He Already Paid the Price

Any day is perfect day to reflect upon God’s redemption plan but as we prepare to remember the burial and resurrection of Christ, it seems even more fitting. Dictionary.com defines redeemed as:

1. to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.
2. to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
3. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction: to redeem a pawned watch.
4. to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
5. to convert (paper money) into specie.
6. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
7. to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault,shortcoming, etc.
8. to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.
9. Theology . to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

The debt that I owe is too great for me ever to repay. Through the shedding of Christ’s blood and subsequent resurrection, he released me from the chains my sins bought me.

But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned. Psalms 34:22 (NLT)

Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Psalms 49:7

 

Do It Again

1 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion's exiles. 2 We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations - "God was wonderful to them!" 3 God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people. 4 And now, God, do it again - bring rains to our drought-stricken lives 5 So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, 6 So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. Psalms 126: 1-6 (The Message)

 

Have you ever had God do something so beyond your natural logic that it seemed like a dream? He moved you from a place of confinement or captivity into a place of a laughter, singing, and celebration.

 

But what do you do when you find yourself in another dry, forlorn place? Do you settle in at that place believing all hope has been lost? In those drought stricken, see nothing of God days, there has been times that I walked around in the normal day to day activities of life in despair. I went about the business of living with a heavy heart beneath the shrouds of consistency. Yep I showed up for work, attended church services, and maintained family responsibilities. Everything the same on the outside but inside bearing weighted sorrow.

 

What is it that brings one out of the dark abyss of hopelessness? Could it be the act of remembering? As I reflect on this scripture this morning, the value in remembering stands out to me. The psalmist takes a moment to reflect back on a former time when God had shown up and turned their situation around. Now having a fresh mental image of God’s goodness and faithfulness in times past, he has the courage to believe and ask God to do a repeat performance.  In essence he requests an encore from God.

 

Are you prepared for encore performance? Do you believe He is able to do it again? No, the situation you are faced with now does not have to look the same as the previous one. The fact remains that He did show up and bring an end to some things. He brought changes and even when the situation didn’t change, He changed you.

 

Wanda

Celebration Time Come On!

The other day I was talking with a lady, who has been confined to a bed for almost a year. Her legs immobile with the ability to lay in only one position. Excitedly, she told me about how she was able to stand (although bowed over slightly) briefly on her legs. These were the same legs in which she was unable to lift up even a few inches off the bed. Although she hadn't been able to stand long, she was praising God about the little movement she could see. Movement toward wholeness. Movement toward restoration.

The question on the table is how often do you celebrate or even recognize the little victories in your life? There's been places in my life and yours I imagine that have been straightly shut up. Places of immobility. Locked up places. Your voice, passion, dreams, hopes, emotions, will, heart, and mind are a few places that the enemy can seize. But can you celebrate the little changes that are bringing you closer to complete restoration? Many times we are so focuses on the fact that Lord this is still not the promised place that we miss the little victories along the journey. Just like the Israelites, who didn't get full possession of the promise land all at once neither do we. Exodus 23:30 says: Instead I will force out your enemies little by little and give your nation time to grow strong enough to take over the land. I also like Deut 7:22 So don't be intimidated by them. God, your God, is among you—God majestic, God awesome. God, your God, will get rid of these nations, bit by bit. You won't be permitted to wipe them out all at once lest the wild animals take over and overwhelm you. But God, your God, will move them out of your way—he'll throw them into a huge panic until there's nothing left of them. He'll turn their kings over to you and you'll remove all trace of them under Heaven. Not one person will be able to stand up to you; you'll put an end to them all.(The Message)  So don't be intimidated that the big victory has not been achieved. God-the Awesome, Majestic One- is with you. As you journey with Him, He's changing you…your mind, emotions, will, desires, attitude, and heart. He's making you strong bit by bit. So CELEBRATE the little victories…COME ON!!!!