Daily Lift: I Have Been Redeemed!
Titus 2:14
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Redeem……to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable, to exchange, to buy back. Jesus exchanged His life for ours to give us a better life; we have been bought with a price, His blood.
What does it mean to be redeemed, or have something redeemed? From personal experience, I can explain it as getting back what was lost better than it ever was, to have more than…..such as time, experiences, and relationships. The cost for being redeemed or having something redeemed for you by God is not only do you belong to Him, but what He brought back to you is His as well.
When God redeems you, He expects you to be changed from the inside out, from choosing what you know is sin and death for your life, replacing it with a life giving perception that trumps any temptation to revert back to your old ways. The quality of your life after God has redeemed it makes it easy to continue on your forward path.
Just as the tax collector was moved to pay back all he had stolen with interest, once he had met Jesus, we are moved by the heart of our heavenly Father to spend our time learning His ways, and making the necessary changes to be like Him.
This is what I know: When I think back to where I was five years ago, three, or even last year, and I see all that God has redeemed in my life…….. my marriage, relationships with my children, a car, house, truck, and two vacations in a year, I am overwhelmed by His love for me.
Getting a revelation of God’s love for His children wasn’t easy for me. I had NO reference in parental representation to compare it to. An abusive mother and abandoning father only hindered my enthusiasm to look at God as a good parent, who loved me, wanted the best for me, and had sent His only Son to die for me.
When you examine the magnitude of Jesus’ life exchanged for yours, so God could walk in the cool of the day with you again, as He did with Adam and Eve, it grabs you by the throat and then travels that all important eighteen inches to your heart. Once inside your heart, it begins to take root, grow and bloom until it overwhelms every aspect of your life. You are able to see God’s redeeming power in everything.
There are times when I can’t find the words…..and words are my currency……to describe how my life, heart, and perspective have changed…….all because He REDEEMED me! He has also redeemed YOU!!! Now that you belong to Him, it is your responsibility to surrender the former you……to grow into the best you ever!
