Sing and Make Melody - Is It For Me, Dear Saviour?

    As we continue with the "Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart" series, the song I have selected for this week asks us a question:

"Is It For Me, Dear Savior?"

(by Frances R. Havergal, 1871)

Is it for me, dear Savior, Thy glory and Thy rest,

For me, so weak and sinful? Oh, shall I be so blessed?

Chorus:

O Savior, my Redeemer, what can I but adore,

And magnify and praise Thee and love Thee evermore?

Is it for me, Thy welcome, Thy gracious "Enter in."

For me They "Come, ye blessed", for me so full of sin?

(Chorus)

O Savior, precious Savior, My heart is at Thy feet;

I bless Thee, and I love Thee, And Thee I long to meet.

(Chorus)

I'll be with Thee forever, and never grieve Thee more;

Dear Savior, I must praise Thee, and love Thee evermore.

(Chorus)

    This song is written from the perspective of someone who is 'poor in spirit' (Matthew 5:3). They recognize their need for a Saviour ("me, so weak and sinful") and with humble hearts they joyfully praise God for the gracious gift He freely gives ("...what can I but adore and magnify and praise Thee and love Thee evermore," consider Ephesians 2:1-13).

    God wants us to recognize our need for Him. He wants us to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27), and that takes humility on our part! God wants us to humbly submit to His will, acknowledging His love and care shown through His commands. God does not want us to see ourselves as worthless rags, constantly wondering if He hears our prayers or if we are worthy of His time and/or blessings. I have heard true humility defined as, "not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." Humility is not berating ourselves continually, it is thinking more of God and His goodness and giving Him all the glory for the blessings you receive!

    God wants us to joy in Him! He wants us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Does a plant that refuses to lift its head toward the sun grow and flourish as it should? Lift your face to God, trust in His love, trust in His forgiveness when you repent of your sins, trust in His ability to help you and "make all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28).

    I especially like that third stanza of this song: 

"O Savior, precious Savior, My heart is at They feet;

I bless Thee, and I love Thee, And Thee I long to meet"

    What does it mean to "bless" God? We often think of blessed meaning "happy or joyfully content" - and it does mean that when Jesus teaches the beatitudes in Matthew 5, but in this case, when used toward God (ex: Ephesians 1:3), 'bless' means to "eulogize" - 'to speak beautiful words (about).'

    As Christians, we are to bless God. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Focus on the thought repeated in verses 6, 12, and 14: "to the praise and the glory of His grace" (v.6), "to the praise of His glory" (vv.12, 14). Also read and consider 1 Peter 2:9.

    We are to speak beautiful words about Him! We are to give Him praise, we are to give Him the glory! How can we do that if we consider ourselves worthless? How can we declare His greatness and the depths of His love, if we refuse to delve into them ourselves?

    So when you sing this song and you wonder, "Is it for me? Is the dear Saviour's glory and rest for me?" Let your mind and heart answer with a resounding "YES!!! It is for me!!" And let your heart pour out its praise and appreciation for God's love, mercy, and grace!! Let your mind and mouth fill with beautiful words to speak about God and declare His wonderful goodness! 

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to hymn:

Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart

    It's time for a new series of study: "Sing and Make Melody In Your Heart" 

    I've been thinking of this for a little while now and thought, as we near Spring, it would be a great time to run with it! 

    This week I chose a hymn of praise that happens to be one of my earliest remembered favourites: "Holy, Holy, Holy" written by Reginald Heber in 1826. This hymn is based on the scene and song mentioned in the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation, this song is one of beautiful praise to the "LORD God Almighty."

Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God over all and blest eternally.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting downs their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who wert and art, and ever more shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful men Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God over all and blest eternally.

(As found in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, And Spiritual 

Songs," Copyright 2012, Sumphonia Productioons, LLC)

    In Revelation 4:8 the four living creatures "do not rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" and when the four living creatures give "glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever" the twenty-four elders "fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever" they cast their crowns before the throne saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created."

    Read the whole of Revelation chapter 4. Take the time to meditate on the beauty described within that scene of praise and honour and glory! Take note of the jewel-like description of the One who sits on the throne. Take note of the rainbow around the throne, "like an emerald." The "sea of glass, like crystal" that spreads out before the throne of God. It's breath-taking!!

    Pause for a moment and think on Revelation 4. Picture it in your mind. Isn't it wonderful? Now, sing this hymn of praise ~ I've attached a link, if you are in need of the tune!

    If the Lord wills, bring the scene in Revelation 4 to your mind each day this week. Let the tune of this melody flow through your heart as you consider the worthiness of God to receive glory and honour and praise-filled thanksgiving!! Magnify Him in your heart as tune your lips to sing His praise!

Sing and make melody in your heart!

You can do it! So can I!!