Im sure most of you have heard this hymn somewhere, its simple, memorizable, etc… but I think one of the best things about hymns, and especially the old classic ones, is how much theology is in them. Just think about it, how much of who God is have you learned from songs. I know for me it has been a ton. There are so many times as I am reading through different passages of Scripture that I hear a song running through my head because of a phrase or idea that is reflected in a hymn somewhere that I learned. Its amazing really . . . and so easy to remember . . . but anyway . . .
This song is ‘Take Time To Be Holy’ and was written in the late 1800’s
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
The lyrics here really touch I think the priority of the Christian life. In the first verse the writer addresses the focus that we should hold in our hearts, to live with constant interaction with the Lord as we live our lives, one day at a time. It also focuses on our relationships, to be friends with those who have been called around us, to help those who need it, and to seek His blessing in everything we do. I would argue that as well we need to be looking for His leading as we approach those people we arent quite friends with and be asking Him what we need to be doing, and to be using us as He sees fit to use us in those relationships, no matter the outcome.
The second verse really seems odd, considering that it was written before the advent of the internet, TV, movies, etc… (the staples of our modern insanely fast paced lifestyles) but it shows a need to be taking time to spend with Him alone. Let the world carry on at the speed of light, the encouraging thing is that in prayer we will turn into a better and better reflection of Christ and then the friends we have made will see that and hopefully be either challenged or encouraged.
In the third verse I see my tendency to rush into what I think is coming, here is an encouragement to stay with His timing, no matter what comes. This is so hard to do, but I can more and more often as I have been struggling with this see how much better it is. No matter what I think it right or the best thing to do I need to wait for God to move, to show the perfectly right choice before I commit to it wholeheartedly. Many thanks to those of you who have directly or indirectly helped me see this, may God bless overwhelmingly!
And then we have the last stanza, focusing not on anything more then attitudes, but it is so true that underneath everything else we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to do anything else that we have been singing. To be everything to anyone else, we have to be filled with the Spirit. But also we see right here that it is through this filling we are fitted for being used to heavenly service, and it is only in heavenly service that we can truly be able to carry out the relational, prayerful, encouraging life we have been called to.
Its a song people, its one of those things that to often I think we just do and dont think about. In just a few lines here we have a wrapup of the important things in the life of a child of God. I would challenge you to stop and think of the songs that were in your service this past week, or any week really, and see what kind of theology you know without realizing it. It will undoubtedly suprise you, but I hope also it encourages you when life gets rough.
Another thing that might help, is to find a copy of a hymnal and just read them with a thoughtful mentality and see what all can be pulled from that song you sang.
Good night friends!