Redeemed

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;  O Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.  If you, O Lord, kept record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.  O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.  Psalm 130

Do you ever have those days when you can't get a word, thought, or concept out of your head?  I had one of those last weekend and it has just kept on going!  I was on a retreat with my teens last weekend and the word that I just couldn't shake was REDEEMED!  Each night as we would sing I was just reminded constantly of what my savior has done in me and for me.  

I think often time we like to talk about God's grace as it is offered to others.  We like to talk to other people about how Jesus died on the cross to forgive them of their sins, but we sometimes sweep our own sins under the rug.  Last weekend I was reminded over and over again of His full REDEMPTION and unfailing love.  May we never forget just how bad off we would actually be if we didn't have our Savior.  

Paul hit it spot on in 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I AM THE WORST.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his UNLIMITED patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.  Now to the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever.  

I pray that though I may never fully understand just what my God gave up to offer me full redemption that I will never minimize what He did for me.  I am a sinner and deserve hell.  To say anything else would be a lie, but praise God that by His rich mercy and grace I received FULL REDEMPTION!

He was despised and rejected by me,  a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and I esteemed him not.  Surely he took up my infirmities and carried my  sorrows, yet I considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought  me peace was upon him, and by his wounds I am healed.  I like a sheep, have gone astray, and have turned to my own way; and the Lord has laid on him all of my iniquities.  Isaiah 53:3-6

Praise God that we are REDEEMED!