Redeem

"God, to redeem us at the deepest portion of our nature-the urge to love and be loved-must reveal His nature in an incredible and impossible way. He must reveal it at the cross." -E. Stanley Jones

This past weekend, I attended a conference along with about 450 other BCM students from across the state of  South Carolina.  On Sunday morning, the main speaker was talking about how he did not expect us to retain everything we heard this weekend, but he hoped that something took out to us and that we left changed in some aspect of our lives. For me, that changed can be summed up in one word...Redeemed. I have heard the word over and over again and I even know what it means and can give a good definition for it; however, one of the speakers made redemption a very visual image for me this past weekend and I know that I will never look at it the same way again.

I have always just looked at redemption as a sort of payment.  It's how Jesus died so that I could be redeemed from my sin and be free. His image suggested something a little different.  It was compared to an arcade. When  you go to an arcade, you win tickets and you redeem them for a prize. Now if you were to watch any young child redeeming their tickets, they stare at the glass for what seems like hours, contemplating what to get. They want to make sure they get just the right item, the perfect trinket and something that they really love. God has done the same for us. He has turned in His son as the payment, and has picked us out specifically to be His prized possession. This is a story of being sought after, a image of being loved, a story of worth and value, and the sign of a proud Father who has gained a great possession. This is the story that all men need to hear. That they are loved, they are worth something, and that there is someone desperately trying to get them from behind the glass and take them home.  Thankfully, God has enough tickets and has already turned over His payment for His prize. Matthew 20:28 says, "Just as the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." The price is paid and we are free to go home with our Father who loves us dearly and who considers us worth the price of giving His only son. Amazing!

I challenge you to find your worth in God and constantly remind others that they have value and love in Jesus Christ.