12-11-20   THOUGHTS  

The idea of REDEMPTION was set by God from early times.  It is that “something given up or sold” would eventually be bought back or returned.  The year of Jubile (every fiftieth year) carried the idea as an awesome metaphor.  
Lev 25:10 ‘You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.
Deut 7:7-9    "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8  but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9  "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Neh 5:1-8   Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2  For there were those who said, "We, our sons and our daughters are many; therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live." 3  There were others who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our houses that we might get grain because of the famine." 4  Also there were those who said, "We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5  "Now our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers, our children like their children. Yet behold, we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others." 6   Then I was very angry when I had heard their outcry and these words. 7  I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. 8  I said to them, "We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations; now would you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us?" Then they were silent and could not find a word to say.
Isa 52:3    For thus says the LORD, "You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money."
The stories above are pictures of our bondage to sin!  WE MUST BE REDEEMED!
1Pet 1:18-21    knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19  but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21  who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

My Prayer:
Oh God, you have taken us as filthy rags and made us white as snow.  You have bought us from the slavery of sin unto yourself and made us holy. It was your grace and mercy, we had no power in the matter.  Thank you from the deepest part of our hearts.  We Praise You Oh God!             In the precious name of Jesus               Amen