Daily Devotions

The Great Exchange

“Make your peace with God.” For God caused Christ, who himself knew nothing of sin, actually to be sin for our sakes, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of God.
—2 Corinthians 5:21 (J.B. Phillips)

We all know what it’s like to try and scrub out a stubborn stain. No matter how many times we try, some marks just won’t come clean. Over time, we learn to live with them—hiding the worst of them under layers, hoping others won’t notice.

That’s exactly what many of us do with our lives. We carry regrets, mistakes, and sin like stains on our souls. Some are obvious; others are buried deep. We try to clean ourselves up, to be better, try harder. But in our own strength, we can’t wash sin out.

But here’s the miracle of the gospel: Jesus offers us a trade.

He takes the stained garment of our lives and gives us His own spotless righteousness. Not a patched-up version of our old self, but a completely new identity—washed clean, made whole, and marked by His goodness.

This is what Paul is describing in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin—actually became it—so that we could be made good with God’s own goodness. It's not just that we’re forgiven; we are made righteous. God sees us clothed in Christ.

This isn’t a surface change. It’s a complete transformation from the inside out. The Christian life isn’t about managing sin better—it’s about living in the power of a new nature, gifted to us through Christ.

And what’s our part? Receive the robe. Let go of the stained one. Make peace with God—not by fixing yourself, but by trusting the One who already took your place.

Reflection Questions:

• Am I still trying to fix the stains myself?
• Have I fully accepted the righteousness Christ offers me?
• What would it look like today to live clothed in His goodness?

Jesus,
I come to You with my stains, my mess, and my failures.
Thank You for taking them all to the cross and offering me Your spotless righteousness in return.
Help me to stop striving for worth, and instead rest in the identity You’ve given me.
May I live each day clothed in Your grace,
transformed by Your love,
and made good with the goodness of God.
Amen.