“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”       Isaiah 44:22 NLT

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 NLT

I love the book of Isaiah. It is not only prophetic, but also poetic. In the first verse, “the morning mist” captured me. And the next morning this mist, cloud, enveloped our home. In the second verse I want each of us to substitute our name for Jacob and Israel. Our God knows us, He has paid the price to free us, to redeems us, and calls each of us by name. We belong to Him!

In the Old Testament, redeemed was used to describe “a deliverance from bondage based on the payment of a price by a redeemer”. Also, all of the firstborn of animals and people belonged to the Lord. The firstborn of “clean” animals were given, sacrificed to God. A firstborn child was redeemed by substituting an animal sacrifice. In Luke 2:22-24, Jesus’ parents present Jesus at the temple and redeem Him with a sacrifice.

We all know that in the New Testament, our redemption price was paid once and for all by Jesus’ sacrifice; His death on the cross, and His resurrection. Jesus was our substitute. He bore our fate for our sins. He redeemed us. He paid the price God required for each and every one of us. We are wonderfully, thankfully and fully redeemed! We are set free!

This week let us be grateful and rejoice that we have been redeemed by name by our God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our price has been paid, and our sins have been swept away like the cloud, like the morning mist. Share your redemption story with someone else so that they, too, might be redeemed.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week to share in the joy of our redemption.

Blessings and joy in your beautiful redemption!