FOR HE IS SO PRECIOUS TO ME

Do you have something that is very precious to you?  Maybe it is an item that you have inherited from a parent or a grandparent, such as a ring or a bracelet or a watch.  Maybe it is something of value that you have worked long to earn enough money to purchase.  Maybe it is a gift that you received from a spouse or a child. Maybe it is a special card or a letter from somebody who has passed on.  Maybe it is an investment. Possibly it is a relationship with a friend or a loved one.  Actually, good relationships are the most precious things that a person can have.  They are to be valued and nurtured. The dictionary defines precious as something that is greatly loved or treasured by someone.  The hymn writer Charles Gabriel (1856-1932) realized that the most precious relationship that he could have was a relationship with Jesus.  Can you say and mean the same thing?  He is the one who gave His life for us. He is with us constantly to direct and guide and answer our prayers.  His love to us is demonstrated daily.  He gives us perfect peace in the most difficult situations. What could be more precious than a relationship like that?  Gabriel's song was copyrighted in 1902. However, no details could be found as to how or why it was written.  The original words to his first verse were slightly different, but alterations apparently were made by Edwin Othello Excell (1851-1921) who purchased the song and filed a new copyright registration in 1907.  This week reflect upon the words that remind us how we can cling to Him in our weakness, how He waited for us to invite Him in, how He blesses us, how He is preparing a place for us and how one day we will look on His face.  And these truths are ours because of Him, not because of anything we could do.  And that is why He is so precious to me.  But let me leave you with a key question, does your life and relationship to Him really demonstrate that He is precious to you?  Can you go days without spending time with Him?  Sometimes our words say one thing and our life and actions show something else.  So think carefully about the words of this old hymn this week.  Hopefully He is precious to you.

(1)   So precious is Jesus, my Savior, my King;

His praise all the day long with rapture I sing.

To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling,

For He is so precious to me.

For He is so precious, so precious to me;

For He is so precious, so precious to me.

'Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to know,

For He is so precious to me.

(2)   He stood at my heart's door 'mid sunshine and rain,

And patiently waited an entrance to gain.

What shame that so long He entreated in vain,

For He is so precious to me.

For He is so precious, so precious to me;

For He is so precious, so precious to me.

'Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to know,

For He is so precious to me.

(3)   I stand on the mountain of blessing at last,

No cloud in the heavens a shadow to cast,

His smile is upon me; the valley is past,

For He is so precious to me.

For He is so precious, so precious to me;

For He is so precious, so precious to me.

'Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to know,

For He is so precious to me.

(4)   I praise Him because He appointed a place

Where some day, through faith in His wonderful grace,

I know I shall see Him, shall look on His face,

For He is so precious to me.

For He is so precious, so precious to me;

For He is so precious, so precious to me.

'Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to know,

For He is so precious to me.

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