The Double Portion Exchange
Game Over! began 2000 years ago for you and me. In the past month, I have drawn a pentagon of five grids in my journal: sins, unmet needs, false beliefs, pain, and shame. The Holy Spirit has searched and unearthed specifics in each of these areas in my heart. The pages spill over into more pages. For a mission leader, I couldn’t believe how many false beliefs I had unknowingly settled for about myself and my perspective.
Then, I went on a treasure hunt. I gathered a thorny leaf representing a pained relationship, a gem for my boys’ future, my business card for misplaced ambition, a broken brick for shame. . . and so on. Then with a friend, I prayerfully nailed each to a wooden cross.
As I did that in each area, I received Jesus’ inexplicable exchange. It would have been enough if Jesus wiped my sins away, but instead He pours His righteousness on me through His blood. It would have been enough if Jesus commiserated with my pain, but He heals my soul and body through His wounds. It would have been enough if Jesus lifted my despair, but instead He floods my heart with peace. It would have been enough if Jesus dissolved my false beliefs, but instead He embeds truth in my inner being--“how amazing are Your thoughts concerning me . . . they would outnumber the grains of sand” (Ps. 139. 17-18, NIV). For each of us, Jesus promises to:
“Comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes (humiliation, failures, disappointments),
the oil of joy instead of mourning (loss, grief, sadness),
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of
despair (hopelessness, purposelessness).
They will be called oaks of righteousness . . .
Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion,
And instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
And everlasting joy will be yours. (Is. 61.3, 7)
It would have been enough if Jesus just removed my shame. But instead, He gave me a double portion. It blows me away that I qualify for a double inheritance because of my shame. What a lavish, generous, over-the-tops, inexplicable God! This is our mission! The Good News we bring to the world is Jesus exchanging His double portion for our black ashes. Missions is bringing Jesus’ double portion to the world.
It’s On! because of His lavish exchange on the cross that started 2000 years ago and continues to all peoples until He comes back again. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus!
Blessings to you,
Mary
Dr. Mary Ho, DSL
All Nations International, Inc. | International Executive Leader
Reaching the neglected globally -- the least, the last, and the lost
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Lessons from the Least, the Last, and the Lost, All Nations Weekly Devotion by Blake Staton, M.Div.
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