Hymns With A Message: I WOULD BE LIKE JESUS

Sunday, January 15, 2012

I WOULD BE LIKE JESUS

How many times this year have you made the mistake of writing 2011? Have you made any resolutions for the new year? If you have, after two weeks have you broken them yet? I have never been into the resolution thing myself. But the start of a new year does give you a chance to evaluate where you have been in the past and where you are headed in the future. It is important to have goals, especially spiritual ones. Recently I heard this week's hymn choice on the radio. It brought back memories of having sung it so often, many years ago, in Sunday night services. And I guess the memory of Sunday night services really dates me because today such services appear to be gone from the schedule of present day churches. Now while some critics say that this hymn emphasizes works too much, I disagree. Works should naturally follow our salvation which itself is a gift of God. And as a result we should desire to tell the story and serve Him. Our lives should continually show growth spiritually as the Holy Spirit guides us in our Christian journey. I chose this hymn specifically for today because I think it does serve as a good goal, or a good desire, for the future year. It should be our prayer each day. As we respond to the leading and work of the Holy Spirit we should become more like Jesus - in the home, in the throng, and all day long. Little is known about the writing of this hymn. James Rowe was the son of a copper miner. He worked for the Irish government for four years and then emigrated to America at the age of 24. He settled in Albany, New York, and worked in railroads in New York for about 10 years. He then became an inspector for the Hudson River Humane Society. Then he worked for music publishers in Texas and Tennessee. In his later years he moved to Vermont and worked with his daughter, an artist, writing verses for greeting cards. Rowe teamed up with the composer of the tune, Howard E. Smith. According to Rowe's daughter, Mrs. Louise Rowe Mayhew, Smith was a little man whose hands had become knotted with arthritis, but he could still play the piano.Therefore, while Rowe was writing words, Smith would play some notes on the piano and then copy them down. This is how they teamed together to write numerous hymns. Little else is known about the writing of this hymn. But, maybe we don't need to know more about its beginnings to make it our prayer, or resolution, for the coming year.

(1) Earthly pleasures vainly call me;

I would be like Jesus;

Nothing worldly shall enthrall me;

I would be like Jesus.

Be like Jesus, this my song,

In the home and in the throng;

Be like Jesus, all day long!

I would be like Jesus.

(2) He has broken every fetter,

I would be like Jesus;

That my soul may serve Him better,

I would be like Jesus.