His Curse My Gift

Romans 5:15
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

When they were trying to decide what to do with Jesus, whether to release him or crucify him Pilate thought he was innocent and deserved to be let go. But the people insisted that he be crucified. Pilate said, “My hands are washed and his blood is not on my hands.” Someone cried out, “Let his blood by on us and our children!” What they meant was that the curse of killing an innocent man would be upon them. They were so convinced that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy they were willing to let his blood be upon them. That’s why Jesus had to proclaim from the cross, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” We really should have been cursed all the more when Jesus died but he kept the curse to himself. Instead of the curse they got the blessing because Jesus kept the curse so we would receive the blessing.

Through one man we all deserved the curse. Adam disobeyed God and as a result sin entered the world and humanity was cursed. Jesus, the second Adam reversed the curse through his obedience even to the point of dying on the cross. One man brought a curse the other man gave us a gift. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

When Balaam was hired to curse the Israelites he told the men that hired him, “I can only say what God tells me.” No matter how much people want to curse you they can’t curse what God has blessed. God told Abraham that those who curse you will be cursed and those that bless you will be blessed. You don’t have to worry about any men or women trying to put a curse on you when Jesus has already reversed the curse. One man’s curse became our blessing. One man brought sin out of disobedience but another man caused an overflow of blessings to come into our life through the gift.

What is the gift?

1. The forgiveness of sin. Jesus demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners he died for us. His death was the payment for our sin.

2. Abundant Life. Jesus came to give his abundant life which consists of the overflowing, vibrant quality of life made available in Christ was evident in the authority of his speech and the power of his touch[1]

3. The gift of eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Dear God,

Thank you for reversing the curse, what was meant for my bad you turned it around for my good. Every morning is a gift that I open with gratitude realizing that you didn’t have to wake me and bless me. Thank you Jesus for dying that I might be able to live a life full of abundance. Thank you for my gift.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

[1]Elwell, Walter A. ; Comfort, Philip Wesley: Tyndale Bible Dictionary. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 (Tyndale Reference Library), S. 818