Today’s post:
I read this verse from Psalm 72 last week: “From oppression and violence he redeems their life and precious is their blood in his sight”. I thought, “here is the mission of Beauty from Ashes Ministries even more clearly than in Isaiah 61:1-3 which is where we got our name over five years ago.” Our mission is to bring redemptive hope of a Christlike response to those impacted by domestic oppression and abuse. The Oxford Dictionary defines oppression as “prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control”. Redemption Seminary defines redemption as: “…regaining or restoring something that was lost. It overlaps with concepts like rescue, recovery, deliverance and atonement.” Maybe you have heard my simple definition of redemption as “bringing something good out of something bad.” Of course, the greatest all-time act of redemption was Jesus’s death on the Cross for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” On the Cross, Jesus restored our original standing with God as perfectly righteous. But he accomplished this by one of the most horrific things that have ever happened: His separation from His father and His death on the Cross.
Jesus continues His work of redemption in our lives. Bad things happen in the world and to us all the time. But, as “God chosen people, holy and dearly loved”, Colossians 3:12, Jesus redeems these things for our good and God’s glory. Psalm 72:12-13 says: “For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.” Are you feeling weak and needy today? Are you experiencing oppression today? I urge you to turn to God. Call upon Him to deliver, save, and redeem you. Know that you are precious in His sight, chosen, holy and dearly loved! Please also reach out to us at BFA. We want to pray for you and be part of God’s redemptive plan in your life.
