Having lived in England for a while as a kid, I have always had a fascination for royalty. I once got to “meet” Queen Elizabeth (well, I got to curtsey her!). One of my British boyfriends offered to take me to a very cool steak house if I memorized the lineage of the British Crown. I still have the ruler I used to commit it all to memory.

So, when I recently came across a list of humorous royal nicknames, I stopped and read a few. There was Alfonso the Slobberer. He ruled part of France back in the 12^th century. He got his name from his habit of drooling and foaming at the mouth during battle.

Constantine the Dung-Named got his nickname from some political enemies who started a rumor that he pooped in his baptismal fount. And thus, the hurtful comments.

And then there was Harald the Lousy, a Norwegian King who refused to cut his hair or beard. Eventually, his hair got extremely dirty and riddled with lice. Thus the “lousy” moniker.

But what nickname might you or I want?

I have a thought on mine…I would like to be known as “Sherry, the Redeemed.” The theological concept behind that term “redemption” is the idea of a slave market where potential servants are on display. Prospective owners wander among the men and women, checking for physical strength, good teeth and decent attitudes.

And let’s say that I am one of those on display. My new owner has just offered to buy me. And suddenly Christ appears and buys me back. He “redeems” me from a life of misery and shame.  I am now REDEEMED and belong to Him.

In real life, my sin has set me on the slave block. I made myself available for a life of sorrow and guilt. And then along came the Savior. He offered Himself as payment for my sin. He bought me. I am now REDEEMED.

As the old hymn says, “Redeemed how I love to proclaim it, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed in His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.”

Col. 1:13-14 says it clearly. “For He has recused us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

I like my nickname, “Sherry, the Redeemed.” Do you have one like it?