In all of creation, God teaches us about the power of redemption. Look at trees and plants. Like solar panels, the leaves of a tree redeem sunlight through photosynthesis by adding carbon dioxide to create sugar for energy and oxygen for human life. The very DNA of trees and plants is to redeem something that would have otherwise been useless ñ carbon dioxide, and transforms it into life giving pure oxygen. The living things that God creates are redemption centers in different forms. Even our very own bodies redeem meat, starch, and vegetables into muscles, sinews, and energy to sustain our lives. Redemption is Godís very own MO, his modus operandi.

This principle holds true in peopleís lives as well. Our lives were lost and bitter, lethal if left alone. God took our lives, and redeemed it into something of eternal value. I know thatís true with my life. How many of you would say, "Iím so glad that God redeemed my life"?

We were made in Godís image. He gives us His image, and He trusts us to steward this image of redeeming. We are called, not only as people who have been redeemed, but also people who will carry-on the redemption process.

Everyday we are presented with problems and challenges that some people just brush aside. However, God tells us to take these problems, in relationships, finances, family, and marriage, and instead of squandering it, to bring something of eternal value out of that which would have otherwise been useless. When we are presented with a problem, instead of throwing away that relationship or situation, God is saying, "Steward my image of redemption that Iíve given to you. Let my image in you, out!"

The image of the Redeemer in us has no better scenario than when we are presented with problems. Even in the kingdom of God there is going to be struggles. In fact, one of the universal elements that I see in every growing church is something that I call, ëproblemsí. Why? Because we are fallen creatures. We may be redeemed, but weíre not necessarily perfect. Weíre converted, but not faultless. There are problems everywhere and just because weíre Christians, it doesnít mean that we donít make mistakes.

There will always be problems, but we have a tendency to avoid them. Perhaps that is why Godís redemptive image isnít seen much in the church. God has blessings in the kingdom and He has problems in the kingdom. When Heís passing out blessings, that line is a mile long. We want firsts, seconds, and thirds. When He asks us if weíll steward His blessings, we shout, "Yes Lord, Iíll steward your blessings! God, I tell you what, if you give me blessings, Iíll stop yelling at my wife and kids, and Iíll stop kicking the dog! If you give me a nice house, Iíll use it for a small group. If you help me to win the Readerís Digest sweepstakes, Iíll give some to the church!" Everyone is waiting to get into this line!

We read books about blessings, we have flashcards about blessings, "Bless me, bless me, bless me!" Weíve got that down. However, when God passes out the problems of the kingdom, nobodyís in that line. There are no takers. Now letís be clear that these arenít Godís problems that weíre talking about, theyíre His childrenís problems. But, itís in this line that the image of the Redeemer really comes out because thatís where you convert a problem into something of eternal value. Therein lies the image that the world is so desperately looking for.

God has got all these cards with problem assignments: a guy in church with some immaturities, someone who just needs a person to listen to him with friendship in order to be led to the kingdom, a young leader who needs a mentor to help him develop his skills, or a disabled person who needs attention. Seems like nobody wants to steward Godís problems, but the line for the blessings is a mile long.

God will show you problems in His family, but the question is ëWhat will you do with it?í When weíre presented with a problem in the kingdom, we can do one of three things with it.

• We can gossip about it and itíll spread like gangrene.

• We can use it as ammunition. When we see a problem, instead of stewarding it well, we just take it, put it in our pack and stack up these torpedoes against someone. So if this person makes a mistake or says a little barb against you, youíll say, "Hey, you better watch what youíre saying because Iíve got stuff on you that you donít even know I know. I got stuff to sink your ship so if you want me to start telling everybody, just keep talking buddy!"

• Or the third thing we can do, is to steward it well in order to bring healing to that person. If God is showing you something in someoneís life, donít view it like a critic, but as a doctor who is diagnosing a patient. A doctor will look at problems in order to bring healing, wholeness, and health.

God will present you with problems, so how are you going to work with it? Are you going to steward it well, or will you use it as gossip or ammunition (where you feel more righteous than the other person because youíve seen their problem)? Then the Redeemerís image becomes tainted.

When Aaron, my son, was playing ëcoach-pitchí baseball, he had a terrible coach. He was so bad that he was beaming his own kids in our games. Well, one day when I was keeping score for the team, I really wanted to get this guy removed. So from my high vantage point above the field, I made a list of about a dozen failures and foibles to get him out of there.

After the game, I started to walk down the spiral staircase ready to present my case, but a defining moment happened in my life. It was as if the Lord was coming up the stairs at the same time and met me halfway. Have you ever been stopped by God where you suddenly understand how evil youíre acting? In that moment I realized that I thought it was so cool to be ruining this guyís reputation.

The Lord stopped me and told me, "I have shown you his mistakes. Not for you to destroy him, but to use your leadership to garner the parents to assist with the kids. When was the last time you or any of the parents helped him with his practices?" Then I looked at my list again, and He asked me, "What are you going to do when I show you the hurts and needs of peopleís lives in the church? Will you condemn them and judge them? If you steward it that way, then I will no longer show you, and you will never again see the needs of the people around you. You will be blinded to the true needs of peopleís lives and you will have blinded yourself."

If you want to be a person who ministers to others, it requires that the Lord show us the problems in peopleís lives. Not as a critic who is merely trying to point out errors, but as a physician who wants to bring wholeness and healing. If we choose to use it against people, you will be moving more into the image of the accuser of the brethren, but if you use it for healing, then you will be moving more into the image of the Redeemer.

That moment in my life changed the destiny of my ministry and I have never been the same since. Make a conscious decision today, as a Christian, to live and act in the image of our Redeemer!