Redemption

Today, we only have limited experience with redemption. We can redeem coupons at a store to receive a discount, meaning someone else is covering the cost of our discount. We talk about redeeming time or an opportunity, meaning we are making the best use of that which we are using. In other times, however, redemption was a term used in connection with the dreadful practice of slavery. Someone would pay a price to redeem a slave, sometimes to set them free.

Ephesians 1:7-8 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” God richly and abundantly gave us grace and mercy by offering His own Son’s blood to redeem us from slavery to sin. The price was precious to the Father, the Son and to us. This redemption moves us from slavery to freedom in Christ, from darkness of evil to the light of the Father, from hopelessness to bright hope, from death to life, and from destruction to eternal life.

But to take advantage of this redemption, we must receive the Father’s gift of payment for us. We cannot achieve redemption ourselves. But we can receive the Father’s redemption on our behalf by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

A Sherpa’s Load

I was trekking in the Himalayan Mountains. We were on a popular trekking trail called the Annapurna Trail. It was a steep inclined and I stepped to the side often to take a breather. I thought I was doing well until I saw one Sherpa man. He was climbing the same trail but had a huge burden on his back that appeared to be very heavy. Someone had to carry the supplies that the mountain village people needed. Looking closer I saw that he was also barefoot. I was embarrassed by my weakness and groaning.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of carrying the burdens of others, as all our sins were laid upon Him. The burden He carried is one that we could not carry ourselves. If we are not participating in helping to carry the burdens of others, we are not fulfilling the calling that God has upon our lives. Life is hard and people need help with the burdens placed upon them and the ones that they take upon themselves. Let’s be like that Sherpa man and help to carry the burdens of others.

Overwhelmed

In Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” It is easy to become overwhelmed by our circumstances and responsibilities. God has never wanted life to be like that. He stands ready to carry the load for us. He will humbly carry this load if we will humbly admit that we need His help and turn it over to Him.

Too Numerous To List

When I make plans, I try to forsee the future and reasonably evaluate what can be done. However, my vision of the future is severely limited and my ability to make things happen is also severely limited. So with all the wisdom I can muster up and with the expectation that I can actually do what I plan, I devise a schedule of activities and work to be done.

Psalm 40:5 says, “O Lord my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” God has wonderful plans for each of us. He is doing miracles to make these plans happen. His miracles on our behalf are so numerous and marvelous that we cannot speak fully about them. His vision of future events is unlimited as He already knows what will happen. His power is also unlimited to make the plans that He has for us actually succeed. Let us look to His plans and trust that He will do the numerous miracles needed to make the plans work out for good.