This week's hymn is by Parisian Theodore Monod, who wrote these words during a series of consecration services in England. Monod was the son of a pastor in the French Reformed Church, and became a pastor himself, serving in the late 19th and early 20th century.
O the bitter shame and sorrow,
That a time could ever be,
When I let the Savior’s pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered,
“All of self, and none of Thee!”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’accursèd tree,
Heard Him pray, “Forgive them, Father!”
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee!”
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Sweet and strong, and ah! so patient,
Brought me lower, while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee!”
Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered:
Grant me now my supplication,
“None of self, and all of Thee!”
Theodore Monod
This is one of my favorite hymns, as it shows the progression of our hearts as we are made new in Christ by the Holy Spirit. From the hardness of our hearts at Christ's first call, the pride of our selfish ways, to the slow change as we recognize the magnitude of the sacrifice paid on the cross for us, to our growth as we walk daily with God, to the heights we reach when we can finally say "None of self and all of Thee!" And what a beautiful moment it is when we can truly say, none of my God, but all of You.
Be blessed and shine in and through Him!
Be blessed and shine in and through Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word! -Prov 15:23