This post is part of the Five Minute Friday blog link-up. It’s an opportunity to join up with a community of writers and bloggers of all ages and stages who gather around a single word prompt to free-write, unscripted and unedited, for five minutes.
This week’s prompt :: Redeem
Google always is an interesting place to start because when you look up the word redeem, it’s not one that draws a great deal of interest outside of dictionary definitions and gaming codes.
Yet as a believer, when I see the word redeem, I consider it in the context of faith. My mind goes to Scripture, to a song, to the purifying work of Christ. To the Christian, redeemed is a powerful word of saving grace, sacrifice, restoration, humility, gratitude, and freedom.
But do we live that way?
In the midst of moral relativism, turmoil, divisiveness, and hate, do we show our world what it means to be redeemed? Or are we expecting the lost to act like the saved?
“Only the redeemed have the ability to like what God likes and to be pleased with what pleases God.”
A.W. Tozer
I trust in God’s sovereignty and know that he is moving in ways I can’t see or understand. But I also feel the weight of the psalmist’s words in Psalm 44: 23-26 (ESV) when he says:
Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
Redeem us, indeed!
As Bible-believing children of God, may others see Christ in us. We are here for a reason. To tell our stories, share His love, and turn hearts and minds to the cross. God is not asleep, but we—the Church—need to wake up.
So I return to the original question: What does it mean to be redeemed? Simply put, rescued. Rescued from sin and shame, past mistakes and failures, insecurity and inadequacy and bought with the blood of Christ on the cross.
No one can argue with your redemption story. It holds power and purpose.
I’ll leave you with three things: a quote, a song and a question.
A man cannot redeem himself— redemption is the work of God, and is absolutely finished and complete.
Oswald Chambers
Who will you tell about what it means to be redeemed?
And yes, it took me longer than 5 minutes, but I got on a roll:)
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I can’t save my rebel heart
from the judgment it deserves
that would set my soul apart
from the God whom I should long to serve,
but whose love I will deny
thrice before the coming dawn,
and whom I will crucify
and celebrate when He is gone
that I may feel no guilt or shame
as I wallow in my sin,
forgetting even Face and Name
of Saviour who’d fain let me in
to Heaven, even after all
I’ve done to build this iron wall.
Thank you, Andrew! Those first four lines say it all…love it!
It’s true that as Christians we have a much bigger picture on the word “redeem” than the rest of the world. Like you, I pray that we live in a way that shows the world just what a big deal it is!
FMF#25
Thank you for visiting, Kym! The time is now, for sure:)
Excellent post! I love the sentence “To the Christian, redeemed is a powerful word of saving grace, sacrifice, restoration, humility, gratitude, and freedom.” Also, a fan of Big Daddy Weave so thank you for the song!
Thank you, Doreen! And agree, he’s so good! Have a great weekend; thanks for stopping by!
Yes and Amen. What a blessed post. My mind always goes to Scripture or song when I hear or see the word redeem too. Our redemption story of rescue sure does hold power, indeed. Blessings.
Visiting from FMF#3
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Paula! It’s one of my favorite things about the FMF community. Blessings to you!