"But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine."
Isaiah 43:1 NLT
Isaiah 43:1 NLT
Each and every one of us who has made Jesus the Lord of our lives can claim this declaration for ourselves. I love that word, "ransom" in description of the work God has done on our behalf.
He showed me an illustration recently to help me picture our salvation as a ransom:
We ran away from God in rebellion, like angry teenagers. Sin found us and claimed us as his own. We became his slaves, and he did a real number on us with his cruelty.
But God was seeking us out the entire time that we were gone. He searched the slums, the streets, and the marketplaces until he found us. Then he walked straight up to the man who owned us and said, "name your price".
That man said, "You want her? You want him? Then give me your Son in exchange."
Then our Daddy, without hesitation, gave up his Son so that he could have us back.
But God was seeking us out the entire time that we were gone. He searched the slums, the streets, and the marketplaces until he found us. Then he walked straight up to the man who owned us and said, "name your price".
That man said, "You want her? You want him? Then give me your Son in exchange."
Then our Daddy, without hesitation, gave up his Son so that he could have us back.
He brought us home and clothed us with clean, new clothes. We started living our lives together. But sometimes, we get it into our heads that our new Master is like our old one:
We think we have to please him to be in his favor.
We think it's impossible that our ransom was a free gift, and so think we have to pay it back somehow.
We think every misstep deserves harsh punishment. And when we don't receive that punishment from our Father, we dish it out on ourselves or, sometimes, on each other.
We think we have to please him to be in his favor.
We think it's impossible that our ransom was a free gift, and so think we have to pay it back somehow.
We think every misstep deserves harsh punishment. And when we don't receive that punishment from our Father, we dish it out on ourselves or, sometimes, on each other.
These thoughts prove that we're still in a slave mindset, not a son or daughter mindset.
But that is not how God intended for us to live. He didn't adopt us just so we could turn around and accuse him of the same cruelties that we suffered from our old master. He gave us new life so we could live it!
I'm not saying that we don't have a responsibility to serve God. What I am saying is that our service should come from love, not fear.
An exercise I've started in my own life, as a personal check against both perfectionism and guilt, is to look at the Gospel. I think of all the details, from Creation to Jesus's future return. Then I ask myself to truly believe it again.
1. God loves me, and he created me to be in fellowship with him
2. I'm unable to control or overcome my sinful nature (I don't say I'm a sinner, because that's not my identity anymore)
3. Jesus overcame the curse of humanity, and opened the door for me to leave my sins and mistakes behind me. He willingly died on the cross to take the punishment I deserve. Then he rose from the dead so he could offer me eternal life
4. God has offered me free forgiveness that doesn't have to be earned or deserved in any way
5. My sinful nature is still not something I can control. But God gave me his Holy Spirit to control it for me.
6. Just as Jesus endured all hardship on this earth, and overcame it, so he has enabled me to do the same. I do this by holding to his sacrifice, and telling others all that he's done for me.
7. Jesus will return for me, and when he does, everything wrong will be made right, both in myself and in the world.
1. God loves me, and he created me to be in fellowship with him
2. I'm unable to control or overcome my sinful nature (I don't say I'm a sinner, because that's not my identity anymore)
3. Jesus overcame the curse of humanity, and opened the door for me to leave my sins and mistakes behind me. He willingly died on the cross to take the punishment I deserve. Then he rose from the dead so he could offer me eternal life
4. God has offered me free forgiveness that doesn't have to be earned or deserved in any way
5. My sinful nature is still not something I can control. But God gave me his Holy Spirit to control it for me.
6. Just as Jesus endured all hardship on this earth, and overcame it, so he has enabled me to do the same. I do this by holding to his sacrifice, and telling others all that he's done for me.
7. Jesus will return for me, and when he does, everything wrong will be made right, both in myself and in the world.
That exercise prompts questions:
Am I living as if the Gospel were true for me?
Do I have freedom, hope, and joy in my life?
If I were to tell someone about Jesus, could I point them to my behavior and attitude as evidence that his sacrifice, and the freedom he offers, is real?
Am I living as if the Gospel were true for me?
Do I have freedom, hope, and joy in my life?
If I were to tell someone about Jesus, could I point them to my behavior and attitude as evidence that his sacrifice, and the freedom he offers, is real?
To answer that last question, here's some more questions:
In what ways am I still living with a slave mindset?
Do I still try to control my own sinful nature, or do I hand the leash of that mad dog over to Dad?
Do I have a fear of punishment lingering over my head, or am I resting securely in my adoption?
Am I serving God out of pride or fear, or out of genuine love and humility and surrender?
Am I trying to avoid showing weakness to God, or am I running into Daddy's lap when I hurt?
In what ways am I still living with a slave mindset?
Do I still try to control my own sinful nature, or do I hand the leash of that mad dog over to Dad?
Do I have a fear of punishment lingering over my head, or am I resting securely in my adoption?
Am I serving God out of pride or fear, or out of genuine love and humility and surrender?
Am I trying to avoid showing weakness to God, or am I running into Daddy's lap when I hurt?
The Gospel is real. We have to act like it!
"This is what the Sovereign Lord , the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength..."
Isaiah 30:15a NLT
Isaiah 30:15a NLT
