That’s actually the title of a book that I read back in June. Well, maybe “read” is the wrong term for it. I practically flew through that book. It was rich with theology, and it challenged the way I thought about many things–mainly the way I approached meals. Meals can be a great time of fellowship, but they can also be a way that we as believers can usher in the Kingdom of God. Don’t believe me? Read the book. It’s fantastic.
Anyway.
The author, Tim Chester, made a statement in the book that has stuck with me over the past couple of months.
“The Lord passes over us, and we’re redeemed from our empty way of life (1 Peter 1:18-19).”
When I first read this little phrase, I had to stop. And then I re-read it like a bazillion times. And then I wrote it down in my notebook. And then from there I’ve re-read it and thought about it a lot.
The phrase that gets me every time is “we’re redeemed from our empty way of life.”
Why does that hit home so much?
Because all too often I am caught up in an “empty way of life.” I say that God is my Lord and Savior, but how often do I actually live like He is? When I am confronted with a situation that could throw me for a loop, like getting in a car accident or something, do I react in a manner that reflects that God really is who I say He is? Or do I freak out and do everything in my power to take care of everything.
You see, I like to be my own savior. I like to be the one in control. I like to be the one to call the shots.
But what an empty way of life that is.
I mean, at the end of the day after I have been ruling my life, I’m exhausted and in a complete mess.
This is the empty life that the Lord has redeemed us from. A life of trying to be perfect all the time. A life of endless, pointless work. A life of obsessive control and inflexibility. A life of self-righteousness.
And not only has He redeemed us from that life, He has redeemed us to a much greater life. In Him is life, and life much more abundant. He is life. He is joy.
Daily the Lord is walking me through what it means to be redeemed from the empty way of life and redeemed to a full life in Him. It’s definitely hard. But it’s so worth it. He’s teaching me to be okay with my mistakes and failures, because I need to be reminded that I’m not perfect.
