Psalm 107:1, 2 – Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD proclaim that He has redeemed them from the power of the foe.

Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 107 indicate the psalm was written to a specific group of people – the redeemed. “Redeemed” is a word that disappeared from our vocabularies when World War II Ration Books and Green Stamps vanished. Keepers of ration books and collectors of Green Stamps knew their value. These little pieces of paper could be traded, redeemed for needed things (like food or gas) or desired things that were simply beyond the budget (like small kitchen appliances, cooking gadgets, Christmas trees, or kids’ toys). Ration cards or stamps allow you to have something you could not get any other legal way.

Before God redeemed us, we had no choice but continue down the path everyone starts on. This path was chosen in the Garden when humanity doubted the faithful love and goodness of God. As children of humanity, we cannot get off this path. The enemy of our soul hurries us past the free gift of grace by distracting or entrapping us with new, shiny, sparkly things. Some of us fare better than others, others of us experience the slow devastation of the enemy’s work. Either way, the path is filled with heartache, sorrow, chaos, and the final destination is destruction.

But God redeemed us. His gift of grace opens an opportunity for us to make a different choice. His path brings joy we can’t explain with words and peace that is beyond what we can understand. And, all along the way, He teaches us more and more about Him and asks us to draw closer to Him. The transformed life doesn’t necessarily happen overnight (although it can), but He is patient and kind with us. He never forces us to decide. He simply asks us to stop and look at the differences between His path and the other, then listen to the difference His voice and words make, and take one step toward Him.

This command to give thanks is our response to the sigh and whisper of God’s heart, “Oh, if those I have redeemed would recognize what I have done for them and thank Me, things would be so much better for them. I have already poured my grace and lovingkindness out on all of them. I have some much more goodness to lavish on them. If only . . .” (Psalm 107: 8, 15, 21, 31)

Heavenly Father, Thank you for redeeming me. Thank you for giving something that I couldn’t give so that I could have a personal relationship with You. You made my life so much better than it was, so much better than it would be without you! Thank you for showing me a better way! Your faithful love endures forever! Thank you!