2-13-2015

Good Morning All,

          Psalm 49:15; “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.”

     If you have been following the news over the last few weeks, you may have read or seen stories about how the terrorists overseas in Syria and Iraq have been taking many westerners hostage and then holding them for ransom.  There has been some fascinating discussion on this tactic.  It is well known by most Americans that the United States government refuses to deal with terrorists or give in to hostage demands.  The line of thinking is that once you start paying out money then United States citizens become more of a target for this type of violence.  It is even illegal for a United States citizen to pay the ransom.  However, some of the European countries pay ransoms in some cases.  Japan has in the past as well; so the debate rages should you pay or should you not pay? 

    When you see the hostages on television, we see how powerless they are.  Often times, there are hooded terrorists holding guns and knives, threatening the very life of the hostage.  Many years ago, an heir of the Getty family was kidnapped.  The hostage takers showed they meant business by sending the family one of the hostage’s ears.  Holding someone for ransom is very cruel; it separates the victim from his family and friends and he lives seeing very little hope and no freedom.  They are helpless and hopeless; captives with little, if anything to look forward to.  Fortunately for us, our heavenly Father chooses to pay our ransom.

    We are held hostage by the devil.  We are sinners and we must pay for the sins we commit.  Yet we are unable to pay so the devil taunts us and belittles us and threatens us.  He holds us hostage.  Now it might make sense for God to say that he won’t negotiate with a known terrorist like the devil.  After all, if one ransom is paid then the devil will have all sorts of incentive to go after more and more; the price will be too great to pay.  Logic says “don’t pay” but God’s pure love says “pay; pay now and pay later but just pay.”

    The cost of our ransom was high; incredibly high.  The price was the suffering and death, the abandonment of God’s one and only Son on a cross.  This is how God paid the ransom, your ransom; with the blood of his Son.  God then showed that the ransom was fully paid by raising Jesus from the tomb to show victory over death, the devil and the world.  We can never be held by the devil again; we are free from his tyranny by God’s great pleasure and wondrous gift.  We are free, truly free in his love.

Gracious God, you have freed us by your mercy.  You looked at the cost and paid it willingly for us.  We are free because of your great love.  Guard us with your Spirit and move mightily in our heart and life that we may fully know the heights and depths of your love.  Help us to celebrate your love.  Let us rest in your arms and know your true peace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret