Every night either my husband or I read the bible and do a little study or devotional with our two younger children.
One night this week we talked about thinking of something they loved so much they wanted to keep it forever. Then they had to imagine that the family needed money, so they sold their treasure to the owner of a pawn shop. However they loved their treasure so much that they worked hard and earned enough money to buy it back. We would say that they had redeemed it.
The word Redeem means “to buy out”. The term is used specifically in reference to the purchase price of a slave’s freedom, or to free someone from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer.
We are loved just like that precious treasure my kids were imagining, that Jesus redeemed us. We were made to belong to God. We are His treasure, but because evil came into the world and the devil deceived mankind we were enslaved in bondage to sin. We were stuck in the kingdom of darkness, stuck in the “pawn shop” with no ability to buy ourselves out. The ransom was impossible for any of us to pay because the buyer had to be perfect, and willing to give their life for us.
“For this is what the Lord of host says… for he who touches you touches the apple of my eye (anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession)” (Zechariah 2:8)
That’s where Jesus comes in. He paid the price for our release from sin and it’s consequences. He bought us out from being in slavery to sin and darkness, by paying the ransom price of His life.
“For even the Son of Man cane not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28)..”He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone”. (1 Timothy 2:6)
Our freedom has been purchased, and we are no longer in bondage to sin, to death, or to the law of the Old Testament.
Sometimes we can however not know, or perhaps forget just what our redemption (being rescued) includes, and we can still live out our lives as though we were still in bondage to sin and the devil. When in actual fact we have been rescued, bought out, made an heir of God, and given total and complete freedom from any past slavery or bondage.
The benefits of what Jesus has done for us include:
Eternal life: Revelation 5:9-10
Forgiveness of sins: Ephesians 1:7
Righteousness (Right standing before God): Romans 5:17 – we are no longer sinners but saints!
Freedom from the curse of the law: Galatians 3:13 – every pain, sickness, poverty and curse you can think of has been made null and void. We are free from the curse!
Adoption into God’s family: Galatians 4:5 – We belong, sealed with the Holy Spirit!
Deliverance from sin’s bondage: Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18 – We can stop being stuck in the ways of the past, in any bondage, habit or addiction. We are declared free from oppression
Peace with God: Colossians 1:18-20- No guilt or shame, anxiety or worry. Peace that we have right standing before God and He loves and cares for us. He hears and answers our prayers.
Being redeemed is a gift. We can’t earn it! We can’t make ourselves good enough. We can’t do anything to buy ourselves our freedom. God loves us and wanted us back; just like someone who did all they could to reclaim their loved possession from the pawn shop, so God did all He could to free us, because He loves and wanted us.
We were bought with a great price, but He says we are worth it. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Today don’t believe any lies of the devil, religion or anything else. You are greatly loved and special to God. He thought you were worth paying the ultimate price of His life to “buy you out”. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you that you are still stuck in the “pawn shop” waiting to be rescued. Jesus has done it already. All we have to do is take his hand, and go with Him right out of that place of debt and slavery. He’s done the rest. Today go and enjoy your freedom and live life like you’ve been given a second chance, and a clean slate. Because the truth is you have!
Prayer: Lord I want to thank you for paying such a great price for my freedom, and that you think I am worth dying for. Help me to see myself as worth it, and to make the most of my life, that you paid such a high price for. In Jesus Name Amen.
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