On this Wednesday morning, have you said “hello” to Jesus yet?  If not, stop what you are doing and do so right now.  Recognize His presence and His lordship.  And now, get ready to worship Him!

Today’s song that will help you do so is originally entitled “Je Te Sa­lue Mon Cer­tain Re­demp­teur,” which translated from French is “I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art.”  The song was written in French because it was penned from the heart of the French theologian Jehan Cauvin, who is better known by his anglicized name John Calvin.  Calvin was a 16th-century Protestant reformer, who mainly ministered in Geneva, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of the greatest theological minds of Christian history.

Penned in 1545 and eventually sung to the tune “Toulon” (composed by Louis Bourgeois for the Genevan Psalter in 1551), the song was later translated into English by Elizabeth L. Smith in 1869.  The words are unquestionably beautiful, deep, and biblical.

I love how the first verse basically says “hello” to Jesus:  “I greet Thee.”  Notice that Jesus is called “who my sure Redeemer art.”  That speaks of a settled security that we have in Jesus Christ.  Our redemption is certain in Him.  It then goes to focus on Jesus as the Savior on whom not only were our sins and stripes laid but on whom we can also lay our cares.

The second verse describes Jesus as the Almighty King, inviting Him to lead us.  The third verse praises Jesus for being our sustainer.  The fourth verse recounts the gentleness that Jesus has toward His people because of His grace.  The fifth verse declares that our only hope is in Jesus and asks Him to help us endure in that hope until the end.

So, this morning, may you say “hello” to Jesus and then pour forth His praise as you sing along with worship leader Bob Kauflin!