21 APRIL

A LIFETIME COMMITMENT

“Lord, you are mine!  I promise to obey your words!” (Psalms 119:57)

Hymn:

1      O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end; Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;

I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,

Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

4       O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be. And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end; O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.

• O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear; My foes are ever near me, around me and within;

But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

• O let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will. O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;

O speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

5       O let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant mine own; My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength alone. O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end; And then in Heaven receive me, my Saviour and my Friend

John Ernest Bode, an Anglican clergyman wrote this hymn for the Confirmation Service of his three children. He said to them: “I have written a hymn concerning all the important truths I want you to remember.” This is a hymn of commitment and call unto Jesus to protect us from the dangers and temptations posed by the world.

May this hymn be a reminder of our discipleship walk with Jesus, the need to live in integrity and keep our promises to God and man. Bode gave his children a gift to make an impact in their spiritual lives forever. What gifts do we give our children? Many of us give worldly gifts that have no spiritual impact, at Christmas (Santa Claus and Father Christmas visits?); Easter (Easter Eggs?), even Baptism and Confirmation. How do we then wonder that many in this generation do not really understand the meanings of these periods in the Christian calendar? The hymn also brings comfort in the many promises that Jesus made and the joy that He is faithful and keeps all His promises. Do we keep our promises?

ACTION: Give gifts that have eternal meaning especially on Christian memorial events.

PRAYER: Father, please, enable me to be a promise keeper.