Redeemed

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.

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Redeemed, redeemed,

His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,

No language my rapture can tell;

I know that the light of His presence

With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long;

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty

The King in whose law I delight;

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,

And giveth me songs in the night.

FANNY JANE CROSBY (1820–1915)

FANNY CROSBY didn’t start writing hymns until she was forty, but she made up for lost time. Only a rare few have matched the number of Christian songs she’s written. Blinded in infancy because of a doctor’s error, Crosby demonstrates no bitterness in her songs. We find nothing but joy and longing for the Lord. “Redeemed and so happy in Jesus” is not just a line that sounds good in a hymn, it’s the story of Crosby’s life. Blinded to the light of this world, Fanny Crosby had a light shining in her soul.

Love is another major topic in Crosby’s work. She regularly marvels at God’s love. “His love is the theme of my song.” Only as we come face to face with the overwhelming love of God can we begin to love others fully. As John says, “We love each other because he loved us first” (1 John 4:19). And Jesus said that the world would recognize his disciples by the love they had for each other.

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

1 Peter 1:18-19