In Him We Have Redemption
Date: July 18, 2024
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse in NIV (Ephesians 1:7) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Help us understand the depth of Your love and the power of Your forgiveness. May we live in the joy of our redemption, always grateful for the richness of Your grace. Guide us to share this freedom with others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
E - Explore the History and meaning Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus around 60-62 AD while he was in prison. He's explaining the blessings we have in Christ. This verse highlights our redemption - how Jesus bought our freedom from sin through His death on the cross. It emphasizes God's forgiveness and the abundance of His grace towards us.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
"Redemption" - Being bought back or set free from slavery to sin
"Through his blood" - Refers to Jesus' death on the cross
"Forgiveness of sins" - God no longer holds our wrongs against us
"Riches of God's grace" - The abundance of God's undeserved favor
S - Summarize and Share
This verse is so powerful!
There are times when I catch myself feeling weighed down by guilt or shame over things I've done wrong. Maybe you've felt that way too. But this verse reminds me that in Jesus, I'm truly free from all that. He paid the price to set me free - with His own blood. That's how much He loves us!
What amazes me is that God doesn't just forgive us a little bit. The verse talks about the "riches of God's grace." It's like God has an endless supply of forgiveness and love for us. He's not stingy with His grace; He pours it out freely. I picture it like standing under a waterfall of God's love and mercy - it just keeps coming and coming, washing away every sin and every stain.
This freedom we have in Christ changes everything. It means we don't have to carry the burden of our past mistakes. We don't have to try to earn God's love or work our way into His good graces. Jesus has already done all the work! Can you imagine how liberating that is? We're free from the exhausting cycle of trying to be "good enough."
Living in this freedom means we can approach God without fear. Remember how Adam and Eve hid from God after they sinned? Because of Jesus, we don't have to hide anymore. We can come boldly to God, knowing that He sees us through the lens of Christ's perfection.
We can live with joy and confidence, knowing that we're fully forgiven and deeply loved. It's like having a clean slate every single day. No matter what happened yesterday, we wake up each morning to new mercies and fresh grace.
This freedom also changes how we relate to others. When we truly grasp how much we've been forgiven, it becomes easier to extend that same grace and forgiveness to those around us. We can love freely because we've been loved abundantly.
I want to remember this truth every day - that in Jesus, I am redeemed, forgiven, and free. It's not because of anything I've done, but because of God's amazing grace. What a wonderful gift! Let's celebrate this freedom and live in a way that shows the world the joy of being set free in Christ.
3 Bible Cross References:
Colossians 1:14
Romans 3:23-24
Titus 3:5
Question of the day: On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being "not at all" and 5 being "completely," how much do you feel you're living in the freedom Christ has given you? Type your number in the comments below. Let's encourage each other to fully embrace the freedom we have in Jesus!