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Jesus Is Always There

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Words: Bertha Mae Lillenas (b. March 1, 1889; d. March 13, 1945)
Music: Bertha Mae Lillenas

Note: Bertha Mae Lillenas was the wife of prolific gospel song writer and music publisher Haldor Lillenas. The Lillenas’s had two children. And Mrs. Lillenas was a gifted musician in her own right. An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, she served as an evangelist, singer, composer and pianist. In 1934 she published a song called Jesus Is Always There, reflecting the promises of God’s Word. Her tunes are usually quite singable, and because she herself had a lower voice, the songs are often pitched within reach of those of us who can appreciate that.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

It’s wonderful to have someone you can count on. Someone you trust to stick with you, ready to offer counsel, encouragement, or help in some way. “We’re there for you.” That phrase is part of the advertising for a dentist, a police force, a bank, a labour union, a television news outlet, and more. One even says, “There for you, no matter what.”

Realistically, though, we realize that these are human beings, and human organizations. They may fail to do as they promised, for a multitude of reasons. A husband or wife who has vowed otherwise may prove unfaithful. Or it may be discovered that a company or organization is corrupt and their pledge means little. Trite phrases such as, “We’ve got your back,” may actually mean they’re ready to stab us in the back!

Only Almighty God can be relied upon to always tell us truthfully and accurately the way things are. He is “a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deut. 32:4). Because of His holy perfection, “God…cannot lie” (Tit. 1:2).

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Num. 23:19

This assurance relates to the promise of His presence with each believer. We know that God is what theologians call omnipresent. “‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord” (Jer. 23:24). But to the saints of God this has a more immediate and personal dimension. He is, in the words of the psalmist, “a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). The Lord is actively involved in our lives. “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper” (Heb. 13:5-6).

Though He’s promised to return one day (Jn. 14:3; cf. Acts 1:10-11) the disciples of Christ faced the prospect of His departure. The Lord had fulfilled His mission to pay our debt of sin on the cross, and had risen from the tomb. After some days of instruction given to His followers, He prepared to ascend back to His Father (Lk. 24:50-53). But among His last words are these: “Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The Amplified Bible gives extra emphasis to that significant promise:

“I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age.”

And “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). “By this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (I Jn. 3:24).

Let it be noted that the divine presence is not only for times when things are going well, but when we are struggling too. We have the assurance of His compassionate understanding of our needs (Heb. 4:14-16), and of the resources of heaven to meet them. “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Lillenas’s song is certainly reassuring. Of the first line of the refrain I would add, “Never a burden that He doth not carry, if we ask Him to, and allow Him to. Sometimes, we suffer things that we need to bring to Him, “casting all [our] care upon Him, for He cares for [us]” (I Pet. 5:7).

1. Sometimes our skies are cloudy and dreary,
Sometimes our hearts and burdened with care;
But we may know, whate’er may befall us,
Jesus is always there.

Never a burden that He doth not carry,
Never a sorrow that He doth not share;
Whether the days may be sunny or dreary,
Jesus is always there.

3. When we are walking through the green pastures,
Or over mountains rugged and bare;
Precious the thought and sweet the assurance,
Jesus is always there.

4. “Lo, I am with you alway,” is written,
God will not fail to answer our prayer;
Trusting His Word, we rest on His promise–
Jesus is always there.

Questions:

  1. Has there been a situation recently when you particularly sensed the nearness of the Lord?
  2. In what way was this a blessing and a help to you?

Links:

Make Me a Blessing

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Words: Ira Bishop Wilson (b. Sept. 6, 1880; d. Apr. 3, 1950)
Music: Ira Bishop Wilson

Note: Ira Wilson was born and raised in Iowa. In his early years, he showed an interest in music, and his older sister taught him to play the violin and the organ. After attending Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago, he went to work for the Lorenz Publishing Company, publishers of sacred music. He spent the rest of his life there, using his musical gifts to produce choral arrangements of hymns, and other church music.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

The saying has been attributed to an IBM computer programmer. We know it’s been around since the mid-1950s. “Garbage in, garbage out” is a reminder that we can’t expect computers to come up with correct calculations if we feed in wrong data. In general terms, what we enter will affect what is produced. Stated positively: Feed in what is correct and helpful, and there will be a greater probability that what is produced will be correct and helpful.

The principle can be applied to child rearing too. Poet Alexander Pope gave us, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” Early influences and training tend to show themselves in adult years. As the Bible puts it, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

But let’s bring it down to the personal level. There’s a sense in which our minds store data and put it to later use, just as a computer does. If we focus our attention on things that are corrupt and corrupting, that will have a strong influence on our thinking. What kind of books and magazines do we read? What kind of movies and television shows do we watch? What sites do we visit on the Net? If they emphasize or glorify what is vulgar and sinful, what then? This is why the Bible urges us:

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy–meditate on these things.

Phil. 4:8

Some years ago, I used to visit a senior citizen who found it difficult to get out. As I was leaving, she frequently ended our conversation with this benediction: “May the Lord bless you and make you a blessing.” This is close to what the Lord told Abraham:

I will bless you…and you shall be a blessing.

Gen. 12:2

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.

I Pet. 4:10 (NIV)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

Rom. 12:6

Blessings in, blessings out.

Certainly the blessings of God are given for us to enjoy. “God…gives us richly all things to enjoy” (I Tim. 6:17). But it mustn’t stop there. God’s blessings are a stewardship, and a stewardship brings responsibility. We are to seek out ways in which God’s blessings can be shared to the benefit of those around us. The Lord asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” (Exod. 4:2). It was his shepherd’s rod. And when he wielded it in obedience to God, some mighty works were done.

In the 1940s Ira Wilson was visited by his friend Phil Kerr, who told him what a blessing one of his songs had been. But when Phil played it, Ira Wilson didn’t recognize it. He had forgotten he’d written the song decades earlier. It’s one still found in many hymn books. Make Me a Blessing expresses the hope and prayer that God will bless us so that we can be a blessing to others.

1. Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Saviour, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

3. Give as ‘twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Questions:

  1. What individuals do you know that are facing difficulty, or have a special need?
  2. What gifts, talents, opportunities do you have that you could use for the Lord this week, perhaps to help the one(s) noted above?

Links:

I Sing of Thee

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Words: Charles Frederick Weigle (b. Nov. 20, 1871; d. Dec. 3, 1966)
Music: Gladys Blanchard Muller (no information)

Note: Gladys Blanchard Muller was a music editor who frequently worked with Charles Weigle. A book of his which takes its title from the present hymn, I Sing of Thee, lists her as the editor of the music, as does another songbook of Weigle’s, Sing a New Song. She also wrote the music for Weigle’s song, I Have Found a Hiding Place. The present song was published in 1943.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

We wouldn’t likely think much of a waitress who came to our table in a restaurant and tried to sell us a car, or a car salesman who presented us with a dinner menu and wanted to sell us on a steak dinner. That’s not what we’re there for, in either case, and not what we want.

Not that we’d object to the waitress briefly mentioning she liked her new car, or the car salesman talking about a recent feast at Steaks Are Us. It’s just that, as the saying goes, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

That applies to writing essays or preaching sermons, too. Once a theme has been decided upon, each paragraph should be related to that, expanding on the subject, explaining and illustrating its relevance, and so on. If your subject is bridge building, explaining the rules for tennis would not seem to be relevant. If your theme is the music of Beethoven, talking about a horse you just purchased would seem to be far off target.

When it comes to the Bible, the subject can be summarized as: God and man, and the relationship between the two.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all [or, this is everyone’s duty].

Ecc. 12:13 (NLT)

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Mic. 6:8

All well and good, but that’s not the inclination of the sinful heart. In ourselves, apart from God’s help, we’re simply not going to do that. “There is none who seeks after God….all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:11, 23). We need someone to rescue us from ourselves, to cleanse us from our sin, and infuse in us a new spiritual nature that delights in the will of God.

This is where Christ comes in, the one Mediator between God and men” (I Tim. 2:5). We know what a mediator is in labour disputes. It’s a person who can lay his or her hand on management’s shoulder and say, “I understand your requirements,” and on labour’s, saying, “I appreciate your problem”–and out of that bridging of the two, to bring them together. That’s what Christ has done in the spiritual realm, providing a way, through His cross, for God and man to come together. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).

It is possible to see Christ and His saving work as the “main thing” the Bible talks about. In the Old Testament there’s the anticipation of it, symbols relating to it, and prophecy pointing forward to it. The Lord was therefore able to teach His followers about Himself from the Old Testament (Lk. 24:27, 44).

Then, the Gospels describe His death and resurrection, Acts gives us the early evangelistic work of the apostles, and the rest of the New Testament explains the gospel (the good news) of salvation through faith in Christ. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3).

Further, it’s appropriate that our hymnody focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ. “The Lord is my…song; He also has become my salvation” (Isa. 12:2). This theme, which saturates all of Scripture is explicitly stated in a song called I Sing of Thee, by American evangelist and gospel song writer Charles Weigle.

1. I sing of Thee, O blessed Christ,
Since Thou hast saved me by Thy grace;
Redeemed by Thee, at dreadful price,
With angels I would sing Thy praise.

I sing of Thee, O blessed Saviour,
Thy praise shall now my tongue employ;
I’ll sing of Thee, O Lord forever,
For Thou hast filled my soul with joy.

3. Of Thee I’ll sing while life shall last,
At home, abroad, on land or sea;
And when through death to life I’ve passed,
Forevermore I’ll sing of Thee.

Questions:

  1. According to Colossians 3:16, what are the reasons to sing about Christ?
  2. What is your favourite song about the Lord Jesus Christ?

Links:

When Rising from the Bed of Death

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Words: Joseph Addison (b. May 1, 1672; d. June 17, 1719)
Music: Third Mode Melody, by Thomas Tallis (b. ___, circa 1505; d. Nov. 23, 1585)

Note: Joseph Addison was a newspaper editor in England three centuries ago. He is considered one of the premier authors in the English language. Sometimes, in writing an editorial for his newspaper, he would compose and include some lines of verse relative to his point. In this way, he has given us a couple of stellar hymns that are found in many hymnals. The Spacious Firmament is a powerful declaration of the truth of Psalm 19:1. When All Thy Mercies, O My God proclaims the Lord’s providential care of us all through life.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

We’ve all likely heard the words in one setting or another. “Attention, please!” or “May I have your attention.” And there follows an announcement of some interest, such as, “Passengers for flight 647 are now boarding at Gate Three.” Or, “A new shipment of asparagus is now available at a great price in aisle five.”

And there are many other ways of getting attention. A shout, or a scream, does it, in a sudden emergency, or a drum roll or familiar music is associated with the arrival of some celebrity. Commercials on television have a similar purpose, to get our attention and promote a product or service–or, before an election, a certain candidate.

And what about the signs we see, almost everywhere. Years ago I worked in the photographic department of an advertising agency. One of the things we produced was signs–everything from small counter displays for stores, to large roadside signs intended to attract the business of passing motorists. In 1910, neon signs were introduced–bright, colourful, attention getting.

On a much more sombre note, an attempted suicide can be a sign. The late Judy Garland once said, “There have been times when I have deliberately tried to take my life. I think I must have been crying for some attention.” That statement should give us pause. Attention? A gifted singer and actress, she had multitudes of fans lauding her, through her television shows, movies, and so on. Ah, but that was most often attention to her talent, not a caring concern for her personal struggles.

It may be a surprise to some, but there are times when God wants to get our attention. He has that desire because He loves us, and wants us to make sure we’re on the right road in life. One of the ways He does this is through the exquisite beauty and thundering power of His creation. The Bible says, “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:20).

Another important means of seeking our consideration of important truths about our eternal welfare is His Word, the Bible. The psalmist says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path….The entrance of Your words gives light” (Ps. 119:105, 130). And the biblical message can be amplified by sermons we hear, or books we read.

Finally, danger and difficulty of various kinds is a startling and intrusive method of the Almighty calling us to investigate our spiritual need (cf. II Cor. 12:7-10). A profane slave ship captain named John Newton freely admitted it was a terrible storm that threatened to sink the ship he was on that got him to face his eternal destiny and change course spiritually. His conversion gave us the hymn Amazing Grace, and a number of others.

Joseph Addison is another example. He went through a time of serious illness in 1712 that awakened him to his spiritual need. During his illness, he wrote a hymn about the way God used this to change his outlook. Though it’s not a hymn congregations know and use today, it does remind us the Lord can use unusual means to get our attention.

(1) When rising from the bed of death,
O’erwhelmed with guilt and fear,
I see my Maker face to face,
O how shall I appear?

(2) If yet, while pardon may be found,
And mercy may be sought,
My heart with inward horror shrinks,
And trembles at the thought;

(3) When Thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclosed
In majesty severe,
And sit in judgment on my soul,
O how shall I appear?

(5) Then see the sorrow of my heart,
Ere yet it be too late;
And hear my Saviour’s dying groans,
To give those sorrows weight.

(6) For never shall my soul despair
Her pardon to procure,
Who knows Thine only Son has died
To make her pardon sure.

Questions:

  1. What means has the Lord used lately to get your attention?
  2. What has been your response to this?

Links:

I Have a Saviour

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Words: Robert Harkness (b. March 2, 1880; d. May 8, 1961)
Music: Robert Harkness

Note: Robert Harkness was a gospel musician who wrote the words and music for hundreds of sacred songs, also providing music for the words of others. His contributions include At the Foot of the Cross, No Longer Lonely, and Traveling Home. Australian born, he became the accompanist for meetings held by American evangelist R. A. Torrey.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

When we speak of owning something, we imply that we have certain rights over it. But it’s a slippery concept. There are few things we can call our own exclusively, and permanently.

In many cases, possession is shared in a relationship. A man may call his spouse “my wife,” but that’s only true if she’s willing to sustain the relationship. Ownership can also be affected by the power to assert it. For example, a nation may say, “This land is ours, and your land is ours too, if we choose to take it.”

Or consider opportunities that come our way. The chance for a couple to have children, or for an athlete to take part in the Olympics, those are both time-sensitive. The door won’t be held open forever. Time will ultimately ravage our health, dwindling our physical and mental gifts. Things change; we’re not what we once were.

In the Bible, words such as mine and ours are used over four thousand times. Many times we read of the Lord being mine, or ours. For example, we have phrases such as: “my God” (Ps. 25:2; Phil. 1:3; 4:19); and “our Lord Jesus Christ,” or “our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26; Rom. 5:1; I Cor. 15:57; II Tim. 1:10; II Pet. 1:16, etc.). But we need to think carefully about what that means. In what sense is God mine, Christ ours?

There’s an extreme view that sees the Lord as a kind of ever-accessible cosmic vending machine, the blab-it-and-grab-it notion that all we have to do is ask, and He’s obligated to give something to us. That’s nonsense. It makes the sovereign and eternal Lord over all a slave to our foolish whims and sinful greeds, which He’s not. Looking back, we can see the wisdom of a parent who denied us something that could have been dangerous and hurtful. Should we think any less of God?

When Paul speaks of Christ as “my Lord” (Phil. 3:8), he uses the Greek word kurios, recognizing Him as his divine Master, or Sovereign. The Christian’s relationship to Jesus Christ is based on promises He sovereignly and graciously made. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31), says God’s Word. When we claim that promise by faith, our sins are forgiven and we enter into an eternal relationship with the Lord.

That certainly does bestow some rights on the believer, the right to enjoy certain God given blessings. But it also brings responsibilities. A comparison to national citizenship might be enlightening. Canada is my country, and that fact gives me some privileges, but it also brings with it certain responsibilities. And it’s similar with the Christian life.

For instance, there is receiving the gospel–the good news of salvation, through faith in Christ (Jn. 3:16). But accepting it brings the responsibility to share it, to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mk. 16:15). And prayer is both a privilege (Phil. 4:6-7) and a responsibility (Lk. 18:1).

Mr. Harkness’s song, I Have a Saviour, reflects both the privileges and the responsibilities of saying, we “have” Christ, we “have” a Saviour.

(1) I have a Saviour, He died for me
In cruel anguish on Calv’ry’s tree.
I do not merit such love divine,
Only God’s mercy makes Jesus mine.

Jesus, my Saviour, I come to Thee,
In full surrender, Thine own to be.

(2) I have a Keeper, He now prevails,
I fear no evil whate’er assails.
His arms enfold me, safe and secure,
In His blest keeping vict’ry is sure.

(3) I have a Master, He bids me go
Rescue lost sinners from sin and woe.
I love to serve Him, this Master true,
Now I am willing His will to do.

Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you to say, “Jesus is mine”?
  2. The song says, “I love to serve Him.” In what way(s) are you serving the Lord Jesus?

Links:

Harboured in Jesus

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Words: Elva Fay Wallingford (b. July 24, 1912; d. July 12, 2001)
Music: Don M. Allen (b. ____, 1910; d. ____, 2010)

Note: In 1936, Fay Wallingford wrote a gospel song, called Harboured in Jesus, which speaks to the personal and individual safety we have in Christ. We know little about the author, other than she lived in Los Angeles. A bit of nostalgia: On the copy of the song I have before me, I see my father’s notes for using it with our church choir, October 27, 1957. He was our organist and choir director.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

A harbour is a port or haven for ships. The term comes from the Old English word herebeorg, meaning lodgings or a shelter. The Port of Shanghai, on the Yangtze River is the largest harbour in the world. It annually receives and docks about 140,000 ships.

Think of some of the uses of a port. Ships come to bring people home, or take them to their home. Or perhaps they bring those travelling on vacation. Or they come for commercial purposes, to deliver cargo, or pick up cargo. They may come for military reasons, to defend the harbour, or for medical reasons, to help out in a time of epidemic. And when a severe storm threatens, a ship may seek the refuge of a safe shelter.

Some of those purposes are represented in the Bible. In Genesis, elderly Jacob prophesies concerning the future of his sons–who became the heads of tribes in Israel. “Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea,” Jacob says, “he shall become a haven for ships” (Gen. 49:13). And Psalm 107 speaks of how the Lord protects those who sail the seas: “He calms the storm, so that its waves are still….So He guides them to their desired haven” (vs. 29-30).

In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul is arrested, and sent by ship to Rome to be tried. The author describes the journey, and the ports of call along the way. At one point he says, “We came to a place called Fair Havens [good harbours], near the city of Lasea (Acts 27:8). “And because the harbour was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbour of Crete” (vs. 12).

Words like harbour and haven can also be used as a picture of protection and security in a more general way. When Paul and Silas, were missionaries of the gospel, they faced persecution many times. At the city of Thessalonica, when danger threatened, a man named Jason gave the two men refuge and safety in his home. Later, Jason was arrested and taken before the rulers of the city where it was charged, “Jason has harboured them” (Acts 17:7).

In spiritual terms, the New Testament describes Christians as being “in Christ,” or “in Him.” Paul often seems to use this phrase in a legal sense. It’s as though, when we put our faith in the Saviour, God sees us, in  terms of His justice, through Christ, and therefore as reaping the benefits of His saving work. In Christ we have a safe harbour, protecting us from the storms of God’s judgment. Are you looking for a safe harbour, spiritually? Christ is the answer.

  • “Of Him [God the Father] you are in Christ Jesus” (I Cor. 1:30).
  • “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
  • “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
  • “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace….In Him also we have obtained an inheritance” (Eph. 1:7, 11).

There is even a corporate application of this to the church as a whole. “We [believers], being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:5).

1. Once I was drifting, lost and in sin;
Once I was dying, darkness within.
Now I am living, the way He planned–
Harboured in Jesus, kept by His hand.

Harboured in Jesus, safe and secure;
Harboured in Jesus, safe evermore.

2. Storms may surround me, tempests may roar,
Doubts may assail me, knock at my door;
Nothing shall move me from Jesus’ side–
Harboured in Jesus, wonderful Guide.

4. Friend, are you drifting, with none to care?
Friend, are you dying, deep in despair?
Come unto Jesus, He’ll set you free;
Harboured in Jesus, eternally.

Questions:

  1. What kind of dangers, for both time and eternity, do those face who are outside of Christ?
  2. How is Christ like a harbour for those who put their faith in Him?

Links:

Yielded

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Words: C. F. Warren (no information)
Music: Robert Harkness (b. March 2, 1880; d. May 8, 1961)

Note: Of the author, C. F. Warren, we know nothing. It could be one of those cases when the composer of the tune received the words, with a request to provide a tune, without knowing much about the author. We know this happened to him with the little song In Jesus.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Yield–it’s one of our multipurpose words. It can mean to give up, or give out. When a suspected thief raises his hands and yields to the police, he’s giving up. But when a garden produces baskets of juicy tomatoes, that’s what the plants have given out. That’s the yield.

But, when you think about it, there’s been some yielding on the part of the gardener, before that. If he’s wise, he’ll follow the accumulated wisdom regarding how to get the best crop. He knows the soil must be broken up, and fertilized, and watered. He knows the seed must be planted at the right time, and in the right way, and weeds must be controlled. If he refuses to do what’s needed, the final yield will suffer.

The first use of the word yield is found in the account of creation. God provided for each plant to yield fruit “after its kind,” in order to provide food for human beings (Gen. 1:11-12, 29).

Later, when the Lord gave the land of Canaan to Israel, He promised that it would yield food for them (Lev. 25:19). However, the abundance of the crop was conditioned on their obedience to Him. If they would keep God’s Law, they’d have plenty (Lev. 26:3-4). If not, He warned the crops would fail (Lev. 26:18-20).

Sadly, there were times of spiritual backsliding, but godly King Hezekiah called the people of Israel back to the Lord with these words:

Do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the Lord God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord…that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.

II Chron. 30:7-8

A double use of yielding has its application in the spiritual realm for the Christian. In fact, the Bible often uses garden imagery to illustrate what it means to live a fruitful life, and how that’s to be accomplished. And yielding to the Lord (obedience) will bring a yield of spiritual fruit in one’s life. the Scriptures speak of a couple of different kinds of spiritual fruit–inner fruit and outward fruit.

☼ The inward fruit is godly character, Christlikeness, the kind of qualities described as “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23).
☼ The outward fruit is the good things that happen in the lives of others, through our service for the Lord (Jn. 15:16; Rom. 1:13).

As a loving parent would do, God disciplined the people of Israel. The Bible later makes this comment, which could be applied to Israel, and is certainly true of our individual lives today.

Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives….Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Heb. 12:6, 11

A parable of the Lord Jesus talks about seed falling on different kinds of soil (Matt. 13:3-9). In the story, the seed represents the Word of God, and the soils picture different conditions of heart in the hearers, with the good soil describing those who accept God’s message, recognizing how it applies to their lives (vs. 18-23).

If we humbly yield to the Lord, determined to do His will, we will be spiritually fruitful, yielding both the fruit of godly character and blessings for others in our service for the Lord. And there’s a gospel song from 1926 that talks about that, called simply Yielded. Like some of our hymns about personal dedication (such as All to Jesus I Surrender, or Have Thine Own Way, Lord), these are strong words. We must determine whether this reflects our sincere heart’s desire.

1. Lowly and humbly, Lord, here I bow,
Contrite and broken, help me just now;
Patient and still, Lord, O let me be
Fitted for service, cleansed, Lord, by Thee.

Yielded, Lord, to Thee,
Yielded, Lord to Thee;
Wholly Thine forevermore,
Yielded, yielded, yielded, Lord, to Thee.

3. Keep ev’ry thought, Lord, in Thy control,
Let Thine own presence now fill my soul;
Self on the altar, yielded to Thee,
Jesus my Saviour, faithful to be.

4. Ready and willing Thee to obey,
Silent, if need be, have Thine own way;
In full submission all do I give,
Nothing withhold, Lord, in me now live.

Questions:

  1. What are often the obstacles in our lives to fully yielding to the Lord?
  2. What do you think the author means by “Silent, if need be,” in stanza 4?

Links:

I Do, Don’t You?

2

Words: Melville Winans Miller (b. June 23, 1856; d. Sept. 11, 1933)
Music: Edwin Othello Excell (b. Dec. 13, 1851; d. June 10, 1921)

Note: This song was written in 1907. Melville Miller seems to have had a number of varied careers: a lawyer, county surveyor, newspaper editor, and high school English teacher, in Indiana. In addition to penning several gospel songs, he wrote poetry and short stories. Edwin Excell wrote many gospel songs, including Since I Have Been Redeemed, and composed music for the songs of others.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

Born in Moline, Illinois, in 1918, Helen grew up in a home financially struggling, as many were during the Great Depression. But she had a marketable asset, a very fine singing voice. Her idol was Kate Smith, and she was encouraged to learn that Kate, too, had no formal training as a singer.

Helen became a blues singer with a dance band in the 1930s, and performed in concerts and on radio. As her audience grew, she received many requests to sing the popular songs of the day. The one kind of music she refused to sing was hymns, she had no interest in that–ironic, given what lay in the future.

What did interest her, after singing for some YWCA shows, was social work, especially among poor children. But where could she get training? Helen didn’t have enough money for a university education. However, she heard about Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago, which offered a tuition-free education. When she enrolled there in 1939, she was not a Christian. But, as she listened to the testimonies of other students, she realized something was missing in her life.

“I thought I had met the requirements of an entrance into heaven,” Helen said. “The most important thing I lacked, but didn’t realize until then, was the message that Jesus Himself had said to Nicodemus: ‘You must be born again’ [Jn. 3:3]. For the first time, I truly believed that Jesus had died for me, and I asked Him to come into my heart and life. I knew as I got up off of my knees that I, too, could give a testimony that Jesus was now my personal Saviour.”

That decision set her life on a new course. She saw her clear alto voice and musical ability as a gift from God which she could use to serve Him. She began singing on Moody’s own radio station, WMBI, and went on to make many recordings of gospel music. Work with another gospel singer, Bev Shea, and her association with Billy Graham, and Youth for Christ, spread her fame still further. Along the way, she was married to evangelist Reinhold Barth, and the couple raised three children.

“The Lord gave me a new song,” she said, “a song of peace and praise, of grace and gladness.” Helen Lillian McAlerney Barth died in 2017 at the age of 98. But from those days at Moody, until the Lord took her home, her goal was to sing to His praise, inviting others to trust in the Lord as she did.

When the Lord Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, he wanted to go with Jesus and serve Him. But the Lord responded, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mk. 5:18-19). That was the passion of Helen Barth, to tell others about Christ, with the hope that they too would trust in Him.

Believers are to be witnesses to the goodness and saving power of the Lord. David expressed his own desire to be a witness, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works” (Ps. 26:7). And Jesus told His followers, “You shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). Christians should “always be ready to give a defense [an answer] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (I Pet. 3:15).

A song recorded by Helen that seems to capsulize her witness is one called I Do, Don’t You?

1. I know a great Saviour, I do; don’t you?
I live by His favour, I do; don’t you?
For grace I implore Him, I worship before Him,
I love and adore Him, I do; don’t you?

2. I need Him to lead me, I do; don’t you?
Heav’n’s manna to feed me, I do; don’t you?
Whatever betide me, I need Him beside me,
In mercy to hide me, I do; don’t you?

4. I want Him to use me, I do; don’t you?
For service to choose me, I do; don’t you?
I want Him to bless me, to own and confess me,
Completely possess me, I do; don’t you?

Questions:

  1. Has anyone ever asked you if you are a Christian?
  2. Have you ever asked anyone else if he or she is a Christian? (What response did you get?)

Links:

Rock of Ages

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Words: Augustus Montague Toplady (b. Nov. 4, 1740; d. Aug. 11, 1778)
Music: Toplady, by Thomas Hastings (b. Oct. 15, 1784; d. May 15, 1872)

Note: This hymn was authored by an English clergyman with the imposing name Augustus Montague Toplady. Though he only lived to the age of thirty-eight, he packed a great deal into those years, serving in several churches, and writing several books. He also gave us a number of hymns, including one now considered among the finest in the English language, Rock of Ages. It was published in his 1776 book Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Worship, and, according to Hymnary.org, has been published in 2,521 hymnals.

Written in 1775, and called “A Prayer–Living and Dying,” the present hymn was inspired by a personal experience of Toplady’s. He was out walking and was caught in a sudden rain storm. Near him, there was a rocky cliff with a deep crevice, wide enough to admit him. As he was sheltering in the rock, he thought of how, by faith, we shelter in Christ, from the storms of judgment. (For a photograph of what is believed to be this rocky crevice, see this article.)

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

These articles are about words–chiefly the words of our traditional hymns and gospel songs, and how they express (or don’t do so accurately) the words of the Bible. This time, the key word is “rock.”

It’s amazing how many ways we use that word, in addition to obvious references to a stone. We speak of rocking a baby to sleep, or a boat rocking on the waves. There’s rock music, of course, and Rocky a man’s name, popularized by the 1976 movie about a fictional boxer named Rocky Balboa. And if someone uses the expression, “That rocks!” it apparently means something is especially impressive. There’s also rock candy, and both Newfoundland, Canada, and the island of Gibralter are referred to as the Rock.

In the Bible, some form of the word is used over 130 times in various ways. For example, journeying through a barren area, travelers are glad of the shade provided by “the shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isa. 32:2). When facing an enemy, God’s people could hide in rocky caves (I Sam. 13:6), or climb up on a rocky prominence to get a safer vantage point (Ps. 61:2-3). And rocky ground is not a good place to sow seed (Matt. 13:5-6), but rock could sometimes yield unexpected nourishment (Deut. 32:13). Also, rock was considered a stable foundation on which to build (Matt. 7:24-25).

It will be seen that many of these instances have both a practical and a spiritual application. Many times, particularly in the Psalms, the Lord is described as a rock.

For who is God, except the LORD [Jehovah]? And who is a rock, except our God?

Ps. 18:31

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

Ps. 62:2

There is salvation and security in the Lord, spiritual sustenance and stability too. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 3:11).

Usually, rock is expected to be relatively impregnable and indestructible. But there came a day when the Lord our Rock was shattered. When the incarnate Son of God was crucified, His body was broken, and His blood was shed for us (I Cor. 11:24). “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3). Like the rock in the wilderness that Moses struck, at God’s command, to provide water for the Israelites (Exod. 17:6), from the smitten Rock at Calvary the water of eternal life flowed out for all who will receive it.

The hymn insists that Christ is the only answer to our sin problem (cf. Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; Tit. 3:5). It’s not what we have done for God, but what He has done for us–“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.”

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Eph. 2:8-9

(1) Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

(2) Not the labour of my hands
Can fulfil Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

(3) Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

Questions:

  1. What are some of the things people presume to bring in their hands to God, to earn His approval?
  2. Why are these things inadequate to gain them eternal salvation?

Links:

Heaven in My Heart

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Words: Ida Augusta Guirey (b. March 20, 1874; d. July 16, 1957)
Music: Robert Parsons (no information)

Note: Published in 1943, the present song was written by Ida Guirey. Miss Guirey (who never married) was a pastor’s daughter. She wrote several hymns. The theme here reminds me of a song by Charles Butler, Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven There.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

When we talk together, there are some subjects that are painful or unpleasant to discuss–though we may have to deal with them at times. But heaven is a much more positive theme, and the prospect is pleasant to anticipate and reflect upon.

The more troubling and difficult our struggles, the more we might identify with a character in Shakespeare’s play, Richard II, who says, “Comfort’s in heaven, and we are on earth, where nothing lives but crosses, cares, and grief.” That’s one reason the Lord wants believers to find encouragement and comfort in contemplating our future heavenly home. “Let not your heart be troubled…” (Jn. 14:1-3); “Comfort one another with these words.” (I Thess. 4:16-18).

The Bible uses words such as heaven and heavenly nearly seven hundred times. And, not surprisingly, hundreds of hymns have been written on the subject. Those Bible references, however, should be divided into three categories–identifying three different “heavens.”

  • Earth’s atmosphere, where birds fly and clouds form, is called heaven (Gen. 1:20).
  • A second “heaven” is outer space, where planets and stars are found (Gen. 15:5).
  • What the Bible calls “the third heaven,” or Paradise (II Cor. 12:2-4) is where God’s throne is, and the holy angels dwell, with the saints who’ve departed this life (Rev. 4:1-2).

There is, however, a fourth way we could use the word heaven. Though the Bible doesn’t do so, the concept is certainly there. When we contemplate the blessings of God (of which a future in heaven is one), heavenly thoughts and feelings of joy and bliss fill our hearts. A century after Shakespeare wrote the play quoted above, Puritan clergyman Peter Drelincourt wrote:

“God comes to us before we go to Him; and heaven enters into our souls before we can enter into heaven.”

The Bible declares that Christians are, already, citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20). It’s appropriate then that we think about the affairs of our heavenly home, and rejoice in things related to it. There are three questions to consider:

  • How does one get on the road to heaven?
  • What are the heavenly blessings of the journey there?
  • And what do we anticipate our heavenly home will be like?

That’s the subject of a gospel song called Heaven in My Heart, which deals with the three questions just mentioned in three successive stanzas.

How does an individual get started on the heavenly way? Through faith in Christ, believing that “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3). A familiar verse of Scripture says: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

1. It was heaven in my heart when Jesus found me,
Heaven in my heart, heaven in my heart;
All my sins He took away, a new life gave me.
I can never tell the joy that filled my heart.

Stanza two of Guirey’s song talks about the Christian life, with the Lord’s presence and leading. The main way the Lord guides us is by His Word. “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).

2. It is heaven ev’ry day with Him abiding,
Heaven ev’ry day, heaven ev’ry day;
There is light upon my way with Jesus guiding,
Shining more and more unto the perfect day.

The final stanza is about our eternal destiny. As Christ promised:

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Jn. 14:2-3

3. ‘Twill be heaven by and by His face beholding,
Heaven by and by, heaven by and by;
O the glory through eternity unfolding,
When we dwell with Him at home beyond the sky.

Heaven in my heart, heaven in my heart,
This the life He gave me when He saved me.
Heaven in my heart, heaven in my heart,
O the joy of knowing Jesus saved me.

Questions:

  1. If heaven is in our hearts, how will that be seen in our lives?
  2. Why do you think fewer hymns about heaven are being written today, compared to a century or more ago?

Links:

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