“You are extremely valuable to Jesus Christ. You are so valued that He gave his life on a cruel cross just for you.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today –April 7, 2023
I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God. Job 19:25-26
The first Good Friday did not feel good. Jesus died on the cross. Was God dead? No! God is not dead. He is alive and well now and forevermore. Because He is alive, we have hope. Yet some days, we live as ones without hope. We live as if God is dead. Life can seem hopeless at times. Relationships may have collapsed around you. Maybe a child used to be the pride of your life but now is away from the Lord. He has become so high maintenance that it is sucking the very life out of your being. Or, finances may be hemorrhaging like a surgery gone wrong. It is not a pretty sight. Adversity can whip you up into a claustrophobic frenzy. But hope is still alive.
Like a hurting dog backed into a corner with nowhere to go, you may feel fearful and lash out at anyone who attempts to get close. Or you have crawled over into an emotional corner and lie there in a fetal position. You have lost hope. It is nowhere to be found. It cannot be found in your work. It cannot be found in your relationships. It cannot be found in your health. It cannot be found in your finances. You are in a downward spiral with no end in sight. Hope is elusive, and you lack the willpower to go any further. However, the truth is that even when things were going well, authentic hope is not found in work, relationships, health, and finances. These are false hopes that can die or become ill at any time. If your hope attempts to ride these coattails, you will be disappointed, even crushed. Our living hope is God. He is alive and loves you!
“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NKJV).
God is our Redeemer who lives! We can enjoy Him now, and we can look forward to being with Him for eternity. His redemption delivered you from sin at your conversion, and He will ultimately deliver you from this life on earth to eternal life in heaven. His redemption purchased you for Himself. You are extremely valuable to Jesus Christ. You are so valued that He gave his life on a cruel cross just for you. You are Christ’s valued investment. And what He invests in, He keeps up with. You are His, and you are personally valued by Jesus himself. ‘You serve a risen Savior who is in the world today.’ Though you feel forsaken, He is there to give you hope. Though you feel oppressed and downtrodden, He is there to give you hope. Though you feel estranged from God and others, He is there to give you hope.
And though all hell has broken loose, the Lord is still there to give you hope. Jesus is your living hope, never to die again. By faith, Christ resides in you alive and well. When you were redeemed by faith in Christ, not only did he purchase you, but He moved in with you. Your home is Christ’s home. Your life is Christ’s life. Your sorrows are Christ’s sorrows. And your hope is Christ’s hope. Hope is all wrapped up in God. It is a living hope that cannot be killed or destroyed. At salvation, you signed up for a life of hope. To be a Christian is to be hopeful. Your greatest hope is to be with Christ in heaven forevermore. No sin, sorrow, or pain, and you reign with Him for eternity. It will be heaven on earth without evil. You will thoroughly enjoy Him and others. You can be hopeful because God’s hope is alive. Your Redeemer lives, as do you!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3, NKJV).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ, who died for me and redeemed me by his blood, through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What worry do I need to give over to God and replace with trust and hope in him?
Related Reading
Luke 1:68; Galatians 3:13; Titus 2:14; Revelation 5:9
Worship Resource
Nicole C. Mullen: My Redeemer Lives
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