“And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:” Hebrews 6:11
A new day and a new song that I’m thinking about. It isn’t that new since it was written in the late 1800’s. The writer is asking us to consider our walk with the Savior.
O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my guide.
The words had me thinking. What have I promised Jesus and what promises have I failed to keep. This song asks Jesus to be near us forever. If we are His children then the promise is clear. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5) These are words that Christ spoke to us. Our promise to Him is to serve Him to the end.
The song writer wanted Jesus to know that he would remain faithful. Why remain faithful? This world is full of battles, trials, and pitfalls. With Jesus as our guide, we can navigate around them and find a peace that this world cannot give us. Psalms 32:8 holds a beautiful promise. “ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My master and my friend.
Jesus gave us a promise as well. He promised to take those who trusted in Him to heaven and never leave us. In John 14, Jesus is talking to His disciples and letting them know that this world is temporal but He will take them to heaven when they die and have a home for them.
In verse 3, He makes a very specific promise to us. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” He fulfilled one of those promises when He departed from this earth after His resurrection. He is in heaven preparing a place for me and for you. He wants us to dwell with Him. That is His promise to us.
So what can we do to show our love and deep gratitude to the Lord? The rest of the song verse above says not only can we serve Him until we die but follow Jesus and why? He is our Master and our Friend. I can’t think of any better song to sing this morning then to remember that He has promised to keep us, guide us, comfort us and take us to eternal joy.
Listen to this beautiful song being sung here. Place your trust in a Savior Who never fails in His promises.