Debt Paid In Full

Day 93 of Photo Inspirations -- Debt PAID in FULL
Two friends and I meet daily (M-F) at 6:30 am to walk the perimeter of our subdivision three times (3.3 miles).  We walk, talk and pray.  We're on purpose.  We pray for divine intervention for our families, our community, city, state and world.  "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  II Chronicles 7:14  

Because, we're "in the moment", we notice the "God" things all around us.  As the sun rises, we recognize the LIGHT of God's creation and His "Good Morning" to us.  We see the birds flying, and we hear "Don't concern yourselves with things that keep you earth-bound.  Rise up to My view where I see the BIG PICTURE -- the BIG PLANS for your lives and those plans are in progress for your good."

Yesterday morning, we were walking in wind gusts of up to 40 mph. Whew!  Acts 2:2 resonated in us ("....the rushing, mighty wind of God came in and filled the house where they were sitting").  We said, "Aw -- God's rushing, mighty wind is upon us and that wind pushes out anything contrary to God's Word in our community, our families' lives, our country and our world.  We prayed for Israel.

But, it was "Good Friday", and we talked about what Christ did for us on Calvary.  He paid a debt He didn't owe.  He paid our debt.  My friend mentioned a health issue, and right away we talked about the blood of Jesus that was shed for our sins AND for our healing.  "He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24.

As we talked about the power of His blood, we looked down and saw this red paint mark on the concrete -- and we were impressed by the visual that God caused us to see...simply because we were "in the moment" seizing the moment. There is nothing to compare with the nudges, visuals, and sweet embraces we feel from God when we make Him the invited guest, the center of attention and the VIP of our day.  Go ahead -- try it!  I promise you many, many divine encounters when you do.  Why wouldn't the ONE Who paid our debt, gave His life for us so that we would live, check in with us on a daily basis?  That's Who He is.  He is Emmanuel -- GOD WITH US!

Redeemed -- Exchanged for Value

I loved the First Sunday of Advent message brought by Fr Bryan Brooks.  He said, "This was before recycling.  Many of you youngsters won't remember when we took our glass soda pop bottles to the store to "redeem" them for some change.  But you mature folks will remember."

And, I add to that thought -- many of you won't remember the S&H Green Stamps that we put into little booklets that we "redeemed" for merchandise.  But, again, those of us who are "mature" will remember.  In fact, you still might have something around your house that you redeemed your stamps for.

REDEEM:  to buy back, to get or win back, to free from captivity by payment of a ransom, to release from debt, to remove the obligation of payment, to exchange for something of value. (Source, Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

But here's a redemption story that tops them all!   The reason for all the carols, and nativity scenes, and Christmas programs, and candlelight services, and the feeling of awe and wonder about a baby being born in a manager is that  Jesus Christ, Son of God, humbled Himself and became a man so that He could redeem us from our mistakes and the messes we make of our lives.  He came to redeem us from our sins.  Jesus paid the price for our salvation.

We used to sing a song, “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to take my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace.   Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.”   That is the good news. That is the debt we could never pay. God did it through His Son Jesus Christ coming to this earth to take our sins upon Himself.  And He did that, when He died on the cross for you and me.

Doesn't that give you a huge reason to give a sigh of relief.  IT IS FINISHED.  From the Manager to the Cross -- he paid the ultimate price for you and me!  He REDEEMED us.  Doesn't that make you feel that you're worth a million?