I Am REDEEMED
re·deem /rəˈdēm/ - to free from captivity by payment of ransom
re·demp·tion /rəˈdem(p)SH(ə)n/ - is the act, process, or an instance of redeeming.
Hi, my name is Ashli and I am REDEEMED. This past weekend, I had the privilege of gathering at One City Church in Chesapeake, VA for our annual “Women's Weekend” conference. It was a much needed space to be reminded that I am made new in Christ and that because of Him, I have been rescued from the eternal consequences of sin. I have a fresh start, a new beginning, a clean slate in Christ. What once was, will no longer be. This is the foundation in which I have to build my faith on. It takes work to build your life on the right foundation and the enemy fights me hard on this all the time. It’s tempting to build your life on working to feel saved or affirmations from others that you’re enough, but the truth is, that will never be enough. Romans 3:25 NLT reads, “For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood….” People are made right with God when they believe. It is my belief that paves a path to living in redemption.
What I have been learning and gracefully accepting, is though I am redeemed (past tense) redemption is still happening. I’ll explain. “In the Old Testament, redemption involves deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer”. We see this reflected in the New Testament where God delivered us from the bondage of sin and death, by sending His son as payment or atonement. What happened 2000 years set the foundation for today. You may have been like me this weekend, looked around and asked “God if my life was redeemed 2000 years ago, why hasn’t my present situation been redeemed too?” I had questions. God — in his lovingkindness, welcomes those questions and does not condemn those who ask. I wrestled with my thoughts for a few minutes and then finally, I asked my questions. One thing I know is, God is a man of His Word so however and whatever he says is truth. As I was crying my eyes out, I geared myself up for his response and begin to ask about the heavy things that I have yet to experience as “redeemed”. In that moment, God didn’t say, “Okay when you leave today, you will see everything as redeemed”. He showed me something else.
The act of redemption on the cross 2000 years ago is a reminder of what can be done today. You know it took over 20 generations before the promise of the Messiah was born? The promise is here, but the promise of redemption has to occur in God’s timing, not in the timing of my tears. It’s hard, I know, but let me tell you one other thing that God did that day.
God didn’t reveal to me his future redemptive works, he showed me past ones. He showed me how I once cringed at the thought of speaking on a platform, yet he redeemed my fear of public speaking. He showed me how trauma responses caused me to reject affection, yet he redeemed my resistance to hugs and affection. Currently, he is redeeming my hesitance to believe others when they say the Spirit of God in me stirs the Spirit of God in them. “Like who me ??” to which God gently says to me “Yes, you.” These are just a few of the small, but mighty redemptive works God has done in my life. Now the next time you’re tempted to ask God why your situation has not been redeemed, remember his past works and if you can’t think of one, remember the cross. Give thanks in advance because it is so in Jesus name.
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“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah.” Psalm 49:15 NKJV
“But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude” Psalm 49:15 NLT
