HE TOOK MY SINS AWAY - (TH)

TIMELESS HYMNS - A regular feature in which I choose a previous hymn blog, revise it and post it again.  This one was first posted in 2014          

 

          At times I can't help but wonder if the topic of sin has become politically incorrect in many churches today.  It doesn't seem to be a topic that is discussed or even sung about too often anymore. Maybe we have become too concerned about offending people or making them feel uncomfortable. 

          But sin is a central part of the gospel, the message of the church.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  The wages of sin is death.  And God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  

          There is no other experience in life that is more important than accepting God's free gift of forgiveness for our sins, a gift which has been made possible only by the death of Jesus on the Cross.  When that personal decision is made, our sins are forgiven.  They are taken away and removed from us, as far as the east is from the west.  And we are dressed in the righteousness of Christ.  What a powerful and amazing transformation, from being dead in sin to being forgiven and dressed in His righteousness.  And that experience should put a song of joy in our lives.  Daily we should celebrate the assurance that He took our sins away.  

          And that realization must be what led Margaret Harris (1865-1919) to pen the words of this week's featured gospel song.   Margaret was a member of the Iowa Holiness Association. She and her husband, songwriter John Harris, were active in holiness revivals and camp meetings. She played the organ to accompany the duets she sang with her husband.   She is said to also have been an effective speaker.  

          The other familiar song that she wrote is I Will Praise Him.  The words of this week's choice seem to be the personal testimony of her conversion experience.  She came to Jesus bearing her load of sin.  They made her weary, worn and sad.  But Christ met her and took all her sins away, releasing her from the condemnation under which she had lived and giving her perfect peace.  

          Is this also your testimony?  I certainly hope that you have met the Savior and accepted His free gift of salvation.  If you have, then join me this week in testifying that He took your sins away.  May that realization put a song in your heart each day.

 

(1)    I came to Jesus, weary, worn, and sad.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

And now His love has made my heart so glad,

He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

(2)    The load of sin was more than I could bear.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

And now on Him I roll my ev'ry care,

He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

(3)    No condemnation have I in my heart,

He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

His perfect peace He did to me impart,

He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

(4)    If you will come to Jesus Christ today,

He'll take your sins away, He'll take your sins away,

And keep you happy in His love each day,

He'll take your sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away,

And keeps me singing every day!

I'm so glad He took my sins away,

He took my sins away.

 

You can listen to it here.   LISTEN

 

IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING

          Are you happy serving the Lord?  Does the joy of the Lord flood your heart as you live and work for Him? Or do you, like so many believers, get weary in well doing and lose that happiness?
          If we will submit to Him and follow Him in loving service, we can experience the "peace and joy that nothing else can bring."  That is the message of this old hymn.
          In 1912 two brothers created this simple song about the joy of serving the Lord.  They say that we must yield our all to Him, all of our gifts and talents we must gladly bring.  And to His guiding hand we must always cling.

          Apparently, many believers miss this truth since so many appear to live unhappy lives without joy.  What about you?

          Alfred Ackley (1887-1960) wrote hundreds of song lyrics but only a few tunes. His brother, Bentley DeForrest Ackley (1872-1958), focused on writing melodies. He traveled with his father and his father's band. He also served as pianist for evangelist Billy Sunday. He compiled more than 3,000 tunes.
          So, the question for us today is this: are we really "happy in the service of the King.

               Listen to it here.  HAPPY

1.  I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

I have peace and joy that nothing else can bring,

In the service of the King.

Refrain:

In the service of the King

Ev'ry talent I will bring;

I have peace and joy and blessing

In the service of the King.

2.   I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

Through the sunshine and the shadow I can sing,

In the service of the King. 

[Refrain]

3.   I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

To His guiding hand forever I will cling,

In the service of the King. 

[Refrain]

4.   I am happy in the service of the King,

I am happy, O so happy;

All that I possess to Him I gladly bring,

In the service of the King.

 [Refrain]

THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

            "They'll Know We Are Christians", also known as "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" or "We Are One in the Spirit" is a song by Catholic priest Peter Raymond Scholtes (1938-2009).  The title of the song originates in a phrase that non-believers used to describe Christian believers of the early church: "Behold, how they love one another."
          The song is based on the scripture John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one another."

          Now salvation can not be earned or purchased.  It is a gift of the Father who is the only One who really knows who belongs to Him. However, this scripture from the book of John, gives us one of the characteristics that can be observed  in Christians – love for one another.

             Peter Scholtes, a Catholic priest serving at St. Brendan's parish on the South Side of Chicago in 1966, penned this song when he could not find a suitable song to accompany a series of ecumenical and interracial events for which the youth choir he led was to sing. Like many songs coming out of the popular folk music of the 1960s, it connected to the societal upheaval of the decade. Scholtes's text connected the faith story of young people disillusioned with the landscape of American culture.
          Scholtes later left the priesthood, married, and had an active life in the public sector, where he was an author and international consultant with a focus on helping "businesses engage employees' talents more fully, humanely, and effectively".  The song's popularity later earned it the title "anthem of the Jesus Movement". In retrospect, Scholtes's song, along with other selections associated with the music of the Jesus People, helped establish guitar as the primary instrument for worship in the growing contemporary worship model. 
          Now the question for us this week should be, if we claim to be a Christian, does our life model a real love for others, despite their color, or culture, or attitudes, habits or treatment of us.  And does our life model praise for the Father, to Christ Jesus, His only Son, and to the Spirit who makes us one.
          And are we known as a Christian by our love?
          

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;

We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord;

And we pray that all unity will one day be restored. 

Chorus: And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;

And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.

We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;

And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.

And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.

You can listen to it here.    LOVE
 

LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS

  This is a feature where once each month I share one of my personal favorite hymns.

 

        It is difficult to choose my very favorite hymn, but "Like A River Glorious" certainly ranks as one of my top favorites.  I especially love to hear it sung by a congregation or an ensemble without any instruments.  

          It does have great harmony, but more importantly, the words always speak to my heart.  In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah.  Now, I admit that I struggle with the words of the second verse ... not a surge of worry ... for I am a worrier.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest.  

          One of my best memories is the congregation singing this at my mother's memorial service, following her death in an automobile accident.  It was a time when our family received the peace that only God could give. And singing these words helped us understand what God was doing for us.

          In the midst of challenging, difficult and frustrating life circumstances, Frances Ridley Havergal (1836 - 18790) experienced peace that only God can give, that peace that passeth all understanding.  The English poet and hymn writer was vacationing in the south of Wales in 1876 and caught a severe cold.  It was accompanied by inflammation of the lungs. Hearing how ill she was, and that she might die, she replied, "If I am really going, it is too good to be true." Her friends were amazed at how peacefully she received this information. She did survive that illness, and later that year she wrote this beautiful hymn. And the words that she penned have encouraged believers ever since.  Frances was very frail in health and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 42. Her dying words were "Come, Lord Jesus, come and fetch me." She had that peace that truly "passeth all understanding". 

           In a world filled with turmoil, our only hope and peace is to live lives that are stayed upon Jehovah. And if you are in Christ, you are safe. "Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, never foe can follow, never traitor stand." There are foes; there are traitors, but they cannot stand up against His grace and His power.  And we are protected in the hollow of His hand. Now, that doesn't mean they won't ever make our life challenging, but Christ is always with us and His Spirit guides us.  

            Now, I admit that at times I do struggle with the words "not a surge of worry", for sadly I often struggle with worry and anxiety.  But when we really understand that "EVERY joy or trial falleth from above" and that they are "traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love", then we know that we can trust him fully.  And we do find perfect peace and rest. That celebrates the sovereignty of God who is the blessed controller of all things. Isaiah 26:3, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you"  …  "Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest  Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest."

          Are you facing difficult trials?  Do you have heavy burdens?  Then rest upon Jehovah and experience His rest and peace.

 

(1)   Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

 

(2)   Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.    Refrain

 

(3)   Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

Listen to it here.      LISTEN