Hello everyone,
I find myself thinking deeply about what it truly means to redeem something. I’ve often heard that redemption means to “buy back,” and that definition lingers in my mind. The Lord indeed redeems, He absolutely does. He lifts us from what we thought would break us, from the very things we believed would hold us down forever. When I reflect on the mysteries of God, the redeeming power of the Lord stands out as one of the most captivating to me right now.
What does it mean for Abba to redeem you?
When I searched for the meaning of redeem, I saw three definitions:
Perfect. Now, we know He saves. He regains what was lost. He pays the price for our freedom.
I think of Luke 4:18–19 :
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me, To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted ,To proclaim liberty to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Abba the Redeemer
A little while ago, this concept of Abba as Redeemer was just that; a concept. I barely understood what it meant for Abba to redeem me. I have this tendency to go on a performative race, quite exhausting and led to burn out/self harm even sabotage, just to prove myself to Jesus. But I was always redeemed, He just needed me to accept it. He needed me to know that He has seen me and wants to redeem me.
I think of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth had endured so much, she was a Moabite, born into a land marked by idolatry and sin. She lost her husband, her people, and every sense of comfort she once knew. Yet as a widow, she made a quiet but profound decision: to follow Naomi, and more importantly, to follow Yahweh. That choice, I believe, was one the Lord Himself empowered her to make. Ruth did her part in faithfulness, and Naomi guided her with wisdom and love. Then, in God’s perfect timing, her redeemer, Boaz stepped in. The story of Ruth and Boaz is often told in the context of marriage, but beyond that, I see in Boaz a foreshadowing of Jesus. Just as Ruth was redeemed and restored, so are we. We, the bride of Christ, have a Redeemer who covers, restores, and reclaims us completely. My Jesus, Jesus our Saviour and King is the ultimate Redeemer.
“Then the close relative said, ‘I cannot redeem it for myself… You redeem my right of redemption for yourself.’ … So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.” -Ruth 4:6, 13
Boaz was merciful and gentle. According to Jewish laws, he wasn’t supposed to associate with a Moabite, yet he didn’t care about that. He even called her blessed and kind. The redemption of the Lord causes us to become what He made us to be. He recognises it in us before we even act on it, and all He wants is for us to give Him the chance to release His grace.
God is not a forceful God. He wants to help you. But He often waits for you to come to the end of yourself and commit to Him, then He redeems you through His love. His love is so precious, so kind.
It might look discouraging, even painful at times, but redemption is always gentle and full of mercy.
“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
— Psalm 23:3
Whatever captivity, prison, mental load, struggle, or fear you have found yourself in, I just want you to know that He wants to redeem you.