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-Small Groups -  Click here for information or to sign up for a Small Group

-The Music Man will be presented as our fall theatrical event...click here (www.ChristMemorialProductions.org) for full details and audition information. 

      Performances: November 13, 14,15 at 7:30 pm and November 16 at 2:00.

      Auditions: August 16 and 17 from 1- 5 PM..

Devotions

Family Friend

Redeemer

Readings: Leviticus 25:47-49 and 1 Peter 1:18-19

An Israelite who was unable to pay a debt could sell himself into slavery and work for his creditor to pay off the amount he owed. However, he could be redeemed from his servitude and freed from his debt if any family member paid the debt for him. Such a family member would be a true friend indeed.

You and I owed God a tremendous debt. We needed to pay the penalty for our sins. We owe God for our lack of love both to Him and to our neighbor (Mark 12:28-30). This loveless attitude shows itself in our laziness, our short tempers, our evil thoughts, our pride, and our jealously. We see it in all the wrong we have ever done and all the good we have failed to do. We sin daily and the debt we incur is infinite and immeasurable. The law of God demands restitution. But it is a debt we can never pay.

Because of this debt, we deserve nothing from God but His eternal wrath and punishment (Eph. 2:3). He will not put off His wrath forever. The day of God’s wrath is coming (Zeph. 1:14-18). Our only hope is expressed in the words of the psalmist who writes, “Rise up and help us; redeem us because of Your unfailing love” (Ps. 44:26).

God has heard the pleas of His people. He promised that a redeemer would come, “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the

LORD” (Is. 59:20). But our debt is so great who can this redeemer be? Who can possible pay the vast amount we owe? The Old Testament prophets tell us. Isaiah writes, “You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (Is. 60:16). Jeremiah also said, “Yet their Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is His name” (Jer. 50:34).

God Himself promised to be our relative—our family friend— who will pay the price to redeem us. So He became incarnate and was born of the Virgin Mary. “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law” (Gal. 4:4-5). He paid the price by taking upon Himself the suffering and the condemnation we deserved because of our sin. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13-14).

He took our punishment and redeemed us with His own precious blood. St. Peter explains, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

Prayer: Oh Lord I am Yours twice over. In the first place You created me, then second You also redeemed me with Your precious blood. In times of doubt or worry, help me to remember that I belong to You and You will always take care of me. Amen.