Redemption, reconciliation, and justification

Romans 3:24 (ESV)  

And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

In London there are about three kinds of maps: the street map, the map depicting throughways, and the underground map of the subway. Each map is accurate and correct, but each map does not give the complete picture. To see the whole, the three maps must be printed one on top of each other. However, that is often confusing, so the use of only one 'layer' at a time is much easier.

It is the same with the words used to describe the death of Jesus Christ. Each word, like redemption, reconciliation, or justification, is accurate and correct, but each word does not give the complete picture. To see the whole we need to place one 'layer' one top of the other, but that is sometimes confusing--we cannot see the trees for the whole! So we separate out each splendid concept and discover that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Dear Lord, we thank You that we can have redemption, reconciliation and justification because of what You did for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

What do you do with such a gift?

2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

I was reading some stories on line and came across this story about a Dutch pastor and his family who had been hiding Jewish people in their home during the second World War. One night, they heard the sound of heavy boots and the loud impatient knocking on the door. They were arrested and loaded into a cattle car. All night long, the pastor and his family rode along in anguish, knowing they were being taken to one of Hitler's concentration camps only to be separated from each other and likely killed.

Finally, the the train stopped. The doors of the cattle car were opened. They were marched out and lined up beside the railroad tracks. But then something very strange happened. They discovered that they were not in a death camp at all -- they weren't even in Germany!

During the night a courageous employee risked his life and purposely tripped a switch which sent the train of prisoners to Switzerland, to their freedom. Instead of being marched to death, they were welcomed to new life. Wow. Thank you God. In the midst of his joy and relief, the Dutch pastor said, "What do you do with such a gift?"

We have been given a gift of redemption much more powerful than this! And what are we doing with such a gift? Let's start being about doing the work of the Kingdom!

Dear Lord, we want to thank You for the incredible gift that You gave us. Help u snot keep it to our self but instead pass it alone to everyone You bring into our path. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Flight # 232 and Redemption

Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Some years ago on the 15th of August, 1976 a regular daily flight originated in Quinto, Ecuador and departed for the southern Ecuadorian City of Cuenca. The normal flight of 40 minutes became a painful mystery only recently solved. Flight # 232 never reached its destination. It completely disappeared... for 26 years. Ongoing investigations turned up nothing, until finally they were terminated, accepting the fact that 59 passengers and a 727 Boeing jet had vanished. Countless rumors were spread as to the disappearance of flight # 232, but for many years the families of the 59 on board were not allowed peace of mind and closure as to the plight of their loved ones. That changed in February 2002 as Chimborazo Mountain climbers discovered the Boeing jet imbedded in the snow and ice of one of the highest volcanic mountains in the world. The plane was almost intact and the bodies of the passengers were kept preserved by the year-round icecap on the top of Mount Chimborazo. The bodies have now been removed, identified, and finally after  years of grief there has come a closure that was not possible before.

However, this story does not end there. It contains a tremendous lesson for those of us who have been rescued from death and included in a kingdom of life and love. Perhaps the greatest of all sins is to know the truth, to possess the knowledge that can free grieving hearts, but to conceal that truth and knowledge. That happened with flight # 232. Upon finding the wrecked plane and preserved bodies of the passengers, it was evident that others had been there before. The passengers had been stripped of their jewelry and wallets. When? That will probably remain unknown. What human being could value jewelry and money over the desire to communicate the discovery of truth? Truth that could heal aching hearts was hidden from those who so desired to know. Selfish greed reigned while mercy and loving kindness was ignored. Someone(s) will answer for their sin against the families of flight # 232.

As we consider our part in the scheme of God's plan of redemption, do we truly understand the seriousness of not sharing what we have come to know? Is it possible to really know Christ and not share what He has done in our lives, what He means to us, and the difference He can make in the life of all we meet?

Will you be the one to share the plan of redemption to others?

Dear Lord we pray that we would not hide what we have but share that great redemption that we have received from God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Lost Red Boat

John 14:6 (New International Version)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

It was just a simple toy boat. Not very big, and made of red plastic. Just the kind any kid would love to play with. Somehow it found its way into the Atlantic Ocean, near Shediac, New Brunswick, and because boats are made to float, it was fine at first.

But as it continued to bob, unattended, on the surface of that salt-water bay, it got caught up in a current, one that caused it to drift farther and farther away from the beach. No matter how hard it tried to turn back, it was helpless to change its course. The current was too strong for such a tiny plastic boat.

But even if it had been equipped with a motor of some kind, its efforts would have been pointless. It might have initially made the boat feel better to be "doing" something to get itself back to shore, but sooner or later it would realize that the motor wasn't strong enough to fight the current, and it would continue to find itself drifting farther and farther from the shore.

No human efforts could save it now. It was lost, lost for good!

Only One came to save those, who like that tiny plastic boat, are lost. It cost Him His life, but when He rose from the dead on the third day, he could exclaim: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

And indeed those who were once lost were brought ashore, not through their own efforts, but because of what the Risen One had done for them!

There is no price for our redemption. Jesus paid it in full. All we can do with our tiny human effort is to drift further and further away from God's grace. Just like that tiny boat could do nothing to save itself, we cannot save ourselves. "Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." (Gal 2:16 NIV)

Dear Lord we thank You that we don’t have to drift out to see but You are there to rescue us. We pray today that we won’t try to do it on our own but that we would put our complete trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's Redemption

In the days of Jesus' birth, there was a group of devout and lowly people who still looked for God's redemption. They knew that salvation could not, and would not, come without great cost -- not just to themselves, but also to God. Isaiah had hinted about this in his Servant Songs. They had experienced it in their own history. So with honest hearts, they confessed that they didn't have the power to bring salvation and deliverance. This power had to come from God and had to be released to people who were seeking God's transformation in their lives. They needed to ask God for it! They needed to seek his face, his presence, in their daily lives. So must we!

Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

— Psalm 80:19

Dear Lord we praise you. We praise you for your power and glory. We praise you for your wisdom and creativity. We praise you for your mercy and righteousness. We praise you because you alone are worthy of my praise. You alone can bring me full salvation. Please, shine your face upon us. Please, make your presence known in our life. In Jesus' name, Amen.