“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary.
Psalm 107:1-2 AMPC
Grace Perspective:
Redeemer, one who pays a ransom to save a person who is held hostage by an adversary. Who is an adversary or enemy? In this passage, an enemy is anyone who keeps us from having a right relationship with God. Our fiercest enemy is our sin. Our second enemy is Satan, the great deceiver. But God the Father sent Jesus Christ to redeem us from the penalty of sin, eternal separation from Him. He paid the ransom for our souls, saving us from Hell. Jesus is our Gracious Redeemer, the One whose mercy and loving-kindness endures forever.
A Touch of Grace:
Who is your greatest adversary?
Who is your redeemer?
Grace Application:
Christ came to redeem us from our sin. Sin is like concrete and hardens our hearts and minds against the truth that we need a Redeemer. Sin is sneaky and slithers into our hearts, quietly convincing us that we don’t need anyone to redeem us.
Pride is at the root of sin, persuading us that we’re not so bad. We may say, “ At least I don’t do…” But the truth is we all sin and all need a Redeemer. Whether we tell a lie or murder, both are sin and carry the death penalty. Yes, murder is far worse than a lie, yet from God’s perspective, they both separate us from Him.
For years I feared that I wasn’t good enough to deserve redemption. I feared that my sin was too great. Self-pity is a twisted form of pride that wrongly assumes that Christ’s death on the cross isn’t enough for me. Once my eyes were opened to the lie, I cried out for forgiveness and received the gift of redemption from my Savior.
Today, if you’ve never thought about needing a Redeemer, I ask that you take time to think about sin and what separation from God for all eternity means. If your heart is troubled by the thought of Hell, turn to the One who came to pay the ransom for all our sin, and ask Him to be your Gracious Redeemer. Then rejoice, dear friend, that He has redeemed you from the hand of the adversary.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, Thank You for sending Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. He has paid in full the ransom required for my sin. Forgive me for the times I make light of this extravagant payment. Help me see it from Your perspective and live a life that reflects the magnitude of Your gift. Lord Jesus, help me to rejoice always in the knowledge that You have delivered me from the hand of the adversary. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God so that all doubt may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, please contact me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**