Redeemer

I’ve always loved the song “Sing to Jesus” by Fernando Ortega.
“Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame, Lord of our sinful hearts, He is our great Redeemer”.

It might be because of the melody or the lyrics. But it dawned on me the other day, that I like it so much because this song captures one of my favorite ways to “relate to Jesus”, and a key theme of “my story in His Story”. That He is my Redeemer.

Yes, He is my Lord, my Savior, my Shepherd, my Friend, my Husband, my Life… All of which are eternally true, and had hit home in unique ways during different seasons. But He as my Redeemer, had been a key and recurring theme.

Here I am a sinner, for all the shame I carry in the past, the shameful acts I will commit in the future, for the sin I carry in my heart; He is willing to be associated with me, to be my Lord and Redeemer.

He redeemed me for God, redeemed me from my slavery to sin – so that I am no longer enslaved to sin and my flesh, but to Him.

He redeemed my past mistakes, and will redeem the mistakes I will make in the future – bringing beauty out of ashes, a song out of tears.

He does not want to be the Lord of a powerful army, of the best people, but He is willing to be the Lord of redeemed sinners, the Lord of me. That He will be willing to pay the price to redeem me from my shame, my sinful hearts, past mistakes and God’s wrath. He is my great Redeemer.

And as some of you may know, this is one of my favorite ways to think of my season in Beijing and relationship with Arthur; that He redeemed “the idol I made out of relationships”, the heartache and pain with the first boyfriend. He showed me how He redeemed the fallen state of creation and humankind, and brought something infinitely good out of the trials and suffering – the way only He could.

This gives me confidence to face the future, that no matter how I screw up, the Great Redeemer will always redeem His own.

I love the idea of redemption. It implies that there had to be something bad or broken or imperfect – and that is who I am. He does not just search for the diamond in the rough, or the unpolished pearl; but even in fragile broken pieces of clay, the Potter can mold and make a masterpiece out of it.

Come and see, look on this mystery 
The Lord of the Universe, nailed to a tree 
Christ our God, spilling His Holy blood 
Bowing in anguish, His sacred head 

Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame 
Lord of our sinful hearts. 
He is our great Redeemer. 
Sing to Jesus, Honor His name. 
Sing of His faithfulness, pouring His life out unto death 

Come you weary and He will give you rest 
Come you who mourn, lay on His breast 
Christ who died, risen in Paradise 
Giver of mercy, Giver of Life 

Sing to Jesus His is the throne 
Now and forever, 
He is the King of Heaven. 
Sing to Jesus, we are His own. 
Now and forever sing for the love our God has shown.

Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame 
Lord of our sinful hearts. 
He is our great Redeemer. 
Sing to Jesus, Honor His name. 
Sing to Jesus His is the throne 
Now and forever,  He is the King of Heaven. 
Sing to Jesus, we are His own. 
Now and forever sing for the love our God has shown.

Fernando Ortega