When I was in Jr. High the front apartment in our complex caught on fire. My mom called the fire department, my brother grabbed the water hose, and I tried to get the young adult living in that apartment to answer the door and come out. I was banging and yelling as she came to the door a bit dazed and suffering from the effects of the smoke. I tried to bring her outside, but she thought I was just being funny. She did know me but I was just a kid and I gathered she did not trust me. When she saw the fire, she let me help her get out as my brother ran in to see what he could do with the garden hose. The fire trucks arrived, got her on oxygen (she only had one lung) and made sure the fire was out. Her rescue hinged on trust.

This incident reminds me of a biblical story of redemption and rescue. It’s the story of Ruth from the Bible book of Ruth. It’s a kind of tragic romance that brings in the biblical term of a kinsman-redeemer (click here for an article about kinsman-redeemer). See, Ruth’s family experienced some major losses and Ruth was left widowed with no real protection or future, unless someone in her family would take her in, redeeming her from her tragic circumstances. A distant relative named Boaz does (see Ruth 4:1-6). It’s a foreshadow of how Jesus redeems us from the tragedy, the isolation, the danger, and the destructive reality of our sinful condition. Lauren Daigle wrote a song about Jesus being our rescuer, click here to watch video of the song.

When we trust in Jesus as our Redeemer, we are made new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

We are given belonging.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

We are well protected.

Colossians 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be

against us?

None of this happens without trust. Trust is shown in obedience to God’s way of life, and allegiance to God as our leader and Lord. Let’s trust in our Redeemer.

A fun new way to revive our soul.

As we continue to seek to better help people thrive as fully functioning followers of Jesus, we want to provide opportunities and tools for your own spiritual development. Most every day we are producing videos, posts, emails, devotionals, study helps, and more to help. Some you will see on our social media, but all will be housed on our church website under the tab, “revive your soul this week”. We will be adding new content through the week. Each week enhances the Bible passage and theme of the upcoming Sunday. This week we are continuing our series in the Bible book of Job, entitied “#WhyMe.” This week Job’s confidence to endure his suffering is strengthened as he states, “I know my Redeemer lives” Job 19:25.

Let’s trust our Redeemer with obedience and allegiance as we struggle though these times of crisis. For we know our Redeemer lives!

Relying on the Redeemer’s rescue along with you,

Pastor Mike