Redemption

Redemption.

The Lord gave me this word at the start of the year. What does it make you think of?

Some of you are better than I, but when the Lord first gave me this word I imagined revenge, punishment, and accountability. I imagined the hardship that I faced and the people who betrayed and abused me to be held to account. Not shy of seeking my own accountability and punishment for myself.

How small my understanding of the word was.

Redemption is the word that brings choice of freedom to all mankind. Redemption is Jesus on the cross. Redemption is peace that goes past the facts. Redemption is surrender. Redemption is a hope for the day that is to come. Redemption is the mercy and grace for my sin. Redemption is about my Father's love for me.

How sweet it is to know.

If you are looking for a story that rights every wrong you have ever experienced or commited, you have found it. I have found it in Christ Jesus.

I await the day of my blessed savior returning to judge every man and woman alike. I await the day to join a crowd of the true church rushing into the gates of our new heaven and new earth. A day of perfection. A day of renewal. A day of redemption.

Holy. Wonderful. Beautiful.

Until then, I wait, impatiently I might add, remembering the promise, remembering the love, remembering every moment He has fulfilled His promise to me and to this world.

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit." Psalm 51:12

A Psalm written by David the King of Israel, the man known for having a heart after God's own heart. Yet, this psalm was written after having an affiar with Bathesheba, the wife of a faithful trusted soldier, and willingly murdering him for the sake of His own name. Wow, even God forgives him. Wow, even God loves him. Do you think He might be capable of doing this and being this far more than we could ever credit to Him?

Maybe He has always loved us from the very beginning, even in knowing the one thing we seek to hide from the entire world.

So, maybe if He can hold me to account and forgive me and love me, maybe I can trust him to work out everything else in life. Maybe I can trust Him to love me. Maybe I can trust that He is the perfect judge. Maybe He is capable of much more than I have ever liked to believe.

Maybe just maybe redemption is surrender to the one who first served and saved me.

Life will always be met with hardship, but life has always been held in the wonderful hands of a Father who restores and redeems all of creation.

Redemption is so much sweeter than I ever thought. Amazingly too, I don't think I have yet to undertand it's sweetness. But I will and I hope you choose to too for the day that is coming...

"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."" Revelation 21:5