FEBRUARY 27

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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Romans 6:19-23 (New American Standard version)

“I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.  20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relation to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Galatians 3:13

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—”

Isaiah 1:18 NASB

“’Come now, and let us debate your case,’  Says the Lord,

‘Though your sins are as scarlet,  they shall become as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.’”

Psalm 31:5

“Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.”

Psalm 71:23

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed.”

Isaiah 44:22

“I have wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

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Our book for this month  is called “100 NAMES OF GOD”  written by Christopher D. Hudson.  Each day we’ll take one Hebrew name for God as given in the Bible to study and relate to.

JEHOVAH – GO’EL

REDEEMING GOD

“I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.  Then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Isaiah 49:26

The church is full of testimonies of lives turned around.  A homeless alcoholic finds Jesus, gets sober, and eventually opens a homeless shelter.  A heroin addict meets Jesus, gets clean, and starts to mentor at-risk teens.  A lifelong criminal hears the gospel, stops breaking the law, and moves to Africa to serve on the mission field. We may not all have such dramatic stories to tell, but if we are followers of Jesus, we can (and, according to Psalm 107:2, we should) each stand up and claim, “I have been redeemed!”

Ps 107:2

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,  whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,”

The verb “REDEEM” in Hebrew  means to purchase or buy back something or someone.  When an ancient Hebrew became enslaved, it was customary for the next of kin to play the part of the “REDEEMER” and pay the necessary price to purchase the relative’s freedom.

The Bible says our God does that for us.  “REDEEMER” is one of His names.  He created us to glorify Him.   As such, we belong to Him.  But because of sin, we are slaves (See Romans 6:19-23 in the promises above for explanation), and we would remain in that desperate state if it weren’t for Jesus.

On the cross, Jesus bought us out of slavery and set us free.  He REDEEMED us.

God REDEEMS people.  That’s what He does because that’s Who He is.  Just as He REDEEMED the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, He delivers us from guilt, from fear of punishment, from the penalty of death, and from our own foolish desires.

What would happen if we all walked around  mindful of the truth that we’ve been purchased out of slavery?  Surely we would live with a holy excitement, a contagious zeal.

If you feel bogged down, tired, or stressed out, renew your mind with the knowledge that God is your REDEEMER…..that is, if you know Christ through faith, (if you understand that He suffered and died for you.  That He was perfect and you are sinful, but He traded places with you.  If you believe He rose from the dead, so that you will rise from the dead if you accept it, and if you have repented of your sins and decided to accept His substitution and live from now on solely for Him and His glory…..that is “knowing Him through faith”)  then you have been bought and Jesus paid the price.

You have been REDEEMED and set free.  Choose to walk in that freedom.  Then share the good news of your REDEMPTION.   Heed the words of Psalm 107:2  “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

What’s the most powerful example of redemption you have seen?

PRAYER

Jehovah Go’el, thank you for buying me back from the power and penalty of sin.  Please help me to remember that truth.  Please empower me to live like a redeemed person, for Your glory.  Amen

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