Redemption Center

Last Friday night our school hosted a “Fall Festival” complete with inflatable bouncing houses and carnival type games. As I walked through the hallway during set up, I couldn’t help but notice the big booth where the kids could turn in their winning game tickets for prizes. It was, of course, full of things to light up every child’s eyes and to make every parent groan—“Please, don’t bring that huge ball home!” It’s a little harder to make large items mysteriously disappear! What really caught my attention as I walked past this booth was the large sign at the top of the backboard—“Redemption Center.” I had to do a double-take to realize what this was all about. Oh, yeah. This is where you redeem all the tickets that you have collected for a prize. Now, of course, when I saw the words “Redemption Center”, I was thinking church! I was looking for a cross. I was looking for a baptismal font.

Jesus’ death on the cross paid the price for all my sins. At the baptismal font, I received that gift of faith through the power of the Holy Spirit which covers all my sins with the robe of His righteousness.

We just started “The Apostles’ Creed” this morning in 7th grade Catechism class. I can’t think of redemption without hear the explanation of The Second Article in my head:

“I believe that Jesus Christ....has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death….”


And now we are adopted into the kingdom—we have a share of the inheritance!

Colossians 1:11-14 (English Standard Version)
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.


And now I’ll continue my day humming the song “I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, Filled with the Holy Ghost, I am. All my sins were washed away. I’ve been redeemed.”

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Son’s journey to the cross which redeemed me from the kingdom of darkness. Please strengthen all Your saints with Your Spirit to continue walking in the light of Your redeeming grace.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen