This week’s video features the hymn, “Take Time To Be Holy”. The text was written by William D. Longstaff who lived in England between 1822 and 1894. Longstaff was the son of a wealthy ship owner and was himself a successful business man.
In 1873, an American evangelist by the name of Dwight L. Moody, along with singer and composer Ira Sankey, came to England to hold evangelistic meetings. They arrived with very little money and were counting on financial sponsorship to cover the costs. However, their sponsor had died before their arrival. In spite of their attempts to proceed with the meetings, they only managed to get a small group of 50 people to show up. William Longstaff came to their rescue, and through his influence and financial resources, the gathering swelled to over 20,000.
Longstaff showed his hymn to Ira Sankey. Sankey in turn brought the hymn to the attention of American songwriter George C. Stebbins. Stebbins eventually wrote the tune for the hymn and returned it to Sankey for publication.
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;
Much time spend 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.
Thank you for listening!
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
(Hebrews 12:12-14)
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
(1 Peter 1:13-16)
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