Tag: redemption

Christian inspirational cross picture for redemption and deliverance, Isaiah 43:1

Redeemed.

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Redeemed. Rescued. Bought. Delivered.

All these words speak beautifully of the testimony of what I was brought out of. For if the conditions were optimal, then there would be no need for the rescue. If I was good where I was, there would be no need for a recovery.

History has repeatedly proven that there is a vast void one experiences in the life that is lived outside of this holy renewal. There is an intense longing that says, I need saving. And saving, He did.

Crushed and broken, Jesus gave His life for mine. The sacrificial atoning exchange took place. Not for me to question or be in doubt, but to walk bravely in the paths He has ordained for me. Not to fear, but with confidence, He instilled in me the strength to stand toe to toe with what is before me, declaring, I can, because He did.

In His redemption, I can experience a life that I would have never imagined. Not one centered around the benefits of the gains this world offers. But it is because of the blessing of newness of life He presents to me.

Those words, “being redeemed,” speak to me and comfort me, telling me of His surrender and offering of Himself. He paid for what I could not.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

It was my life that needed the change. Still, He arranged it so that I would be the one to reap the benefits of the seed of Himself sown (John 12:24). That I might be a part of the fruit of that vine (John 15:5), attached to Him, nourished by the flow of life therein, and brought up that I might live eternally with my Savior.

Only His atoning work makes this possible. When He reclaimed my life with the giving of His, the longing has been satisfied, and the rescue has been eternally made. My path before I encountered such grace and mercy was dismal at best. But when He died for me and invited me to take of Him, my soul said, yes. And now I have been captured by this gift of love.

Take in, dear friend, all that He offers you. Take in His love. Take in His being. Take in His gift of deliverance, for it is an incredible feeling when He declares such a loving action fulfilled in your life. And you will never be the same again.

“…Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

If you like this devotional read, I’m sure you’ll love:

“The King to My Rescue”

Sometimes a knight in shining armor just won’t do. You need the most powerful of the land, the King; Almighty God, to come to the rescue. Nobody can help you like He can. Nobody can love you like He can. Nobody can save you like He can. We need the King! Turn to the King – He’s waiting for you!

“The Beauty of Redemption”

Corrie Ten Boom reminds us, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”  To the soul that turns to Christ, the ugliness of sin is done away with and He will satisfy with the beauty of redemption.

“The Redeemer Shall Come”

Oh, what a day that will be! The chains and the shackles of this world will be permanently loosed and true freedom will come once and for all. God’s people will rise to reign in victory because the Redeemer has come!

And an inspirational poem titled, “My Redeemer Lives!”

Even if things don’t look like their turning in your favor.
Even if today doesn’t look better than yesterday.
God, your Redeemer is alive and in charge. No matter what it looks like right now, believe HIM through it all!

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc, to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

The Greater Joy in the Morning

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He carried so much.  More than “our sins and griefs to bear,”1 He carried the weight, the pain, the inner turmoil, and mental anguish the results of all the by-products of those sins and griefs, upon a heavy-laden heart and mind.  Tears welled inside to the bursting, refusing to fall from the eyes that were singularly focused upon a greater joy.

It was the psalmist who wrote, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” Psalm 30:5, recognizing the temporary hold tears and sorrow have, especially when one’s heart is fixated upon a greater joy to be found in the morning.

For Christ, the illness of sin had made its mark on His body and throughout His person.  Yet, in the heaviness of the load He carried, and the pain His holy vessel endured, we are told, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.

Although the joy was there for what it would accomplish, let us not approach the pain He endured physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in a lackadaisical fashion.  Let us not brush aside what strength of heart and mind this endurance called for.  Let’s not subtract what the man, the person of Jesus felt and suffered at the hands of all these afflictions. 

So heavy it was, and so hard it was, we couldn’t do it for ourselves: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” 2 Corinthians 3:5.

The tarnished state of man could never find in himself the satisfaction this heaviness of sin required, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.  But in Christ, “ God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” Romans 3:25. 

Sin was paid in full.  Joy came at the thought and complete process and plan of the redeemed being ransomed from the clutches of darkness.  But let us not be unmindful or take lightly the night afflictions He suffered through before the day dawned.  In it, there was real pain and real sacrifice beyond the scope of what we can imagine.  All for the joy that we might experience a glory unimaginable, where “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

The weight of what Jesus endured could not dim the glory of the greater joy in the morning. Aren’t we glad about it!

He suffered, 
To save,
His greater joy 
Came to our aid,
And satisfied the debt, 
We could not pay.

His joy is complete,
In the sky
We shall meet,
The blessed Savior
Our sins impaled
Hands and feet.

Absent are tears
Or turning away,
Forever with Him
We shall surely stay.
Accepting His sacrifice
Paved the way.

The affliction of sin
Forever is gone,
A holy transformation
Undergone.
Awakening now
A new, joyous dawn. ©Word for Life Says, 2024

1 ©“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph M. Scriven, Charles C. Converse

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.

The Redeemer Shall Come!

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“And the Redeemer shall come to Zion…”
Isaiah 59:20

Ready or not, was what we shouted when we were ready to open our eyes to find those who hid from us in the game of Hide-and-Seek. But today, we are past the times of games. There is no more time for playing.

The Redeemer shall come and those who are repentant, who turn from their transgressions and sins will meet Jesus face to face!

Oh, what a day that will be! The chains and the shackles of this world will be permanently loosed and true freedom will come once and for all. God’s people will rise to reign in victory because the Redeemer has come!

At Jesus’ first coming He was a babe in a manger who grew to become our Savior; our sacrifice on the cross. At His second coming, He’s coming with all the power of heaven to judge: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works,” (Matthew 16:27).

For those who remain unrepentant, it will be a fearful time: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” (Matthew 24:30, emphasis added).

Luke 21:25-28 explains further that it is going to be a time for the “distress of nations, with perplexity” and also of “men’s hearts failing them for fear.” That the “powers of heaven shall be shaken,” then, they will see the “Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (v.27).

The end of verse 28 encourages us to, “Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh!” The Redeemer is coming, ready or not!

The Redeemer is coming for His people. God had long ago established a direct covenant with His people from the time of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15; 17:1-7).

But Jeremiah 31:31-33 foresees a new covenant that God will write on the hearts of mankind. The “new” that God was doing would not resemble the same as He established with their forefathers. “New” did not mean recycled or upcycled to God. New meant new. A new way of doing things. A new story to tell. A new deliverance to grant to a lost and dying world. New!

The idea behind the new covenant is for restored lives, regardless of ethnicity or background. This restoration will take place when people are made new spiritually. People are made new when they enter into a new relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus. When they do, God forgives their sins. It’s the message behind the Bible, it’s the message centered in the Gospels, and it is the message carried through to Jesus Christ on the cross, the testator of the New Testament, the new covenant (see Hebrews 9:14-22).

At the Lord’s Supper, Jesus declares, “For this is the blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins,” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus was and is the Source of the new covenant, the Redeemer that would take away the sins of the world to those who accept Him:

  • “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” (John 1:12, emphasis added).
  • “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus,” (Galatians 3:26, emphasis added).
  • “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God, (Ephesians 2:19, emphasis added).
  • “Ye are Christ’s!” He has secured membership for you and me. He has redeemed us and set us in place to be called His own. We are now “joint-heirs” with Him, we are connected with Him, (Romans 8:17, emphasis added).

The Bible tells us, “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:19, NKJV, emphasis added). God promised a Redeemer and our Redeemer is coming back! We who belong to Him have something to get excited about!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth,” Job 19:25

Job knew where his trust lies, and we know today, that in Christ is our redemption: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins,” (Colossians 1:14).

Victory is ours. New life is ours. Our Redeemer is real and He saves, and He is coming back again! Get ready!

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The Beauty of Redemption

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“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:6, 7

Sin is ugly and has been a battle mankind has fought since the Fall.  Sin is an intrusion into this world and our lives.  It was never supposed to be a part of the program nor was it supposed to act like it has dominion, because it doesn’t.

God has the final answer for sin.  The psalmist declared, “Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away,” (Psalm 65:3).  The word “purge” means to clean out, to get rid of, and eradicate it from the vessel that was holding it. 

Although there is no possible way for a man, woman, or child to get right before God on their own, when that person brings themselves before the only true God who can do the holy restorative work needed in that life – they can become clean.  He will purge it from that trusting life.  There is forgiveness and redemption found in God.

In Isaiah, He says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,” (Isaiah 1:18).  God has the means to do away with all iniquities and transgressions, and His name is Jesus: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7

David, the author of Psalm 65, quoted above and below, knew personally what it was like to be on the receiving end of God’s forgiveness.  He knows what it’s like to be taken in a fault and feel overwhelmed in this battle against sin.  He knows that God is to be praised because He is the one who has made atonement for the sins of mankind (read entire Psalm 65).

Recognizing the wonder and beauty of it all, he writes: “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple,” (Psalm 65:4).

“Blessed;” happy and full of joy is the one who is allowed “to approach unto thee.”  This individual has received God’s answer to the sin problem of this life.  The barrier that those iniquities and transgressions caused between man and God has been pulled down, and now, that one has open access to the Almighty.  Therefore, they are “blessed.”

“That he may dwell in thy courts” gives the impression of permanence.  The bond between the redeemed and the Redeemer has been sealed and solidified with everlasting love through the ever-saving blood of Jesus Christ.  The usage of the word “courts” brings the repentant heart to where He is.  Those blessed individuals are so because they have been welcomed to enter into the realm of His holy Majesty.  The “blessed” have become holy courtiers in His kingdom.  With the lifting of the plague of sin that blocks the unbelieving from entering, this one who has received forgiveness can enter those holy grounds on the premise of His grace: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14; see also Ephesians 2:8).

David continues to write, “We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” God satisfies with “goodness” those who come to Him (see also Psalm 36:8).  With the inclusion of the word “we,” King David also applies this to himself as being on the receiving end of the blessings that flow from God.  With the dissatisfaction of dealing with everything wrong in this life, he looked forward to a day when he would know the sweet, uninterrupted joy of His “goodness” continually and freely flowing upon him.

This goodness is found where He is; in His “house, even of thy holy temple.”  As much as sin and iniquities have tried to prevail or overwhelm – more so will His goodness overshadow and satisfy us when we repent.  Corrie Ten Boom reminds us, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” 

To the soul that turns to Christ, the ugliness of sin is done away with and He will satisfy with the beauty of redemption.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14

Isn’t this beautiful!

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Everything Healed

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The world we live in currently bears the scars of the travesty that has taken place. When sin entered, it did more than cause our separation from God (which was the worst). It also caused hurt, disorder, dysfunction, and disease where there was only to be peace, love, harmony, and health.

Our Garden of Eden has become a briar patch of thorns and pain that hurt and hinder where the Word was spoken for good. The truth of this condition is told in Scripture as the Apostle Paul says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22, 23).

When something is groaning it means something is not right. Think along the lines of an upset stomach. People tend to groan and hold themselves tightly to express their utter discomfort at the wrong they feel going on inside themselves. Their body is in pain until that which caused the discomfort is cured and eased.

In the above verses, there is groaning seen in the state of man and creation alike. But the promise for those in Christ is that it will not remain as it is now. Healing is on the horizon. Nature will regain its right order. That which was called good will shine brighter than its original beauty before. And we, my friends, who have experienced and lived through the turmoil of this world, will finally find the ultimate peace and completion of true wholeness.

That which is flesh will be given over to the Spirit. That of the world will dissipate before glory. The enemy you see today, you will see no more for everything will be healed. You will be freer than you have ever been before as the burdens of this life are laid down once and for all, as the culmination of everything we have maintained this hope for comes to pass.

As we carry His Spirit in us today, we carry it with the knowing that our faith, although it has seen many trials, is not in vain. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

The promise is there, and the promise is real. Everything not fitted for the purpose of that glorious Kingdom will be done away with. Tears and death, hopelessness and despair, pain, and suffering – all will be passed away (Revelation 21:4). “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new . . .” (Revelation 21:5). What was wrong will be righted. What was broken will be fully and completely healed as groanings are replaced by glory forever.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” – Isaiah 65:17

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” – 1 Peter 5:10

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” – 1 John 5:4

The Christmas Purpose Fulfilled

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It will not last, my friends.  The wickedness of the days we see, the corruptness in the land, will all one day vanish away for good.

In this world, we may see the unfolding of many evil deeds.  At times, it may seem as if the leash has been cut, and like a made dog, the world is running rabid.  But rest assured, dear friends, regardless of what it may look like, God will always have the final say and it will not last.

Psalm 37:12-17 expounds on this truth by letting us know:

“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.”

Therefore, dear one, take heart in what your Lord has done and is doing.  They may rage, but He laughs.  They may try to come against His people, but it is the Lord who will come against those who come against His people.  It is the Lord who will break their attempts and “uphold the righteous.”

When the weariness of this world gets you down.  When you see things that you just cannot seem to understand.  When it seems that things are out of control, remember God is for justice.  God is for righteousness.  And God is for His people.

There is a day coming when all evil will be dealt with and silenced forever.

Take heart, the wickedness you see today will not last.  Zacharias prophesied of our Savior with this promise:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:68-75)

Friends, let us remember as we have come into the Christmas season, the purpose for it all.

Our Lord, as glorious and celebratory the scene may be, did not come to stay a babe in a manger.  He grew, and died, and rose to crush wickedness once and for all.

Fulfilling prophecies: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15; compare Hebrews 2:14).

Defeating darkness: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).

Ushering in victory: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Because our Lord grew out of the manger and raised out of the grave, the Christmas purpose has been fulfilled.  The promise of our redemption has come and conquered, and victory over wickedness has been won forever.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.

My Soul Shall Be Joyful in My God! | Bible Devotional

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“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10

The work of the cross in my life is a reason for joy!  The salvation that flowed from Calvary’s hill is something to get excited about.  A great exchange has taken place.  My filthy garments have been discarded, thrown to the ground, and I am now adorned with a “robe of righteousness.”  The sinner I used to be now stands as a “bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Salvation is beautiful.  Salvation looks good on you, my Friends.  He has done a great work in our lives.  His redemption has made us new.  No longer are we what we used to be.  No longer do we carry the weight of the past.  The cross has performed for us what we never could.

In that, we are joyful!  Comfort has come “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3).

Yes, our souls have many reasons to be very joyful in what God has done for us.  We have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19).  We have been brought in as children of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:15).  We have been cleaned up and made beautiful from the inside out (2 Corinthians 4:16).  And we are now called by His name (Jeremiah 15:6).

Yes, my soul is joyful.  Yes, my soul rejoices in my God!  “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11).

Everything on this earth that has tried to dull your joy will be stripped away when “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

With these promises in my heart, my soul SHALL BE joyful in my GOD!

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.