The ABCs of God's Love Letter: Ransom

Welcome to
​The ABCs of God's Love Letter
25 Weeks. 25 Writers!

We will use the alphabet as an acrostic and study topics like: Abide, Beloved, Calling, Delight, Endure, Faithful, Garment, Hunger, Increase, Justice, Kindness, Light, Manna, Name, Ordain, Path, Quench, Ransom, Salt, Testify, Upright, Vanity, Wait, Yield, and Zeal.

Every week, we’ll discover a different topic. Each topic is accompanied by five Scripture verses—one for each weekday. The Bible study has a page for each verse. Those spaces will invite you to write the verses out and journal what you’ve learned.

Every time I read God’s Word I learn something new. I also find that Scripture writing really helps me meditate, and as I meditate, God always shows me just what I need for that day—it’s AMAZING!

​I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.

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​This Week We're Looking at Ransom

When I think of the word “ransom” I see the face of a tattered and broken young woman. Bits and pieces of her story are vivid images of the heartbeat of the word “ransom” reminding me of God’s redeeming love.

I was asked to counsel this young woman shortly after she arrived at the shelter for girls who are rescued from abuse and trafficking. Her story was filled with pain, brokenness, shame, hate, confusion, and betrayal. But now, in the shelter, she was surrounded with love. She was offered opportunities for healing, friendship, and an education. She could, for the first time, count on simple things we take for granted like food and electricity. It was a stability that she had never experienced before. 

If you look up the word “ransom” in the dictionary it says,

“a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity, to deliver from sin, to free from captivity or punishment by paying a price.“ —Merriam Webster

These girls at the shelter were ransomed, delivered, rescued, liberated from misery, and literal death. The work this Christian shelter was doing was the very essence of the meaning of “ransom.” These girls, for the first time, found freedom from their physical captivity which some had endured since as early as eight years old. No longer did they have to perform "favors" in order to make sure they ate and had a roof over their head. ​At the shelter, they were freely given a room, food, and clothing.

They received training to learn a skill, were registered in school, and received counseling to help them find inner healing amongst other things.

My friend was not only rescued from her physical dire circumstances but she was delivered from her spiritual darkness and came to know Jesus as her Savior “Who gave Himself as a ransom for all...” (1 Timothy 2:6).

The word “ransom” implies one thing—captivity and the need for one to be rescued. You may not be able to relate to my friend’s life. You may even think—but I am not involved with drugs or immoral things. Here’s the reality—any sin, no matter how small, separates us from God. You may not be held captive physically like my precious friend but you can be held captive mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. ​

Please don’t rush past words like “redeemed or saved” especially if you’ve grown up in the church. Stop and ponder the word “ransom” it’s such a beautiful picture of what God does for you and me. On the cross, Jesus Christ paid the price for your freedom. You see, you were held captive because of your sin and unable to pay the price of freedom. But God sent Jesus to deliver us and through His precious blood we were set free.

You may be a "doer" and find it hard to simply accept His gift. Believe me, I’ve tried to earn His favor and it doesn’t work. Nothing you do can make Him love you more or less. I share a little about that here.

“What was lost in the garden was redeemed on the cross.”— J. Rothschild

1 Peter 1:18-19 “...Knowing that you were RANSOMED from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ…”

Here’s what “ransom” means practically:

• You are loved
• You are forgiven
• You are saved
• You are free

You are free to walk in a manner worthy of His calling. This ransom was the official adoption into His family therefore making you a beloved daughter of the King! This is how valuable you are to Him. You may not feel valued or loved, but you are! Who you are and how you feel are not the same thing. 

Your ransom has already been paid in full and you’ve been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). Salvation and freedom are freely given to you, In fact, there is nothing you can do to earn Salvation. To live in that freedom requires you to robe yourself in Christ’s righteousness and to daily embrace your new name—beloved daughter. 

Will you allow Him to rescue you? Will you accept this freedom Jesus offers you and choose to trust in Him? If you’re not sure, evaluate where "trusting in your own strength and in others" has gotten you?

​Want to know more? Read Explore Christianity.

I’ll leave you with this: ​Ransom means you are deeply loved. It means you have been set free.

• You are not your mistakes.
• You are not your successes.
• You are not your struggle.
• You are not your labels.

Who you are and how you feel are not the same thing. So, tell your past, it can’t boss you around. You are a beloved daughter of the King. A child of God who has been ransomed, rescued, and redeemed in Christ Jesus.

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Mari is a speaker, writer, family life coach, wife, and mom. She is married to her college sweetheart and a mom to three boys. ​

She has organized and led Bible studies, workshops, and retreats for women in churches, homes, internationally, and through parachurch organizations.

​Mari regularly encourages women online at Inspired by Family where she shares her journey of God's grace and hope in motherhood and womanhood. Her heart's desire is for women to see how their common and ordinary lives, in the hands of a loving God, become something so much more.

​She is passionate about helping women find hope in God's Word and encouraging them to use the influence God has given them to make an eternal difference right where they are today.

Mari is the author of Proverbs 31 in 5 Minutes a Day. You can read more about her beautiful book and download a sample and grab one of her free printables here.

​FOLLOW HER HERE
​WEB | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST

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​The ABCs of God's Love Letter Scripture Memory Cards

The ABCs of God's Love Letter Bible Study is accompanied by a collection of 25 5 X 5 Scripture Memory Cards. We'll utilize this great tool to help us memorize a Scripture verse once a week that goes with the topic we're studying that week. Hiding God's Word in our heart is so important!

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CHECK OUT THESE SCRIPTURE MEMORY CARDS

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​What does Ransom mean to you?