Easter: The Gift We Didn't EarnSample

Day 2: Price Check

On Day 1 of this plan, we discussed God's loving response to our sins. We talked about how God was honest with Adam and Eve and what their sin had cost them.

In the Christian tradition, sin is anything we think, say, or do that drives us further away from God's love.

Sin can cause us to reject the love that God has for us, and it can lead us to withhold God's love from others. The cost of sin is steep. It fractures our relationship with God and with others but it also robs us of personal joy and peace. Romans 6:23 summarizes this by saying, "The wages of sin is death…"

Thankfully, this is not the end of the story.

"… BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Death is what our sin costs us, BUT God has a different plan. He calls this plan grace.

God's grace is an unearned gift. We could rewrite Romans 6:23 to say, "Death is what you earned, but because of Jesus, God is giving you life instead."

This is what is often called "The Great Exchange." This is the good news of the Easter story. We were the sinners, yet Jesus paid the cost. Jesus was the faithful one, yet he gave us the gift of abundant life.

And what does Jesus want in return for this abundant life?

It could be easy to think that the main thing Jesus wants from us might be obedience. And, certainly, we should obey God. But we must not get caught in a spiral of believing that perfect obedience is required to earn the grace that God has offered freely.

Rather, the Christian writer Julian of Norwich said that the only thing Jesus wants in return for his gift is to give us pleasure. Jesus wants to be present with us in our lives and to help us enjoy his salvation in every situation we encounter. Even the correct response to God's love is not something we can do ourselves but a gift given to us! How crazy is that?

Next Step:

Watch this video, Price Check, and think about the questions below.

1. God extends his care to us in generous ways. How have you experienced God’s kindness this week? Or how has someone else shown up for you? What impact did that kindness make in your life?
2. Who do you know that needs encouragement this week? Who needs a meal Door-Dashed, a ride to an appointment, or a cup of coffee? How can you show up for someone who needs it?