redeemed Archives – Sonshine's Journal

August 16, 2021August 16, 2021

Sealed until the day of Redemption

Jeremiah 32 Sealed Until The Day of Redemption

Hanamel, Jeremiah’s cousin, came to request that he purchase his land. Jeremiah had the right of redemption, and he was the next of kin. He was the kinsman-redeemer for Hanamel, just as Boaz was the kinsman-redeemer for Naomi and Ruth. The pattern was the same; a request is made, a deed is drawn up, witnesses are there to watch the transaction. Jeremiah paid the redemption price in silver; Jesus paid the redemption price in his blood.

God’s plan was to restore the land and restore the people from their captivity. Jesus came to restore us from our captivity of sin. The principle is the same for us as for the Israelites: “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” [Jer 29:11]

The pattern is repeated from Ruth to Jeremiah to Jesus in the NT. Is Jesus your kinsman-redeemer? Have you been bought with a price? If not, know this truth: He is waiting with pen in hand to sign the document of release to redeem you from your sin. Just as Jeremiah sealed the document in the earthenware jar, “you are then sealed for the day of redemption.” [Eph 4:30]

August 26, 2015

Is Our Heart Broken?

Perhaps you know of someone, like I do, who shared his kidney “just because” it was as he said.,..the right thing to do. He stepped up and offered a kidney to save another whose life hung in the balance. But here is the question: what if God said you could give your salvation to someone who is in need—would you like Paul be willing to spend eternity in hell so they could spend eternity in heaven?

Thankfully we know that for certain that we are redeemed and sealed and our salvation is secure–and this would not be a possibility but there still is that question: would we be willing? What does our response say about our heart?

As Paul continues to pour out his heart to the unbelieving Jew his heart is literally broken as he knows what lies before them if they do not repent. So it is with us who have unbelieving loved ones, friends and those across the world that are following false religions seeking to earn their place in paradise/heaven. But, is our heart as broken as Paul’s? Does it send us to our knees praying diligently for them daily because we know they are seeking eternity on their own terms and they will with all certainty fail? One day they will only hear “I never knew you” from the lips of the Savior because “they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works.” In contrast “the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

May we earnestly not only contend for the faith but pray for those who are walking in darkness.

June 1, 2015

“Blessed Are You!”

Paul put pen to parchment and crafted a beautiful a snail mail letter to his beloved Ephesians to encourage them to not lose their first love. Take time today to hover over each sentence anticipating what God also wants you to know through his servant Paul. It is because of your faith in the Lord Jesus you have been blessed with the blessings from eternity past. The eyes of your heart have been enlightened to the truth and you have been blessed with an inheritance that will not fade away. You are an adopted child of God with all of the rights and privileges of a natural born child. Your adoption document is irrevocable—signed, sealed and delivered with the power of the Holy Spirit. You are a child of the King and the recipient of God’s lavished love. And all of this came with a price lest you should forget and lose sight of this blessing. It came when you were redeemed with the blood sacrifice of the firstborn Son so that your trespasses might be forgiven; all accomplished by the incomparable greatness of God’s power. Beloved this was not some happenstance occurrence but God kindly intended for it in eternity past to the praise of his glory.

Cling to these words: “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” And just think, God planned this in eternity past!

This can also be found here: https://www.facebook.com/bible.org where we are doing the NT, Ps and Prov each day. You would be right on schedule to begin Ephesians with us today.