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As I pulled into the parking lot the other day, I noticed a man and a woman standing behind a store. They were carrying bags of trash from the dumpster to their car.
My first reaction was honest shock and bewilderment. I thought, “Why would anyone want to take trash?” Who knew what was in those bags? I could only imagine the smell and filth that would have contaminated everything inside—especially on such a warm day.
The more I watched them, I thought, “They must have thought they could recycle some of it or find things that weren’t too damaged to sell. Maybe they were going through a hard time.”
But that thought still echoed in my mind: “What would cause someone to want anyone’s trash?”
2 Corinthians 5:17–21
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus—the Son of God, the Word, the One who existed with God before the world was created.
The Holy, Perfect, Spotless, and Pure King of Kings chose to give up His throne in Heaven, a place of perfection, to come to this earth for us.
He willingly offered us an incredible trade. Jesus offered to exchange His righteousness for our garbage. He looks at us in our filth and defilement—in lives permeated with sin—and still wants us.
Romans 5:8
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Why would anyone want my trash? Why would anyone choose to trade anything for it? Much less something so magnificent, something so extravagant, something I am unworthy of?
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world…
That’s you and me. That’s everyone.
All of us, sinners.
And He left His place on high to bring life to the dead. He gave us His righteousness! When we accept His offer—this trade—He makes us brand new.
A new creation.
The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out. We see with new eyes, hear with new ears, and speak with new lips. We live for Christ, the One who saved us. We love like He loved—willing to go, to share, to bring others to Him—because we were once right where they are.
I may never fully understand it, but I am deeply grateful for the amazing grace of our Lord. What God would do that? Only the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you know Him? Are you ready to trade your trash for His treasure? Let me show you more about Jesus and the life He offers.
Go to follow.lifeword.org. You won’t regret it.
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