The Best Title of All
by Sharon Chatwell

“Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.”
– Frances J. Crosby *

 

The best title of all to have, I think, is the title of “Redeemed.” No matter what other titles we may have, no matter how noble or glorious they are, compared to Redeemed, they all seem to shrink in importance. While we think about the titles we may have, and the opportunities and responsibilities that may come to us through them, let’s also look at the title of Redeemed, available to us only through Jesus Christ. Let’s see if “Redeemed” is the Best Title of All.

“Wife” is a wonderful title. I love being a wife and I am very proud of my husband, who loves me for reasons that I have yet to understand. As many of you know, being the wife of a physician is a big responsibility and isn’t always easy. You have to be tough and resourceful and be able to make it on your own a lot, especially during all of those training years, when your husband is often unavailable.

I married my best friend in medical school; the man who sat next to me for two years solid, listening to all those basic science lectures (which in truth weren’t all that basic!). All of us in class struggled through together, but Rick stood out. He was always there. Always caring. Always watching out for me.

I remember the day he found out my car battery had died. When I turned down his offer to go with me to get it fixed, he sat with me all during our 10-minute break, explaining exactly how to contact the store and get a new battery installed. It took me a while to figure out he was being serious. My daddy had taught me how to change the battery on a car before I could drive.

Then there was the time he was invited over to a dinner party and he took my living room drapes apart! (They wouldn’t quite close in the middle.) I was angry with him when I first found out about it. (I had been busy in the kitchen.) But I felt better after he had them all put back together and they actually worked! It was only then he told me that he’d worked his way through college installing draperies. Smart aleck. Obviously, he was the man for me.

After we graduated, I had two titles, both physician and wife. Both are excellent titles, but I decided to work on the wife part and let the physician part slide a little.

“Mother” is an extraordinarily good title. I like it a lot. Rick and I now have four grown children. They are a blessing to us. Three of them live in town, and the fourth comes home or calls pretty often, so I hear from them all regularly. I love being their mother and having them call me “Mom.”

Having children is a blessing that has grounded me and helped me establish closer ties to people, which was really important in my own personal growth. It has also helped me to grow spiritually. I think God helps us to understand how He loves us, by giving us children. It is there that it is easiest to learn what unconditional love is actually all about. (Can I get an “Amen?”)

“Grandmother” is an excellent title and one of my absolute favorites. We have a grandson. He is a very busy little person, and from time to time I get to keep him overnight or watch him after school. He tells me stuff, and I feed him ice cream. Mostly I serve as his accomplice. I went to see him in a church play recently. Afterward, he came running over and gave me a big hug that would have melted anyone’s heart. No, I wouldn’t trade the title of “Granny” for anything. But, in truth, I realize that even it is not the best title of all to have.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came here where we are. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross. He paid for your sins and mine. And on the third day He rose from the dead! He is alive now and one day He will come again.

Revelation 5:9 tells what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross. “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation’” (NASB).

Romans 3:23-25 explains why God did all of this. “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicy as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished” (NASB).

Frances J. Crosby’s old hymn captures the raptures of this title perfectly: “Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, redeemed, His child and forever I am.”

“Redeemed” is the best title of all, or so it seems to me. And I would never want to be without it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. I encourage you to let it become your title as well, if you have not already done so. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, by faith in Him.

Sharon is the wife of a physician, a mother and a grandmother living in beautiful Lincoln, Nebraska. She urges you to accept the Best Title of All by trusting in Jesus as your Savior. Become one of the Redeemed today!

* “Redeemed, How I love to Proclaim It,” published 1882. Public Domain.