by Margaret D. Mitchell
Week of May 11, 2008

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You—I, whom You have redeemed.”  ~ Psalm 71:23 

        What comes to mind for many Christians when we hear the word “redeemed” is being saved from the pit of Hell by Jesus Christ, Our Savior.  But what may not come to mind as often is having abundant life on earth.

        The dictionary defines redemption as saving or improving something that has declined into a poor state.  Ones career, marriage, finances or physical health can be examples.

        The root word, redeem, is from the Latin word, redimere, which means to buy back.

        To redeem can mean to keep a promise, fulfill a pledge, pay off an outstanding portion of debt, atone for human sins, restore someone to favor or to make acceptable despite negative qualities.  Indeed, Jesus Christ is Our Redeemer.

        The Bible says that we are redeemed from the grave (Ps. 49:15), from death (Hos. 13:14), from the law (Gal. 4:5), from all wickedness (Tit. 2:14), from the curse (Gal. 3:13), from sin (Col. 1:14) and from the pit (Ps. 103:4).

        The Apostle Paul may have said it best as he beseeches us to “live a life worthy of the Lord,” to “please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves . . . “

        God’s word is true.  It is purposed for us.  Let us keep our eyes on Him so that we may have abundant faith, love, hope, prosperity, health, joy and relationships. 

What do you have need of?  Have you called on your Redeemer, the very One who can turn every circumstance of your life around?