Have you ever lost something valuable, something you really cared about? And then, someone found it and gave it back to you? That feeling of getting back what was lost is a little glimpse of what it means to be “redeemed” by God.
Our key verses today speak of this redemption and the personal relationship it brings. Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'” And Romans 8:15 tells us, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption as sons and daughters. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'”
These verses tell us that God doesn’t just save us from a distance; He brings us into a close, personal relationship with Himself. He “redeems” us, buys us back, and He calls us by name. Let’s explore this “divine intimacy.”
Think about the word “redeemed.” It means to purchase or buy back something that was lost or sold. In the Bible, we were once slaves to sin and separated from God. But God, in His love, paid the price to set us free. Isaiah 43:1 says, “I have redeemed you.” God Himself took the initiative. He didn’t wait for us to find our way back to Him; He came to us. He paid the ultimate price, through Jesus, to bring us back into relationship with Him. We are no longer slaves; we are free!
Isaiah 43:1 goes on to say, “I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” This is incredibly personal. God doesn’t just see us as a crowd; He sees us as individuals. He knows us by name. Imagine someone you admire greatly knowing your name and calling you out in a crowd. How would that make you feel? God, the Creator of the universe, knows your name! He calls you His own. This speaks of a deep, personal connection.
Romans 8:15 tells us that we “received the Spirit of adoption.” This is a beautiful picture of what God does for us. We weren’t just rescued; we were adopted into His family. Think about what it means to be adopted. You are chosen, loved, and given all the rights and privileges of a family. God doesn’t just tolerate us; He welcomes us into His family and makes us His sons and daughters.
Because we are adopted, we can call God “Abba, Father.” “Abba” is an Aramaic word that means “Daddy” or “Papa.” It’s a term of deep affection and intimacy. We don’t have to approach God with fear or distance. We can come to Him with the same openness and love that a child has for their father. We belong to Him, and He belongs to us.Redemption and being named are not just events; they establish a relationship. God wants to have a close, loving relationship with each of us. He wants us to know Him, to trust Him, and to share our lives with Him.
It’s a relationship of:
- Intimacy: Knowing God deeply and being known by Him.
- Significance: Understanding that we are important to God, that He values us as individuals.
- Love: Experiencing God’s unconditional love and responding with our own love.
This is the heart of the Christian faith: a personal, loving relationship with God, our Redeemer and Father.