I find it interesting that we as a society look to those that are greater than us to “save” us from ourselves. It is hard to believe that there seems to be a submissive and dependent view of how we are to get along and make it in this world. Whether it be a government, CEO, pastor, community leader, or head of household, there is a sense of “need” from someone that is seemingly “better” than me.

Let’s take a look at Jesus. I for one am willing and committed to following Him. He has given me the gift of salvation and for that I am eternally grateful. But, the gift of salvation is just the beginning of my salvation and inheritance in heaven. God protects me and provides for my needs. He loves me unconditionally and guides me on the path He has set for me. And who is He, but God’s Son that took on the form of man to experience this world along with me.

“⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” – Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)

Jesus, whereas He is God’s Son, is not much different from me. He experienced this life along side me and understood the difficulties of making it in this world. He was no “greater” than me as He worked as a carpenter and dealt with poverty and adversity just as I do. So when I look at Jesus as the one who gave my salvation, I am keenly aware that He only wants the best for me based on what He experienced alongside me.

I have to look also at that part that comes after salvation. Jesus saved me, and for that I am grateful. But now, I have work to do. I cannot just sit still and hope that Jesus will provide money so that I can buy food. I cannot expect Him to provide me with a bigger house and a more expensive car. I have to get out in the world and do the work. I have to take charge of making it happen.

God has given me a path and tasks to complete and it is my duty to work down that path and toward completion of the tasks. I should be asking for assistance with the work from God, however I should not be dependent on Him to do it for me. If that were the case, then there would be no need for the salvation given. God would just take care of everything and leave me out of it.

I am redeemed by the salvation given by Jesus. A man like me. Someone that experienced life as I do. Yes, He now resides in heaven and is great, but He wants me to join Him, not as a servant, but as His brother.

When you look at how your life is going, are you looking to others to provide for you? Are you dependent on someone who you believe to the “better” or “greater” than you? What do you think it would be like if you looked to someone like you for redemption, what about Jesus?

“⁹Now why do you cry aloud? Is there not king in you? Has you counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? ¹⁰Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.” – Micah 4:9-10 (ESV)

When I read these verses, it comes to mind that the people are being sent away from the area that they live and feel comfortable. They are led there by God, and God knows that it will be difficult for them (“Writhe and groan…like a woman in labor”).

I know that I have been confronted with the opportunities to step away from the area of comfort I am in before. One of the biggest that comes to mind was accepting a job 1500 miles from where I grew up. God led Lori, the boys, and me there and we accepted, not knowing what to expect or what was to come of it. But God rescued us. He brought a church and people into our lives that made it seem as though we belonged. And we, as a family grew from the experience. Then, God brought us back to Texas and to the area we live now, again and provided people and church for us to lean on.

It was difficult for me to step away from what I knew and what was comfortable. God even knew it would be tough for me and us. But, He also knew that He would be rescuing and redeeming us from whatever was to come. We may not have been able to see it, or may never know it exists, but we were rescued, and for that we should be thankful.

God leads us on the path He has for us. We may not know where it leads or why He takes us there, but trusting Him is the only way to go.

When you are challenged with stepping out of your comfort zone, how do you react? Are you willing to trust that God has your redemption in mind? Will you follow God, even out of your comfort zone?

I a grown man and can take care of myself. I think that sometimes I believe the hype of that sentence a bit too much. I tend to take on things on my own and fall into despair as I realize that I need help.

“¹Thus says the LORD: ‘Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. ²Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst. ³I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.’” – Isaiah 50:1-3 (ESV)

Israel acted much like I do as they felt they could do things on their own and turned away from God. They took things on and then turned to others for help in working through things as opposed to turning to God. God was only an ask away and He was certainly there to help.

I find myself working to do things on my own. I presume that I just don’t want to bother God with what I feel are trivial things to deal with. Why should He get involved in something that I should be able to handle on my own. I have said on a number of occasions and believe them to be true that I have work to do. I hear the phrase “let go and let God”, and yet I still believe that I still have responsibility to do the work and make things happen.

But, “let go and let God” does not mean allowing God to do the work for me. It means that I should be asking for God’s help in dealing with whatever is in my life. I have to trust that He will restore my life to the place He wants it to be. In some cases, there is no restoration needed as I am where He wants me, I just need to trust Him to reveal to me why I am there.

I again refer back to the poem “Footprints in the Sand” by Margaret Fishback Powers. God is always with me, sometimes walking with me, and sometimes He carries me. God redeems me when I need Him to and He allows me to grow in those times when I need to grow. But, He is always there for me when I call. I trust that God is there for me and my redemption.

When you come on tough times, are you aware of God’s presence? Are you one that does not want to bother Him with your “trivial” items? Are you able to trust God’s redemption for you?

As I read this morning and study the word redeem, I wonder why I ask God for redemption. Obviously He is the only one that can redeem me, but why would I ask if not for selfish gain? Have I thought of it before? Am I asking for redemption to be spared the adversity or difficulty? The answer to those questions are difficult to answer without some reflection.

As I study redeem this morning I was led to Psalm 119. Here I found the answer that should be in my heart with regard to the questions above.

“¹³⁴Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.” – Psalm 119:134 (ESV)

I should be asking for redemption, not for me, but for the glory of God. My role here in this world is to bring glory to God and to spread the Gospel. Man will constantly work to bring me down. I will experience the adversity and oppression and difficulty each day, and I should be asking for redemption so that I am restored and able to fight on. Not for me, but for God. I am His and in order to do His work I need to be in the best condition. Again, not for me, but for God.

As I look back at the questions I posed earlier, I reflect on my reasoning for asking for redemption. I am taking pause as to how I have been going about working for God. I am taken from me to God and looking at where my eyes are. I am asking for redemption as I should, and I need to be looking at if I am asking for me or to be able to work for God.

Why would you ask for redemption? Have I thought of it before? Are you asking for redemption to be spared the adversity or difficulty, or are you asking so that you can honor and work for God?

I seem to continue looking to those in the world for redemption and validation. I am from this world and feel as though here is where I should be getting my redemption.

In Psalm 69, David recognizes that the world and those in it are against him. He spends time lamenting at the difficulty he faces daily and calls out in general those that are against him. But, beginning in verse 13 he turns suddenly to acknowledge that only God can save him.

“¹³But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. ¹⁴Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. ¹⁵Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. ¹⁶Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. ¹⁷Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. ¹⁸Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!” – Psalm 69:13-18 (ESV)

In the above verses David gives glory to God and asks for redemption that only He can give. David, in his position, still recognizes that God and only God can provide redemption. With the power and influence that David had, he could have “made” the people deal well with him, and to some degree he did as he went to war. But his going to war was sanctioned by God and God provided the victory. When David went to war without God, things did not go quite as he planned.

David was devoted to the love and provision that only God could provide. He recognized that the only place to get true redemption was from God and God alone.

I have to remember that my redemption comes from God and God alone. I should set out on journeys in life that are sanctioned by God and for His glory alone. What others think, say, or do in this world are only my concern as they relate to God and their acceptance of Him as their Lord and savior. I am His and He is mine and I must only lean on Him for my redemption.

When you look at your life, where are you looking for redemption and validation? Are you concerning yourself with those around you to bring you some sort of restoration? What if you were to look to God and God alone for your redemption?

There are times when I feel as though I am on my own to deal with adversity. I am on the receiving end of the worlds beat down. I feel abandoned.

This is not different than Psalm 44. The people of God felt as though God was not with them.

“⁹But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies. ¹⁰You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil. ¹¹You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations. ¹²You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.” – Psalm 44:9-12 (ESV)

I know that it is not the intention of God for me to feel this way. I know that He is truly with me every day in all circumstances. I know that He loves me and wants nothing but the best for me.

He also wants me to grow stronger each and every day. He wants me to be the very best that I can be. God wants me to be strong and resilient. And how do I get there but through overcoming adversity. Fighting back against the worlds beat down. Leaning on His Word to build me up and give me the directions of how to deal with it all.

I have to remember this and lean on Him to get me through it all. Just as the people did in Psalm 44, I have to ask for to be redeemed.

“²⁶Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” – Psalm 44:26 (ESV)

I come back to one of the keys to making a sale, one has to ask for the sale to get the sale. If you don’t ask, your chance of making the sale is minimal. I have to ask God to be redeemed. If I am not in the habit of asking for redemption, then the reality of God providing that redemption is minimal.

I am not saying, by any means, that God will abandon me. I am saying that if I am not asking, I may not be open to recognizing when that redemption is presented. I have to be willing to and I have to take the action of asking God. He has not abandoned me, He may simply allowing me to grow through the adversity of the situation. I am responsible for asking for that which I would like to have.

What is your approach when you are facing the difficulties in your life? Are you seeing them as growth opportunities or are you seeing them as the times that God abandoned you? What are your thought about asking for redemption?

This morning I am led to 2 Samuel as I study the word “redeem”. In the passage, King David is crying out to the Lord with thanksgiving for the redemption that was/is provided by God.

“²⁸And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:28-29 (ESV)

David is grateful to God for the blessings given. Not so much the monetary items given, but the love and grace given. David understood here that all that is of his house is/was provided by God and for that he should be thankful and lift God up.

I believe that I (and likely you) miss the love and grace as I focus on the fact that I do not have something. I find myself angry or frustrated that God has not given me that which I think the world would deem a reward for being a Christian. But I have to remember it is not the world I am to be concerned with. I should be working daily to please God and that pleasure will bring blessings well beyond what this world can give.

David recognized the redemption provided by God as he spoke with Him here.

“²⁰And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! ²¹Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. ²²Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. ²³And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? ²⁴And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD, became their God.” – 2 Samuel 7:20-24 (ESV)

I have been redeemed, and as such I am God’s people forever. I have to remember that each and every day and just as David does here, I should be showing God my gratitude for that redemption each day as I remember.

Thank you Lord GOD for all that you have provided and will provide for me. I love you Lord with all of me!

Are you aware of the redemption provided to you by God? What is your attitude toward that redemption? Are you redeemed and thankful daily?

“⁶Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. ⁷I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ⁸I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’” – Exodus 6:6-8 (ESV)

As I was led to this passage this morning, I was prepared to study the word “redeem” and of course God does not disappoint. Here God gives six I will statements; “I will bring you out, I will deliver you, I will redeem you, I will take you, I will be your God, I will bring you into”, and right in the middle of them He says “I will redeem you”.

Redeem, restore, repair. God will do all of those. I also find it comforting that God say He will as opposed to we will be. This indicates the ownership that God has for the actions. He will be doing these for me, not delegating them out to others. This work is so very important to God that only He will do the work as He is the only one that can. My life is in God’s hands and what a great feeling that is.

I know that God loves me, and with these words, God comforts me with His love and devotion to be sure I am taken care of as He planned. I am a project that He completes and not something He simply wants done. I am His and He demonstrates that with His love for me and the “I will” statements He make. I am His. I will love and honor Him as He loves and honors me.

When you think about your relationship with God, are you aware that you are His project? Did you know that you are that important to Him? God demonstrates His love and devotion through His “I will” statements, what about you?

I enjoy doing things that are fun. Pleasurable things are certainly not bad and should be undertaken, but in the right frame of mind and not in a way that could or does bring harm to others.

“¹But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ²For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)

It is important to remember that I am here to please God and not myself. I am here to do His will and further His kingdom by bringing the Gospel to all. I cannot do that if I am always focused on my own pleasure and thinking of only myself.

When I accepted Christ, I accepted a New Self. One that is filled with love for others and a spirit to do right by all. When I take on the action of verses 2 – 5, I am only thinking of my Old Self, the one that cared about getting mine and making sure that I am pleased.

The fact is that my Old Self is not important at all. I have to focus on the pleasure of God with the New Self He gave freely to me. And with that focus, my own pleasure will be realized in the rewards I receive, maybe not here in this world, but they will be realized and I will get to enjoy them.

I will have pleasure, in this world, but not in the actions of the verses above. I will have pleasure through the glorification of God as I spread the Gospel and bring visibility to my Lord and Savior.

When you approach life, are you working to please yourself or God? If you accepted the gift of salvation, are you still trying to get pleasure from the world? Will you work to please God as thanks for the New Self He gave, by glorifying Him and bringing the Gospel to all?

To often I believe that we take on the attitudes and actions of those around us without thinking of how we should act and react. I know that I tend to bottle things up for a good period of time and then allow the smallest of things crack the lid and out it all comes, without thinking of how it may sound or look to others.

When we put on the New Self, there are a lot of things we become and a lot of ways we should act and react.

“⁹Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator…¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:9-10 & 14-15 (ESV)

When the New Self is put on, I should be demonstrating love in any and all circumstances. My attitude should be one of love to and for all. I have accepted the love from Christ in the form of salvation freely given, and it is my duty to give that love to those I come in contact with at all times. The New Self is love, so I put it on daily.

What do you think of when you think of the New Self? Are you aware of the one thing that binds all else together, Love? Will you put on Love daily and demonstrate that Love always?