Note: This series of Holy Week devotions is taken from Dr. Albert Reyes’ upcoming book, The Jesus Agenda: Becoming an Agent of Redemption. All devotionals are posted here.

Friday, April 3: Redeemed and Responsible

What is an agent of redemption? An agent of redemption is a person who has experienced the redeeming love of the good news of Jesus of Nazareth. He or she has been forgiven and is indwelled with the Holy Spirit. An agent of redemption has experienced his or her own spiritual transfer from a life of bondage to and guilt from sin to the place of repentance, forgiveness, grace, and freedom.

An agent of redemption is first and foremost a follower of Jesus; a disciple of Jesus; one whose heart intends to serve Jesus as master every day in an effort to bring glory, to shed light on Jesus the King through one’s actions, words, attitudes, vocation, recreation, and relationships. Follow me as I explore this concept further and then offer a working definition.

An agent of redemption has a personal calling to actively engage with people in his or her circle of influence to demonstrate a transformed life and to work, pray and focus on the redemptive potential in everyone around them. An agent of redemption looks for ways God would want to turn what was meant for harm into good. An agent of redemption knows the gospel that came to them must go through them to others around them.

An agent of redemption is on a personal mission to pray, work and hope for the kingdom to come near in this life. This person lives the prayer of Jesus that says “…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” An agent of redemption looks at his family, in his neighborhood, in her community, in her city, in her county, in her state, in her nation and in the world to ask what is it about this place that could look more like the kingdom of God, right here, right now?

Finally, an agent of redemption sees the world from a unique set of lenses, a Jesus-shaped worldview. An agent of redemption sees this life as temporary, this place as not his or her permanent home. This person lives life in view of eternity and the life to come.

An agent of redemption thinks differently from other people. His or her thoughts are not conformed to the pattern of this world; Rather, he or she has been transformed by the renewing of the mind. An agent of redemption thinks like Jesus because he or she has “has the mind of Christ.” In other words, he or she will think about the world and see the world through the mind and eyes of Jesus.

The word “agent” has its origins in Greek, meaning “to drive, to lead.” An agent is “something that produces or is capable of producing an effect; an active or efficient cause.” Another definition is “one who acts for or in the place of another by authority from him.” The word has been used in governments for a representative or emissary.

Now, take all of those aspects of the definition and put them into the context of scripture and of the Christian’s life and responsibility. We are agents of redemption – God’s agents of his redemption. And we act upon his authority and as his representatives. Only Jesus does the work of redemption, yet we are his hands and feet.

It may be helpful to offer a concise definition of an agent of redemption at this point. An agent of redemption is a person of courage, compassion and conviction on mission with Jesus to turn what was intended for harm into good. When you think about Jesus going to cross, surely we are reminded that he was driven by his courage, compassion and conviction.

Reflection: As you think about the redeeming work of Jesus on this Good Friday, what does the Lord want to redeem through your life?