Some of my best memories growing up were the weeknight prayer meetings which used to be well attended by believers. My favorite part of those gatherings was the testimony time when most of those attending would share and thank the Lord for what He had done for them. These were often times of encouragement for many of us, especially as we heard how God was answering prayer. But in between those testimonies folks would, as the Lord led them, start choruses and we would all join in singing them. One chorus that I remember that was a favorite was "Now I Belong To Jesus". It was a reminder that because of His great sacrifice for us, and His grace and mercy, that we indeed were His and in turn He was ours - an amazing personal relationship. And that relationship is eternal. But seldom did we sing the verses that also share a powerful message. His love is eternal and nothing can sever it. Once we were lost without any hope but He left heaven and came to earth to provide our salvation. And joy should flood our souls since Jesus has saved us. And we belong to Him. The words were penned by Norman Clayton whose hymns we have featured in this blog before. The ninth of ten children, Clayton was converted at the age of six. He became church organist at 12 and kept the role of church organist the rest of his life. Clayton's profession was in the building industry, but he also created his own publishing house, Gospel Songs, which was later absorbed into the Rodeheaver Company. In 1942 he was working with Jack Wyrtzen's Word of Life organization, providing music for both the radio broadcasts and crusade meetings. He composed the tune Ellsworth that year, and wrote the words for this fine gospel song about a year later. He had the habit of writing the music before the words. He made it a lifelong practice to memorize Scripture and tried, each time he wrote the words of a song, to be sure that its message was clearly biblical. Clayton wrote hundreds of hymns and they were singable, musically sweet and tender of sentiment. They reflected his evangelical emphasis, focused on the saving work of Christ and the relationship with God through Him. This emphasis is certainly emphasized in this week's hymn choice. Hopefully, as you read the words of Clayton's hymn this week, you will be reminded of the special personal relationship that believers have with the Lord Jesus. Nothing can compare with that. May joy flood your soul as you thank Him for making this a reality ... not just for the years of time alone, but for eternity!
(1) Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Not for the years of time alone,
(2) Once I was lost in sin's degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Not for the years of time alone,
(3) Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood, He came to redeem,
Not for the years of time alone,
You have two choices to listen to this hymn.
Here is a men's trio singing it.
1 comment:
Good Day, Brother Barry. I wonder if you know the story behind the hymn, "My Jesus I Love Thee."
I am attaching the information here: https://www.gordon.edu/president/ajgordon
A. J. Gordon
HOME > ABOUT GORDON COLLEGE > PRESIDENT MICHAEL D. HAMMOND > COLLEGE LEADERSHIP > PAST PRESIDENTS > A. J. GORDON
(1836–1895)
President 1889–1895
A. J. Gordon was born in a small community in New Hampshire. Early in life, Gordon felt a call to the ministry. After graduating first from Brown University and then from Newton Theological Institute, he pastored Jamaica Plain Baptist Church, in a suburb of Boston. He later went on to minister at the Clarendon Street Baptist Church, also in Boston.
Renowned reverend, theologian, evangelist, musician, writer and social activist, Dr. Gordon was in continual demand to speak at conferences, often with the famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody. He wrote several books (see below), several hymns and edited the journal “The Watchword.”
The most famous of his hymn tunes is named Gordon, most often associated with the text by William Featherstone “My Jesus, I Love Thee.”
As a young minister in Jamaica Plain during the last years of the Civil War, Dr. Gordon was an unwavering supporter of abolition. He believed in allowing women to take an equal role in spreading the gospel, and he supported women’s right to vote. He was also a strong advocate of the temperance movement.
Among (and perhaps because of) the host of other gifts and ministries A. J. Gordon pursued, he felt a call to provide education for people to work in the mission field. Gordon felt that all people, including women and people of color, should be able to receive a thorough education in matters of the Bible, theology and church history if the potential student felt they had a true calling to serve God and the church. So, in response to the great number of individuals in his community who did not have the opportunity for advanced learning and were not able to attend college or seminary, A.J. Gordon founded the school that was to become Gordon College, opening its doors to 16 students, including one young woman, in 1889. After Dr. Gordon’s death in 1895, the school voted to change its name from The Boston Missionary Training School to the Gordon Missionary Training School.
Significant Accomplishments:
+ Founded in 1889, Gordon’s Boston Missionary Training School welcomed men and women of all races to prepare for missions work.
+ Dr. Gordon took seriously Christ’s command to take care of the poor and needy. A vital component for the students at the new school was active work in serving underprivileged people.
+ Selected publications: Congregational Worship (1874); How Christ Came To Church: The Pastor's Dream : A Spiritual Autobiography (1895); In Christ; Or, The Believer's Union With His Lord (1872); The Ministry Of Healing: Miracles Of Cure In All Ages (1882); The Ministry Of The Spirit (1894); Yet Speaking: A Collection Of Addresses (1897)
Post a Comment