ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

mission trips saying, “Having traveled nearly 10,000 miles to get here, if I had only three words to say, this is what they’d be: ‘God loves you.’”We just recently put a new banner on a pole in front of our church announcing that same message to thousands who pass by daily. One major indication of God’s love is the fact that He re- deemed you.According to the Bible, “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).The word for redeem in the original language means to set one free by paying a price.As Paul also writes, “You are not your own, you have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I read about an Englishman who visited a slave market in Egypt.After bidding on and buying a slave who was up for auction, he took the bill of sale, gave it to the slave and said, “I have purchased you to set you free.”The slave, full of gratitude, refused to leave such a wonderful master and became his servant for life. 103 Likewise, Christ freed us from the bondage of sin by shedding His blood and sacrificing His life on the Cross. And not only has He redeemed us, He resides within us. You see, Jesus not only died for us, He lives in us through the third member of theTrinity, the Holy Spirit, who takes up residence in our lives once we are saved - which is why Paul said, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Nicolo Paganini (1782-1840), one of the greatest violinists of all time, was about to perform before a sold-out opera house. Walking on stage to a huge ovation, he sensed something was wrong. He quickly realized that he had someone else’s violin in his hands. Terrified, but knowing he had no other choice, he began playing and gave the performance of his life.After the concert, talking with another musician, he admitted, “Today I learned the most important lesson of my entire career. Before today I thought the music was in the violin; today I learned that the music is in me.”

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