When I search "redeem" on the internet, it comes up with two suggestive meanings:
1. compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something).
2. gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.
#1 To compensate for faults....do you have faults? Yes, of course you do, so do I. Remember we are all on the same journey, just taking different paths. What's the point of being forgiven when you've done something wrong? Have you ever asked for forgiveness and didn't receive it from someone? I have, it's painful and tormenting. We have an inward desire to be accepted and forgiven. If that doesn't happen, we can turn to new attitudes. Mistrust, hate, anger, depression, etc. God always forgives, as many times as we truly mean it. What do I mean by that? Well have you ever just said you are sorry, just to say it, not really mean it to someone, just to clear the waters and stop the drama, but inside you don't really mean it. Well people don't always see that. God does. God looks for your heart, He is connected with you. It's His blood that beats in our veins. He is a God of relationship and He wants all of you, so that you can live an amazing life here, loving people, making a choice to love Jesus and then someday in it's own time, returning to Him. God came to earth to be the perfection we couldn't be, He became the sacrifice we couldn't give and He paid the price for something we couldn't pay.
#2 gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for a payment. What does that mean? First of all that "something" is us. God's creation. Believe it or not, you are His created ones. Back in the day, when Adam and Eve sinned, God put in place the redemption story. Don't remember that part from your childhood teachings do you? Nope neither did I. Take a look...read it, it's in there. He tells you about his plan to send Jesus right after Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan. I was ASTONISHED.... it was right there...
Jesus is your story of redemption. Jesus paid for you, with His life, to regain the right to call you His. We are no longer children of Darkness. We are children of the Light. We have been for at least 2014 years now. Sometimes it takes us awhile to learn. :) We are told in Joshua 24:15
But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” We are given a choice to decide where we want to spend eternity. God will seek out your heart, He will provide anyway and every way for you to choice life, but if you refuse, He can't force you into heaven. That's one thing God says He won't do, and He doesn't lie or change His mind.
You are redeemed my friends...regardless of what you've done in the past, today is a new day. You simply look at that sin with different eyes, and you see with your God made eyes that sin is out to get you, to destroy your life, to separate you from God, and you say with all your heart, "GOD I SEE, Forgive me for my sins", or even, God I don't understand this, but I will open my heart to you, send the Holy Spirit into my heart, I invite Him in, to reveal your truth to me."
YOU ARE REDEEMED
These are life changing moments friends...make sure you don't miss it!
Have a great day!
Ang
PS Thank you again Barb W for such amazing pictures to share with my blogs!
Here's a video for worship for you: