Devotional | Forever Redeemed

We often think of Scripture as a list of rules. Do this. Don’t do that. But, really Scripture is a story of God’s redeeming love for us. From Genesis to Revelation, we read about an unwavering Creator, who in His perfect wisdom, provided salvation. Every bit of Scripture serves a purpose in helping us understand this plan of redemption even more. And, that, my friends, gives me reason to praise God! Have you ever tried reading through the Bible in a year? Or what about reading through certain books of the Bible, specifically books in the Old Testament? If you have, then you know that sometimes we come across passages, chapters, or even entire books that leave us wondering why they are included. I remember earlier in my walk with Christ, reading through books like Leviticus and Numbers and becoming overwhelmed with dates, chronologies, and instructions. I was determined to read through them because, being a woman who loves checklists, I wanted to be able to mark it as complete. So, I pushed through the endless building instructions for the temple and read all about the fabric and colors of the priest’s garments. All of this information went in one ear and out the other as I eagerly pressed on so I could get to the entertaining stories of David’s time in exile, Daniel’s steadfastness, Mary’s encounter with the angel, and Paul’s missionary journeys. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned the importance of slowing down and diving deep into Scripture. And, I found myself falling in love with books of the Bible that I previously avoided when possible. I observed that throughout Scripture, we find evidence of God’s master plan and this evidence points to Christ. As a middle school science educator, my goal is to teach my students how to make observations, ask questions, and search for evidence that supports and refutes claims. The Holy Bible is a collection of books, each with evidence that points us to Jesus Christ as our Savior, our Redeemer, and the only One who could provide atonement for our wrongdoings. As we approach a day in our church calendar when we celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection, let’s take some time together to dive deep into God’s Word. We’ll spend the next few weeks reading passages that remind us of why we are in need of a Redeemer and how Christ fulfills that role. Regardless of where you are in your walk with Christ, my goal is to help you grow even closer to Him as we break down various scriptures to understand their importance and meaning.

I can’t wait to see what God will reveal to you through this study.

– Christy Sheffield