MY JESUS I LOVE THEE

Continuing with this month's theme of love, this week's choice is a simple but powerful hymn that was actually written by a teenager. Sixteen year old William Featherston of Montreal, Canada wrote this hymn in 1862, not long after he was converted to Christ. He sent a copy to his aunt who encouraged him to have it published. It appeared anonymously in The London Hymn Book in 1864. The original copy of the hymn, in the author's handwriting, is still a cherished treasure in the family. William wrote no other hymns that we know of and his brief life ended just before his twenty-seventh birthday. But for 150 years this hymn has touched the lives of countless people. Ira D. Sankey reports this story of a famous actress, who while walking down the street, passed an open door, through which she saw an invalid girl laying on a couch watching people pass by. Wanting to cheer her up, she went inside. The sick girl was a devout Christian. The actress, impressed with her words, her patience, her submission, her heaven-lit countenance, and the manner in which she lived her religion, was lead to seriously consider the claims of Christianity. As a result she became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion and her conviction that she could not live a consistent Christian life and still be an actress. Her father was upset, attempting to convince her that their living would be lost and their business ruined if she persisted. Because she loved her father dearly, she consented to fill the published engagement set, of which she was the star, for a few days. The play was set to go on. That evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter and their living was not to be lost. However, as the actress came out on stage to the applause of the large audience, she stepped forward. A light beamed from her beautiful face. To the now-silent audience she repeated: "My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now." She left with the audience in tears, and retired from the stage, never to appear on it again. But through this her father was converted and through their combined evangelistic labors, many were led to Christ. May the words of this simple but profound hymn speak to your heart this week.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree.

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Listen to a beautiful arrangement of this hymn by the group Avalon. LISTEN