redemption

The Power of Darkness

Posted on by Betsy

This is the time of year when the sun is fickle about making an appearance. It acts like a self-conscious teenager deciding on whether or not to go to the school dance. She shows up too early in the morning and peeks through our bedroom blinds like she needs to see who else is there before she commits. Then she ducks behind clouds for the rest of day, avoiding the scrutiny of the rest of the kids. Finally, she calls her dad and goes home way too early, making us think that midnight has suddenly arrived in the middle of the afternoon as she takes her light with her. We miss the boldness of that summer sun who came out to play and stayed all day! Come back, summer sun!

In our Scripture today, Paul talks to the church at Colossae about the “power of darkness”. This same phrase is used in Luke 22:53 when Jesus describes the sinister forces of Satan as he was being arrested and taken away for his crucifixion. This is the darkness of Satan’s domain. It lulls us to sleep, distracts us, afflicts and depresses us, and is very skillful at hiding.

Colossians 1 (New Revised Standard Version)

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 

Paul gives us the switch to flood our souls with the light that overpowers the darkness. When we know God’s will we have spiritual understanding. This wisdom enables us to live a life worthy of Christ and bear spiritual fruit in everything we do: The big tasks as well as the small moments of grace that we share with others. God strengthens us and blesses us with endurance and patience. And what is the result? We inherit the light.

13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

God rescues us from the power of darkness ,and we now belong to his kingdom, which is a kingdom of light.

How can you be the light to someone living in darkness today? The days are getting shorter and colder and people living on the edge are anxiously waiting for help and redemption. Who will you save today?

Moonlight Overcoming the Darkness

Give Thanks!

Posted on by Betsy

What does it mean to be redeemed?

When you study the roots of the word “redeemed,” you will find phrases like “buy back,” “win back,” and “to free from captivity by payment of ransom.” This last definition gets to the heart of the matter in a theological sense. Your very soul was freed when Jesus paid a ransom for it on the cross. YOU are one of the redeemed.

In our Psalm today, we receive instructions on what the redeemed should do. This is a terrific reminder this week as we prepare for Thanksgiving. How do you measure up? 

Here is what the psalmist suggests:

Give thanks to the Lord,

Say that his faithful love lasts forever,

Cry out to the Lord in your distress,

Offer thanksgiving sacrifices,

Declare what God has done,

Sing songs of joy!

Psalm 107 (Common English Bible)

“Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
        because his faithful love lasts forever!”
2 That’s what those who are redeemed by the Lord say,
    the ones God redeemed from the power of their enemies,
3     the ones God gathered from various countries,
    from east and west, north and south.

Some of the redeemed were fools because of their sinful ways.
    They suffered because of their wickedness.
18 They had absolutely no appetite for food;
    they had arrived at death’s gates.

19 So they cried out to the Lord in their distress,
    and God saved them from their desperate circumstances.
20 God gave the order and healed them;
    he rescued them from their pit.

21 Let them thank the Lord for his faithful love
    and his wondrous works for all people.
22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices
    and declare what God has done in songs of joy!

This psalm was written during the time when God redeemed the nation of Israel from captivity in Babylon. They had cried out and were heard. They suffered because of their wickedness and were delivered. They were sick to death and were healed of their desperate circumstances.

God redeemed his people.

Our challenge today is to choose one of the things that the redeemed do and go out and do it. Can you offer a thanksgiving sacrifice by paying for someone’s order in the drive-through line behind you? Can you call or text a friend and remind them of God’s faithful love? Perhaps you might sing a song of joy to the Lord today as you take a walk or spend extra time in prayer and offer God nothing but thanks.

We are the redeemed. We are his people. We are bought and paid for by the shed blood of the atonement. Give thanks! 

Let all the redeemed say so.

Give Thanks by Michelle Robertson