Your Turn: a future and a hope

Imagine you’re at a sporting event. The coach comes on to the field and starts pointing at people in the stands—people who had come as spectators. “All right: you over there, come on; and you in the blue jacket, you too; and you there hiding near the back, I want you on the team…’ Suddenly the people who’ve been called are hurrying down to the field, and the game begins. You’re not ready or trained, just called out.

In the example above, I’m paraphrasing N.T. Wright in his book, Lent for Everyone: Matthew. Wright goes on to talk about how when Jesus came and began to establish the rule of heaven on earth, people who thought they were just spectators suddenly found themselves in the game. That’s the heart of the challenge of the gospel for us today—we are not spectators. God has always wanted us to be a part of the action, ready or not. So, as we wrap up the Written on Our Hearts series, let’s figure out where we are in the “game”.

It’s easy to sit back and read these great, enduring stories from our heritage. It’s easy to stay disconnected from them and appreciate God’s faithfulness from a distance. But that’s not what God wants. He wants to get all up in your stuff so you can experience his love, his mercy, his strength, his wisdom, his faithfulness–his redemption–on a very personal level. He wants you to discover the details of the eternity written on your heart. Plus, God’s story doesn’t end with the people in Bible. It includes us. It includes you. You have a part in the gospel. You have a story to tell.

Think about who we have studied. They had temporary labels and temporary circumstances, but God’s redemption was at work in their lives: Rahab was a prostitute. God redeemed her from destruction. She is now known for faithfulness. Ruth was a poor, foreign widow. God redeemed her from weakness. She is known for abundant favor.

Now it’s your turn.

What were your temporary labels? What were you temporary circumstances? How has God redeemed them?

(Insert your name) was a (insert your temporary label). God redeemed me from (insert your temporary circumstance). I am known for (insert the details).

You can have several of these statements, as many as you want or need. You may have one for every season you’ve walked through. The idea is to look at your life and pinpoint what God has done. How has God redeemed your temporary circumstances?

What are you holding before the Lord right now? It’s so exciting to think about how God will redeem us. Ask the Lord for revelation about your current cares and his plans for redemption. Then, write it down.

(Insert your name) is a (insert your temporary label). God will redeem me from (insert your temporary circumstance). I will be known for (insert the revelation).

Consider this,

I will stand at my watchpost;
I will station myself on the rampart.
I will look to see what [God] will say through me
and what I will answer when I am reproved.

Then Adonai answered me; he said,

“Write down the vision clearly on tablets,
so that even a runner can read it.

For the vision is meant for its appointed time;
it speaks of the end, and it does not lie.
It may take a while, but wait for it;
it will surely come, it will not delay.

Habakkuk 3:1-3

This too,

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

I will be found by you, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

Don’t forget this one,

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is loyal toward him.

2 Chronicles 16:9

I’d love to hear your stories and redemption statements. Please share them in the comment section. Here is one of mine: Adrienne was a liar. God redeemed me from a long forgotten, deep wound. Adrienne now has a deep passion for truth and is learning how to say things in love.