HYMN FOR PENTECOST 25 He Lives!

Gracia Grindal

4 days ago

4 min read

Text and tune: Alfred Henry Ackley (1887-1960)

1. I serve a risen Saviour,

He's in the world today

I know that He is living,

whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy,

I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him He's always near

R/ He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives),

Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives),

Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart

2. In all the world around me

I see His loving care

And though my heart grows weary

I never will despair

I know that He is leading,

through all the stormy blast

The day of His appearing

will come at last.

2. Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian

Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

to Jesus Christ, the King

The Hope of all who seek Him,

the Help of all who find

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

REFLECTION

The story of the talents once again introduces us to a strange master. He leaves for a long time, but before doing so, he gives three of his servants bags of gold, entrusting them with his wealth. He gives no order on what they are to do with the money. He just leaves it with them and goes away for a long time. When he finally returns, he questions each one about what they had done with the gold. The first two have doubled what they had received. The last one was afraid and buried the treasure, not even investing it in a bank where he might have received some interest.

This angers the owner. He upbraids him for his fear and unimaginative use of the gold. Burying it kept it safe, but unproductive.

While this could be only about money, the parable applies more to how we serve our Lord. He has given us everything, which in his economy is life, his life, so we may flourish. As we hear from him several times, only those who are willing to lose their lives, or wealth, will save it. To me this parable is another on that theme.

We all know people who seem to have given up everything for the Lord as they served him hither and yon, who have received in return blessing upon blessing. One might even say wealthy! We all know of the stories of many saints who gave everything away and suffered the same poverty as those around them. Mother Teresa might fit that bill. After Dan Rather had followed her around watching her help some of the most deprived people on earth, he said, Mother Teresa, I wouldn’t do that for millions of dollars.” She replied, “Neither would I, Mr. Rather!”

What we might learn from this parable is that the gifts we are given are to be shared so their blessings will multiply. The servant who had been given the least hoarded it to escape the fury of his Lord. I sometimes think of people who know the gospel and value it but are reluctant to share it for fear of doing the wrong thing and making God angry. This parable teaches one not to be fearful. Note, the Master doesn’t say you must do this or that to please me. He gives his servants complete freedom as to how they choose to steward his gifts. Churches and pastors should be careful about setting up lists of projects people can do to please God. That takes the freedom of the Christian away and makes him or her recruits of another kind of army. What we should wait, if we are the salt of the earth, as Jesus says, is the opportunity to respond to the neighbor, one next door whom we can see and minister to in the body. One might wonder if Charles Dicken’s Mrs. Jellyby who never saw a need closer than Africa also wasted the opportunity to serve her neighbor, her family, that was kept in disarray and penury while she sat writing letter after letter to solve problems in places far away. We serve a living Savior, who is in the world today. Our calling is to bring him to our neighbors for the healing of the nations!

HYMN INFO

Ackley was something of a childhood genius. Born in Pennsylvania, he attended the Royal Academy of Music in London as both a cellist and composer. He returned to study for the ministry at Westminster Theological Seminary in Maryland and became a Presbyterian minister. He wrote this hymn in answer to a student who kept asking him why he should worship a dead man. After several times being asked that, Ackley replied “But Jesus lives! He lives! I tell you. He is not dead, but lives here and now. Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as by the testimony of countless thousands.” From that came this hymn. It was published in Homer Rodeheaver’s songbook Triumphant Songs in 1933. Ackley worked with Billy Sunday and others in the revivals of the day, writing over 1500 songs, many of which appeared in Rodeheaver’s books. This is his most well-known. It still has its fans. Many gospel groups and gatherings still sing it with joy as you can see below!

LINKS

Bellevue Baptist choir and orchestra

https://youtu.be/2d8PhidZQjI

Baptist hymn sing First Baptist in Atlanta/Gaithers

https://youtu.be/xpJfT4_COzY

Beverly Crawford at AZUSA with a soul version

https://youtu.be/0sSi5dmx-LQ

Alan Jackson

https://youtu.be/mRi3l_pIKOA

Rumble Community Baptist Church/This is a hoot!

https://youtu.be/w7l6Ju1lzo0