These posts focus our hearts and minds on the One who is worthy

Give of your best to the Master,
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example –
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion,
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master,
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service,
Consecrate ev’ry part.
Give, and to you will be given –
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have. [Refrain]

Give of your best to the Master,
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above:
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration,
Give Him the best that you have. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Give of your best to the Master,
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Howard B. Grose, 1902
Read Malachi 1:6-9

God deserves our best. That shouldn’t be a controversial or surprising statement. And I believe all of us would agree with it. However, living that out can be more challenging. It is easy to get distracted, overbooked and overwhelmed. Soon, God barely has our attention on Sunday morning, much less at any point during the week. The hymnwriter challenges us to see the magnitude of what Christ has called us to, and embrace that calling with everything we have. How could we do anything less?

I think, when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
I should like to have been with them then.

I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,
That His arms had been thrown around me,
And that I might have seen His kind look when He said,
Let the little ones come unto Me.

Yet still to His foot stool in prayer I may go;
And ask for a share in His love;
And if I thus earnestly seek Him below,
I shall see Him and hear Him above.

But thousands and thousands who wander and fall,
Never heard of that heavenly home;
I wish they could know there is room for them all,
And that Jesus has bid them to come.

In that beautiful place He has gone to prepare
For all who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children shall be with Him there,
For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

I long for the joy of that glorious time,
The sweetest and brightest and best,
When the dear little children of every clime
Shall crowd to His arms and be blest.

Jemima Luke, 1841
Read Matthew 18:2-6

“The Sweet Story of Old” may be an unfamiliar hymn, but it invites us to place ourselves in the Biblical account of Jesus blessing the children. If we quickly surveyed what event people would most want to have witnessed or been a part of, I’m not sure this one would be very high on the list. We, perhaps like the disciples, may quickly pass over this encounter and move on to the lost sheep. Humility and dependence are keys to walking with Christ. May we never lose sight of that.

Must I go, and empty handed,
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?

Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow. [Refrain]

O the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow. [Refrain]

O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may. [Refrain]

Refrain
Must I go, and empty handed?
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty handed go?

Charles C Luther 1877
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

This hymn allegedly came from a deathbed question from someone who had been a believer for only a few weeks. He was concerned about meeting his Lord with no good works, with no others he had led to faith. Paul in Romans 14:10-12 tells us we will all give an account of how we have used the time, opportunities, and gifts we’ve been given. May we all be about the Father’s business while it is still day.

Nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross
that raiseth me;
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer,
the sun gone down,
darkness be over me,
my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!

There let the way appear
steps unto heav’n;
all that thou sendest me
in mercy giv’n;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts
bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs,
Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!

Or if on joyful wing,
cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot,
upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!

Sarah Flowers Adams, 1841
Read Genesis 28:10-22

This hymn was reportedly the favorite of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII and US Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. It calls us to remember and gain strength from God’s presence with us in trying times. In trying times of our own, may we remember that the best place to be is near to God, and look forward to the time when that nearness will be realized in His presence.

I love thy kingdom, Lord,
the house of thine abode,
the church our blest Redeemer saved
with his own precious blood.

I love thy church, O God:
her walls before thee stand,
dear as the apple of thine eye
and graven on thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall,
for her my prayers ascend;
to her my cares and toils be giv’n,
’til toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heav’nly ways,
her sweet communion, solemn vows,
her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, thou Friend divine,
our Savior and our King,
thy hand from ev’ry snare and foe
shall great deliv’rance bring.

Sure as thy truth shall last,
to Zion shall be giv’n
the brightest glories earth can yield,
and brighter bliss of heav’n.

Timothy Dwight, 1800
Read Ephesians 5:23-27

“I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord” in later verses becomes a hymn about the church. While it’s popular sentiment now to love Jesus, but avoid, neglect, and disparage His church, this hymn and Scripture itself will have none of that. As followers of Christ, we want to love what Christ loves. So, we need to love the church as Christ did. Granted, it’s far from a perfect institution (because it is made up of people in all our imperfections), but remember Jesus is perfecting His church. May we follow the example of the hymnwriter, praying for the church, giving her our full effort in the work of the Kingdom, and find our joy in worshipping together.

Beautiful valley of Eden!
Sweet is thy noontide calm;
Over the heart of the weary,
Breathing thy waves of balm.

Over the heart of the mourner
Shineth thy golden day,
Waiting the songs of the angels
Down from the far away. [Refrain]

There is the home of my Savior;
There, with the blood washed throng,
Over the highlands of glory
Rolleth the great new song. [Refrain]

Refrain
Beautiful valley of Eden,
Home of the pure and blest,
How often amid the wild billows
I dream of thy rest, sweet rest!

W. O. Cushing, 1875
Read Genesis 2:8-15; Revelation 22:1-5

Eden was the perfect environment God created for mankind to live. Because of our rebellion against God, we lost access to Eden. The hymnwriter reminds us that a restoration of that fellowship, that access is possible … through salvation in Christ. We look forward to, long for that day. As we do, this world holds less attraction for us. May we long to be in God’s presence, for restoration. And may we work to ensure as many people as possible join us there.