Redeemed

Are you wondering why the title is “Redeemed” and the graphic a tire? It goes back over 50 years ago when my Beloved Husband was in the army and we were about 500 miles from home. Gasoline was less than $.30/gallon, but our pay was just over $200/month. We had an extra tire that we took to the pawn shop if we needed to go home before the first of the month, and it was redeemed when he was paid.

We haven’t used a pawnshop since those army days, but I remember what redeemed meant – we regained our tire when we repaid the cost. Had we not redeemed that tire, it would have been lost to us.

That process reminds me of Fanny Crosby and her hymn, “Redeemed”, which helps us do what as we’re told:

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (Psalms 107:2 KJV)

Fanny certainly did – and when we sing her words, we are saying so, too:

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.

Refrain:

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.

We used money to redeem the tire. God used different currency, and the Bible tells us about it.

Ye are bought with a price; (1 Corinthians 7:23a KJV)

Pastor gave us a sermon one time that showed us we were the pearl that was purchased:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46 KJV)

Why else would He have paid such a great price for us?

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9 KJV)

When we realize this, we can praise with Zacharias:

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, (Luke 1:68 KJV)

That redemption was not for physical things such as the tire, nor was it paid for with money that fluctuates in value.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV)

The joy we have been given through redemption is the reason we praise and share the news that anyone can be redeemed through His infinite mercy. It’s the plan and the message:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)