“Thee will I cherish. Thee will I honor.”

“Thee will I cherish. Thee will I honor.”
Hymn: “Fairest Lord Jesus” – Anonymous
Tune: CRUSADERS’ HYMN (ST. ELIZABETH)

This is a hymn we all know, no matter what our denominational bent. It is one of the most beautifully crafted prayer hymns in any song book. Translated from German, we have no idea who penned the main stanzas.

This hymnline sounds almost like it’s part of someone’s wedding vows. The officiate says, “Do you __(insert name)__ take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife. To cherish and honor her from this day forward…” The groom whose name has been inserted responds, “I do.”

An aside: I actually heard a minister say “insert name” during a wedding years ago. I guess he grabbed his wedding book as he rushed into the sanctuary; I hope he refunded his fee! That’s one reason I always type out a new service every time I do one – partly to make it fresh and applicable to the couple, and partly in order not to call the groom “Insert Name!”

Meanwhile, back on track, as we sing this hymnline, we are renewing our vows to the Lord Christ – those commitments we made to him perhaps years ago are refreshed when we sing the first stanza of “Fairest Lord Jesus” and mean what we sing.

Repeat after me: “Jesus, I will always love you. I will never bring dishonor to you or your cause. So help me God.” I now pronounce you Savior and Disciple. You may now embrace the Bridegroom.

This hymn sung by a group of young men from Birmingham, Alabama

“To added affliction God addeth his mercy; to multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.”

Hymn: “He Giveth More Grace” – Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932)
Tune: HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

“When the going gets tough, the tough go to their knees.” You may have heard that little pithy aphorism, and there is a good bit of truth therein.

There are times when it seems there is a ‘piling on’ of the difficulties of life. Gradually or suddenly we are under the weight of more problems than we can handle on our own. Some of us may be currently encumbered! Others of us may have recently come out from under a heaviness or can see one on the horizon.

This hymnline uses two mathematical terms: addition and multiplication. In ADDED affliction, God ADDS his mercy to the situation; when the trials are MULTIPLIED, he stands nearby, MULTIPLYING the peace that passes understanding. Although not mentioned, DIVISION is a part of this equation, as he is also DIVIDING (breaking down) the problems into manageable doses – or perhaps allowing only as many as we can bear. I suppose we could also say that SUBTRACTION is involved as God sometimes completely removes the difficulties.

There is so much hopeful truth in this hymnline which is followed by, “He giveth and giveth and giveth again!” I, for one, am glad that he does… and I am unanimous in that!

Larry Ford from one of the Gaither Homecomings

“Where the bruised and lonely dwell, we shall show the Savior’s pity.”

Hymn: “Lord, Thy Church on Earth Is Seeking” – Hugh Sherlock (1905-1998)
Common Tunes: ABBOT’S LEIGH, HOLY MANNA

Where do the bruised and lonely dwell? They are all around us. Perhaps they ARE us.

Many carry outward bruises – black-and-blue reminders of recent mistreatment or abuse. Others… probably many more… walk among us with an injured spirit, a pained heart, a gone-sour attitude. Though by all appearances these “have their act together,” in reality they are hurting so deeply they cannot express the depths of their despair.

Others are alone, even in a crowd. They have no one to turn to or rely upon. These often sit on crowded pews beside us on a weekly basis… or work at the neighboring desk or machine… or live just down the hall in our own homes. Some show this isolation in their eyes, while others mask their alone-ness well, decrying any need for a friend.

These and other hurting folks struggle alongside us wherever we find ourselves. When recognized by the prompting of the Spirit of Christ, it is up to us to show the pity of Christ in our dealings with them.

By definition, pity can mean a sadness because of another’s trouble or suffering; in other words, we have the capacity to “feel” for them. Mercy is a synonym for pity… especially when that mercy is put into action – when the mercy of Christ within us is expressed.

Whenever we come into contact with these bruised and lonely travelers – wherever we encounter the marginalized, downtrodden souls – let us take the time to express the Savior’s mercy to them… to pity them. We have a tendency to distance ourselves from “the least of these.” It is time we draw near to them, even as Christ has drawn near to us and we have drawn near to him.

Garrett Martin Plays Variations on the HOLY MANNA tune

“My sure and certain refuge, my never-failing tow’r.”

“My sure and certain refuge, my never-failing tow’r.”

Hymn: “I Saw the Cross of Jesus” – Frederick Whitfield (1829-1904)
Common Tune: WHITFIELD

I’ve probably already said this in one of my previous hymnline posts, but the attribute I look for most in my friendships is dependability. I want someone on whom I can depend, who will show up when they say they will, in whom there is no doubt of their faithfulness. Based on those parameters, Jesus would make a wonderful friend… and indeed he is!

We have three descriptive terms to label this Jesus Friend: sure, certain, and never-failing – and they basically mean the same thing.
•    I am sure of his commitment to me and my well-being. He is my sure foundation.
•    I am convinced that he is reliable. I am certain of this. He is my blessed assurance.
•    I have never found him to let me down… ever! He never failed me yet. He is my Mighty Fortress.

An old southern gospel hymn asks, “Where could I go but to the Lord?” I totally agree with the implied answer: “nowhere!” He is where I find protection, sanctuary, asylum. When I run to him, he always provides for me a hiding place, a haven of rest, a shelter in the time of storm. I can be certainly sure of his never-failing nature.

Want something today that you can count on? Find a friend in Jesus... the strong and mighty tower.

Hear Lloyd Larson’s setting of this text

“From the cross the radiance streaming adds new luster to the day.”

“From the cross the radiance streaming adds new luster to the day.”
Hymn: “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” – John Bowring (1792-1872)
Typical Tune: RATHBUN (also OXFORD/STAINER)

Ever have a nice piece of nice furniture that has simply lost its shine? The wooden surface seems dried up and drab? Needs some help? That’s what this hymnline is about: not furniture, of course – but lives!

On those days when life has lost its sheen, a focusing on the cross and the One who hung there may be the remedy. Looking up from what has dulled your day, surveying once again the wondrous cross – this may well bring a renewed luster to your day… to your life in general.

Those less-than-glossy furniture surfaces have most likely become that way due to neglect. We forget to polish them regularly and renew their gleam and expose the beauty of their grain. Unless they are beyond revival, most surfaces can be re-enlivened with a little elbow grease and a bottle of furniture polish.

I recall a television commercial from my growing-up years that featured a troop of kerchiefed ladies revitalizing the wooden pews of a church. [I think it was Murphy's Oil?] I’m sure I could apply this look-back-to-the-cross analogy to churches who have lost their brilliance… or have abandoned their first love!

There is no reason for any of us believers to continue in a lackluster life. We were meant to have life and have it more abundantly – with more shine than those who lack faith-based intentions. We need to go from satin finish to low gloss to high gloss! We need to have the glow of our salvation restored!

This hymnline reminds us that we can return to the beginning-place of our faith: the Man on the cross. He has plenty of elbow grease available in his mighty, everlasting arms, and my bet is that he would be more than delighted to do a re-shine… and not just to our surface, but deep down where the real gleam may have disappeared.

His radiance adds luster – what a good thought to take with you through this day.


A congregational singing of this hymn (RATHBUN tune)