The word redeemer, from the Hebrew word gaal (gaw-al), denotes someone who acts on behalf of another as their avenger or deliverer. It implies that they do for another that which they otherwise could not do for themselves. As Christians, we have come to recognize that this is exactly what Christ did when He carried out our punishment for sin to satisfy the holy judgment of God so that it would not fall upon us!
Just as Jesus did this for us, so also can we do this for our families at home. Our families should be viewed as our first line of ministry. No form of worldly pursuit should ever be prioritized before the welfare of our home family! In our marriages, we are stabilizing our current world. With our children we are stabilizing the future!
Just as Jesus was the Redeemer of a negative situation (us being lost and away from God), so also can we be the redeemer at home in negative situations. How? By being the one who makes peace, even at our own expense. How did Jesus do this? We are told how in Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
So many times we hurt the ones we’re supposed to love the most! Even if we are factually right, it’s possible to at the same time be spiritually wrong, depending on how we handle being “right”. Many people would rather be right and get back at the other person for some perceived sleight or wound, but Jesus did not do this! Just like Him, we can bear the griefs, carry the sorrows, be wounded on behalf of another, be bruised even if someone else is wrong, bear chastisement in order to bring peace, and bear the stripes so the other person may be healed…in other words, be the one who is willing to first make peace, even at the wounding of our egos, so as to be the redeemer in the situation!
Of course, there are healthy limits to this because not everything can, or should, be allowed, but when it comes down to something that in 15 minutes isn’t really going to matter much, then is being “right” really that important? Do you have what it takes to be a redeemer at home?
Next Level Living 