Rescue Mission !
Views: 74
The hymn “Rescue The Perishing“, Methodist Hymn 338 (GBH 98), was written by Frances Jane Crosby. She was born in Southeast in the New York State on March 24, 1820, but became blind at six weeks from maltreatment of her eyes during a spell of illness. At fifteen she entered the New York Institution for the Blind, where she was educated, and became a teacher in the institution in 1847. She continued till March 1858, teaching English grammar, rhetoric and American history.
She began writing Sunday-school hymns in 1864, and supported herself by writing hymns since then. Her first hymn was,
“We are going, we are going, To a home beyond the skies.”
She could compose at any time and did not need to wait for any special inspiration, and her best hymns have come on the spur of the moment. She always composed with an open book in her hand, generally a copy of Golden Hymns, held closely over her eyes, bottom side up! She learned to play on the guitar and piano while at the institution, and has a clear soprano voice. She also received a technical training in music, and for this reason she could, and did, compose airs for some of her hymns. One of these is, “Safe in the arms of Jesus”, probably one of her best known hymns, was her own favorite. Fanny loved her work, and was happy in it. The secret of this contentment dates from her first composition at the age of eight years, which had continued to be her philosophy.
“It has been the motto of my life,“ she said.
The composition reads:
“O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world contented I will be.”
She said had it not been for her affliction she might not have had so good an education, nor so great an influence; and certainly not so fine a memory (She knew many portions of the Bible by heart, and had committed the first four books of the Old Testament, and the four Gospels to memory, before she was ten years old!)
She did most of her writing for The Biglow & Main Co., for whom she composed over four thousand hymns. Her hymns have been in great demand and have been used by many popular composers.
Her works also include “The Bright Forever,” “The Blessed Homeland,” “To the Work,” and “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.” Most of Fanny’s published hymns have appeared under the name of Fanny J. Crosby or Mrs. Yan Alstyne, but quite a large number have appeared under the nom de plumes (pen name or literary double) of Grace J. Frances, Mrs. C. M. Wilson, Lizzie Edwards, Ella Dale, Henrietta E. Blair, Rose Atherton, Maud Marion, Leah Carlton; and nearly two hundred different names!
Although she has a great many contemporary works, her skills as a contemporary poet have little to do with her world-wide fame. She became famous because of her Sunday-school songs and gospel hymns.
Please find below the four stanzas of “Jesus keep me near the cross.”
1. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Refrain:
Rescue the perishing,
care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.
2. Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive; plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently, He will forgive if they only believe. [Refrain]
3. Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will vibrate once more. [Refrain]
4. Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; back to the narrow way patiently win them, tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. [Refrain]
One of the scripture texts that inspired this great hymn is in Matthew 8.
READ Matthew 8:25-27
‘A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
And he said to them,
“Why are you afraid, you of little faith?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying,
“What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”‘
(Matthew 8:24-27 NRSV)
In this chapter, Jesus had healed the leper (vv. 1-4), the centurion’s servant(vv. 5-13), and Peters mother-in-law (vv. 14-15); and cast out demons (vv. 16) among other things. The account said, He then entered a boat (vv. 23) and His disciples followed Him. But as the boat went, a storm arose and the waves swept over the boat. Jesus was asleep, so they woke him up and said,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Jesus rebuked them from their little faith, then rebuked the wind and waves, and they became completely calm; and the disciples wondered and said,
“What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Jesus has not stopped calming storms in people’s lives. After rescuing us from the storms of life, and from sin and eternal damnation, He calls us to become participants in His rescue mission; by spreading the Good News about Him. The storms of this life and this dying world, need a man like Jesus.
The third stanza of the hymn above says:
“Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
chords that are broken will vibrate once more.”
Jesus saves, and restores hope. But we need to tell about Him first; we need to spread the Gospel.
That is our rescue mission.
MEMORY VERSE
“What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
(Matthew 8:27)
QUESTIONS
- Have you been rescued from death, and the storms of life?
- Are you participating in God’s mission to rescue others?
PRAYER TIP
Father, thank You for rescuing me.
I want to help rescue others.
Please help me, and guide me.
SOME RENDITIONS OF THE SONG “Rescue The Perishing.”
CREDITS
HYMNARY.ORG, “Rescue The Perishing,” https://hymnary.org/text/rescue_the_perishing_care_for_the_dying
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
The Testimony Devotional website addresses are: