Planning a trip to a foreign country anytime soon? If so, you will need to be familiar with the exchange rate – how much your dollar is worth in relation to the foreign currency you will need.
Foreign exchange traders are the ones who agree on this rate for most currencies, and they have two kinds of rates to help them make these decisions: flexible and fixed.
Flexible rates are determined by supply and demand. That means that it can change hourly and daily. Pounds, euros, pesos, and yens are traded using the flexible rate.
Other countries use a fixed exchange rate. Their currency is fixed to another currency. The government or central bank sets the price and it only changes when they decide to make that change. Saudi Arabia, China, Morocco, and United Arab Emirates are examples of countries that use a fixed rate.
About 2000 years ago, there was another exchange that was made.
For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!
2 Corinthians 5:21 (TLB)
The rate of exchange for our sins? Jesus died on the cross for us. All of us. On the third day, he rose again and conquered death. And when we believe this, we have His righteousness poured into us.
And this is a fixed rate. Fixed on Jesus alone. We can never earn our way to heaven; we can’t work our way to heaven, either. It is a gift of grace. Through faith alone. This rate will never change.
When you step off American soil and onto the ground of another country, things are a little different. When you accept the gift of grace – knowing that Jesus died for us so that we may have God’s righteousness in us – we should be different, too.
Therefore, be imitators of god, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Do people see that we are different? Do they see us walking in love and imitating God? I hope they see that in me. And if people ask about that hope and love and joy – I want to be ready to tell them about the exchange that took place years ago that still has an effect on us today.
Heavenly Father
Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross for us so that we can experience eternity with you. Help me daily to be mindful of this great exchange and be an ambassador and imitator of you. And when others see this in me, give me the words to tell others about the gift of grace that you gave us through Jesus. Amen.
