Substitute

John 14:10 do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not say on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does the works.

Dictionary definition of SUBSTITUTE—A person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

SUBSTITUTE—We learn through out our lives to be flexible and to use SUBSTITUTES when necessary. While cooking we may make exchanges for cake flour or buttermilk if the original isn’t handy. Chocolate chips can replace blueberries in pancakes. Then of course, there are times when a SUBSTITUTE is needed to replace an absent member in a card game. Or for a player on the field who has been injured. We humans even tend to SUBSTITUTE wealth, pleasure, power, or honor, to name only a few, to replace God. The lamb was used as a SUBSTITUTE for Abraham’s son. Many burnt offerings in the Old Testament were used to stand in for Jesus who was yet to arrive here on earth.
Romans 5:8 “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The concept of someone loving us so much that He would take our sins upon Himself is very hard to grasp. Do we as humans love like that? Would we go to jail in place of someone else that we loved, sacrificing our own freedom for something we did not do? I wonder? I sincerely ask this question because, for me I have a great deal of doubt. But that is exactly what Jesus did for all of us. Our sins have been paid for by his blood. We do not any longer owe a thing. He was and remains our SUBSTITUTE.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” Imagine for a moment that we are no longer sinful because Jesus gave His life for us to be sin free in God’s eyes. Romans 6:6 “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Again, let’s imagine, no longer being slave but free. Free to love, trust, honor, and worship our Heavenly Father. Roman’s 8:6 “ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” I dare to suppose that we all would rather have life and peace. 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” Really what more is there to say? Believe in what Jesus died for us at the cross. Lean into and enjoy the freedom that has been handed to us with no cost. And in return for such sacrifice serve our Lord as we are called. Many wonder what their purpose is in this life. They may ask why am I even here? Each of us will have a different answer as we listen to the Holy Spirit. But it all comes out the same in the end. God the Father, has chosen for us and as time goes on we will learn what our calling is. Raise a family, or teaching in school, or serving others in ways only you can fulfill. The world needs more of us who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Share Him in any way that is gentle and kind as He is.
Father, thank you for the opportunity as SUBSTITUTES to share Jesus in kind, loving ways bringing with us a trail of people who now believe. Your Kingdom is worthy of more and more recruits, those who now follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We pray that some day we will hear that we have been “good and faithful servants.” Praise Your Holy Name.