The Great Exchange
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"
______________________
Jesus offers beauty in exchange for ashes, life in exchange for sin and shame. It's an unfair deal from His perspective really. But this is how He is and this is how He loves. He is so gracious that He will not force Himself on anyone. But He calls and waits patiently and calls again and again.
He makes the choice clear, and the consequences also.
What is a life worth? Really. What is worth more than that?