“Well, go ahead—twist and scream, Daughter Jerusalem. You are like a woman in childbirth. You’ll soon be out of the city, on your way and camping in the open country.
And then you’ll arrive in Babylon. What you lost in Jerusalem will be found in Babylon.
God will give you new life again. He’ll redeem you from your enemies.”–Micah 4:10 (The Message translation)

Oh how many have fled from their countries hoping to find freedom, hoping to find what they have lost. Yet so many are still searching. Or they never make it across the borders. I cannot help but think of how many children and families have been separated and my heart aches. How will we let their lives be redeemed?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, redeem means “to buy back” or “to free from what distresses or harms such as to free from captivity by payment of ransom” or “to change for the better.” 

Christ is born and comes to redeem us all; to change the world for the better. Jesus wasn’t afraid to turn the world upside down. He wasn’t afraid to sit with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus even sat with Judas and Peter the night before his crucifixion and death knowing that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him. That is a powerful witness of forgiveness and redemption.

What are we willing to do? Are we willing to speak up and act for justice, mercy and peace? Are we willing to call out Christ’s name asking him to stir up power and redeem all the world. 

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears.”

Until the Son of God appears!