Easter is the celebration of the ultimate exchange. The resurrection of Jesus Christ guaranteed the exchange of our certain death due to sin for a new reality—forgiveness and eternal life! That’s a trade worth celebrating!

Scriptures
Je 29:11; Jn 3:16; Pr 14:12; Rom 5:6, 3:23-24; 2 Cor 5:21; Ps 103:12; Rev 3:20

Verse
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Pr 14:12) For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Rm 3:23) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” (Rev 3:20)

Thought
Most of the world’s major religions share the belief that a person can work their way to Heaven, nirvana or some type of paradise. It’s a do-it-yourself philosophy that relies on personal discipline producing the right actions and good works that will result in eternal reward. It sounds pretty good and it allows the individual to maintain control in their life. However, the reality is that humans do not have the ability to produce good in-and-of themselves. There are no rules we can follow or list of good deeds we can perform that will make us righteous. God through Christ provided a bridge to eternal life that we could never build. By exchanging control of the throne in our lives for the Lordship of Jesus Christ we gain access to the bridge that crosses the widest gulf between us and God. This is the greatest trade you will ever make.

Questions
Have you ever made a significant trade in your life? Work vs college? Popularity vs morality? Friendship vs friendship? Paycheck vs job fulfillment? When did you realize it was either a good trade or a bad trade? How long do the consequences of life’s trades play out? How often do you hear people say that being a good person is enough to get into Heaven? How do you react/respond to this mentality? Does giving Christ the throne of your heart happen in a moment or over time? Explain.

Response
Share the love of Jesus Christ with those around you. Pray for opportunities to share about the amazing exchange that is available to every person through Christ.

Prayer
Dear God, thank you for making the ultimate exchange of your Son’s life for my sins! May I submit to your Lordship every day in every area of my life. Help me to be bold in sharing your amazing grace with others so that they can experience forgiveness and eternal life. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.