HE BECAME SIN FOR US; WHO ARE YOU BECOMING FOR HIM?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:21)

MEDITATION:
God will never overlook sin.
He cannot overlook it, because God is holy.
As a God of holiness, He has sworn that sin will be punished.
If God were to let sin go unpunished, then His holiness would be diluted.

God has two distinguishing attributes – love and holiness.
The cross is how God chose to punish sin and forgive the sinner at the same time.
Even though Jesus knew no sin, God has made Him to be sin for us.
The price that Jesus paid for us is both awesome and sad at the same time.

It is awesome to understand the depth of His love; it is sad that it came to this.
Jesus paid for all the sin of all of the people for all time.
Of course, we have to accept God’s offer of salvation
in order for our sin to be covered by the blood of Jesus.

Jesus ‘set the bar’ for all believers (those who have committed their lives to Him).
“…so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”
In order for us to “become the righteousness of God”
we should strive to develop the “instead” characteristics of Jesus.

Peace INSTEAD of anger;
Friendship INSTEAD of gossip.
Courtesy and respect INSTEAD of rudeness.
Love INSTEAD of hate and contempt.

Forgiveness INSTEAD of revenge and holding grudges.
Humbleness INSTEAD of egotism and arrogant pride.
Encouragement INSTEAD of making derogatory remarks to or about others.
Lifting the spirits of others INSTEAD of bringing them down.

ACTION:
Think about your relationships with others:
When is the last time you lifted someone’s spirits?
When is the last time you encouraged someone?
When is the last time you put others ahead of your own desire?
When is the last time you did something special for someone
without expecting anything in return?

On the other hand……
When is the last time you gossiped?
When is the last time you discouraged or disrespected someone?
When is the last time you were determined to please yourself above others?
When is the last time you selfishly took from others,
and failed to express your appreciation?

When we meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:21, it almost seems to imply that when
we “become the righteousness of God”, that is when Jesus becomes sin for us.
If that is true, then we have a responsibility.
Are you striving to “become righteous”, or are you focused on “pleasing yourself”?

Read Revelation 4:8.
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes
all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Let that be your anthem:
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

Satan has been effective in causing many to overlook the truth that Jesus will
return one day, and when He does, those who belong to Him will be gathered
together and return with Him to live eternally in Heaven.
Don’t be a victim of Satan’s schemes and miss out on Heaven.
Choose today to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond
the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But
as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

How did Jesus repel the efforts from Satan?
He used scriptures to remind Satan (and Himself) of the priority in His life.
Jesus answered, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God
and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8)
If we are followers of Christ, then we should learn from His example
and not only quote scriptures, but live them out in our daily lives.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus and what He did for me. Help
me to show my appreciation by developing His characteristics in my
own life. Give me the courage to reject the temptations from Satan and
to commit to pleasing You as the top priority in my life. Thank You,
Jesus, for Your love for me, for taking the punishment I deserve, and
for making it possible for me to become the ‘righteousness of God’.”

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