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This Week’s Devotional Topic
MORE HYMNS OF FAITH
Our program on Hymns Of The Faith has been so well received that I will be sharing even More Hymns Of Faith today. Our time together each week is limited and there are so many great Hymns that are a legacy of the church so we will be blessed with a few more during today’s program.
To create a Hymn of the faith that would last the ‘test of time’ is not a simple task. Some of you are musicians and/or poets that actually write lyrics for songs. I admit that my personal experience with this process is limited but I’ve lived in the field of Christian music for many, many years and have seen and heard this process. Writing a song, lyrics and music requires significant elements. Typically, it starts with an inspiration, a topic or thought or even a phrase or concept or it might even begin with a melody. In some cases, the process includes more than one person. And when all the pieces come together, it becomes a song that can be used by God to touch lives with His word.
For a song written hundreds of years ago to still be around, it likely has had the blessing of God and has touched thousands of hearts over the years.
Here are lyrics of some of the songs included in today’s program. As you listen to the words, I think you will have a better understanding of why they have remained favorites for generations.
“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world: the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere. This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!”
“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him
He’s always near. In all the world around me, I see His loving care, and though my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading thru all the stormy blast, the day of His appearing will come at last. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.”
“Far dearer than all that the world can impart was the message that came to my heart; how that Jesus alone for my sin did atone, and Calvary covers it all. The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore told His mercy and love evermore; and my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name, and Calvary covers it all. Calvary covers it all, my past with its sin and stain; my guilt and despair Jesus took on Him there, and Calvary covers it all.”
Many of you have heard the story behind the song “It Is Well With My Soul”. It was written by Horatio Spafford as he traveled to meet his grieving wife. A shipwreck took the lives of his four daughters. His wife was spared. He wrote these words/lyrics as his ship passed near where his daughters had died. His thoughts and inspiration could have come from the Psalmist David found in the passage of Psalm 46:1. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear”. “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall re-sound and the Lord shall descend, even so – it is well with my soul.
And as we meditate on and consider the richness of messages incorporated into more hymns of the faith, let’s listen to the following message. “O worship the King, all glorious above, and gratefully sing His power and His love; our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise. Tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space; His chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form, and dark is His path on the wings of the storm. Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light, it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end! Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.”
From now on, make it a point to “listen” to the words, they are rich with meaning for you and your life with Christ.
This week’s Scripture:
II Timothy 3:16; John 15:4,7 and Philippians 4:8
See this week’s playlist
