Christ and Christ living in me! The blessed reality of this Christ-life is not something we can initiate or imitate. It is a supernatural life made possible as we have the Holy Spirit abiding in us in rich and full measure. He is the One who bears the Heavenly life in us and causes it to flow out from us. It is the Holy Spirit who gives reality to our Christian profession. It is by the Spirit that we mortify the flesh that Christ might be manifested."

Do you wish you had a new house to call home? Give thanks for how God is your True Shelter and thank Him for providing the home you currently have. You can trust the character of God with contentment and pray for growth and change. And when you do, the way you speak of your right-now circumstances begins to change.

(Taken from pg.146 of THE WAY of the WILD FLOWER, GOSPEL MEDITATIONS TO UNBURDEN YOUR ANXIOUS SOUL By Ruth Ghou Simons

(Great book, Jean highly recommends it!)

Church Notes:

Only the growing pains of maturity produce stability and humble hearts.

For the sake of the Gospel, we need to stay engaged and unwavering in our standards.

We need to hold tight to God's Word, but extend it in a manner the world can relate to.

Ask God to help you keep your balance in these trendy times.

God intended prayer to be just conversation; talking with Him.

God's not impressed with the words we use; He wants to hear what's on our hearts.

The authority of God's Word must energise our efforts, or we'll be doomed to fail.

What we need is to always keep God's revealed will in our sight, minds and hearts.

God wants us to sharpen our spiritual sight and trust in His revealed will for us.

The opening of our eyes will be the silencing of our fears.

God's Word gives stories to help us persevere, take courage, believe and have hope.

We're to follow the dreams and visions He's given us that fire our passion.

#139 Hymn- O For a Closer Walk with God

William Cooper, composer of this hymn, believed that the promises of God were all true, but he’d always thought that they didn’t apply to him. He considered himself to be a castaway. It was said that at his passing, his “expression was that of calmness and composure, mingled as it were with holy surprise.” It was as though he finally realized he was a child of God and was being welcomed home to heaven. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).
Oh! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heav’nly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus, and his word?
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their mem’ry still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.
Return, O holy dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast:
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.