September 14, 2005

Have faith in God –
And His low-whispered word;
Have faith in God –
When His work is deferred;
Have faith in God –
From His truth not deterred.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!

John Wilbur Chapman, 1859-1918

    For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14.

To the artist, Christ is the one altogether lovely.
To the builder, He is the sure foundation.
To the doctor, He is the great physician.
To the geologist, He is the Rock of Ages.
To the sinner, He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.
To the Christian, Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, our great Saviour.
~Author Unknown~

    Through the centuries, artists and poets who have been impressed with Christ have tried valiantly to present His portrait both with brush and pen. Yet even the noblest efforts of these dedicated artisans seem feeble and inadequate.
    Evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman has provided a worthy text extolling various attributes of Christ as they relate to our personal lives: "Friend of sinners", "Lover of my soul", "Strength in weakness", "my victory, help in sorrow, comfort, guide, Keeper, pilot". Finally, after reviewing everything that Christ means to a believer, we can do no better than to respond with Chapman's refrain, "Hallelujah! What a Saviour! Hallelujah! What a Friend!"
    "Our Great Saviour" first appeared in its present form in the hymnal Alexander's Gospel Songs No. 2, first published in 1910.

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
[or Jesus! I do now adore Him,]
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Chorus:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission