Hymn Devotion for 16 July 2024 Anno Domini
the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James. 4:8)
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:22)
It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God. ( Psalms 73:28)
(all scripture quoted is from the King James Bible)
Click below to listen and watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9KFc94hiZU
This hymn is one of over 1,000 written by an Ohio housewife, Mrs. Lelia N. Morris, as she went about her household chores. It was published in 1898 to the tune by the same title, Nearer, Still Nearer. The hymn lyrics reflect the sanctifying graces of the Holy Ghost in the lives of believers.
NEARER, STILL NEARER
1 Nearer, still nearer— close to Thy heart,
draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art;
fold me, O fold me close to Thy breast;
shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest,
shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest.
2 Nearer, still nearer— nothing I bring,
naught as an off’ring to Jesus, my King–
only my sinful, now contrite heart;
grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart,
grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
3 Nearer, still nearer— Lord, to be Thine,
sin with its follies I gladly resign–
all of its pleasures, pomp and its pride;
give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified,
give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified.
4 Nearer, still nearer— while life shall last,
till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
through endless ages, ever to be
nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee,
nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee.
1 Nearer, still nearer— close to Thy heart, draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art; fold me, O fold me close to Thy breast; shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest, shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest. We do not draw by our own volition near to Christ but are drawn near to Him by the sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost. The love of Christ must rule in our hearts as an echo of that love wherewith He first loved us. He shelters us in His loving arms to protect from evil of every sort. The heart of Christ is large enough to hold all of Creation – even you and me. His heart is very much like a fair haven of rest where the ships may shelter from the storm.
2 Nearer, still nearer— nothing I bring, naught as an off’ring to Jesus, my King – only my sinful, now contrite heart; grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart, grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart. The believer’s life is a life of sanctification, but never fully sanctified, else we would cease striving for that perfect Law of Love which our Lord offers. It is a gradual process. Christ offers only the gift of grace and mercy in return for no sacrifice on our own part except “a broken and a contrite heart.” (see Psalm 51:17) His blood has purchased our redemption, free and clear. We are washed, first in our inward being, and then in our outward appearance: “7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)
3 Nearer, still nearer— Lord, to be Thine, sin with its follies I gladly resign– all of its pleasures, pomp and its pride; give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified, give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified. We must belong to Christ ere He can belong to us. When we are called and chosen by our Father, we die to the old sinful self (self-will) and take upon us the Mind that was in Christ Jesus. That is true Liberty – true Freedom, for we are then free indeed and not in bondage to that old self-will of sinful disposition. A friend of mine has a placard on the wall of his study that reads, “One who has much wealth, and Jesus Christ, has no more than he who has Christ alone.” The pompous regalia of the world, and the dark desires of the old man, fall away as dry snow from the branches of the cedar.
4 Nearer, still nearer— while life shall last, till safe in glory my anchor is cast; through endless ages, ever to be nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee, nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee. The truly elect of God will persevere to the end at which time we close our eyes in sleep only to awaken immediately to the splendor of paradise. Our ship will weather the storm in safe anchor and not lay ashore in grounding shipwreck. As we draw nearer to Christ, day-by-day, we will one day realize that all those old habits and sinful urges have been transfigured into kindly love, compassion, and love of the Law of the Lord.
