All for Jesus

Words: Mary Dagworthy James (b. Aug. 10, 1810; d. Oct. 4, 1883)
Music: Hull, by Asa Hull (b. _____, 1828; d. _____, c. 1895); or Wycliff, by John Stainer (b. June 6, 1840; d. March 31, 1901)

Note: Asa Hull was an American author, composer, and publisher, born in New York City. Other than that, little is known of him. John Stainer, on the other hand, is well known. He was one of the nineteenth century’s finest church musicians. In my view, his flowing tune, Wycliff, is superior to the repetitious one by Hull.

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

The Word of God says:

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s….I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (I Cor. 6:19-20; Rom. 12:1).

“Bought at a price,” we surely were. “Redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18-19), “who gave Himself a ransom for all” (I Tim. 2:6). It’s on this basis that Mary James speaks of the Christian’s “ransomed powers.” The Lord’s sovereignty over the believer is based on a double reality. He is our Creator, and has rights of ownership on that basis. But our redemption is a second factor. He has paid for our release.

On the basis of all that the Lord has done for us in the latter instance (discussed in particular in Romans 1 through 8), Paul pleads for us to respond by willingly accepting our place as servants of God, “living sacrifices” dedicated to bring Him honour and glory. If we are living sacrifices presented to Him, our ransomed powers, thoughts, words, doings, days and hours will be at His disposal now and forever.

(1) All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.

All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.

The author goes on to particularize this in her second stanza. Hands and feet, eyes and lips, will be under the Lord’s control, and energized by the Spirit of God to do His bidding. But it’s not an arduous or begrudging service. Far from it. Why would we cling to “gilded toys of dust” (3) that will only pass away, when we can invest our resources to gain things of eternal worth (Matt. 6:19-21). The importance of other things fades, as we keep our eyes on our Saviour (4).

To belong to the King of kings, and serve Him, is a great delight, and a privilege beyond imagining.

(5) Oh, what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His belovèd,
Lets me rest beneath His wings.

Questions:

1. Do you know of someone who is not happy to be serving Christ, who is grudging in their duties? Why might this be?
2. What can help to restore this individual’s joy in serving the Lord?

Links:

• 10 August 1810 – Mary James Born
• All For Jesus (The Cyber Hymnal)