Music LIVING FOR JESUS

LIVING FOR JESUS MUSIC

This one-hundred-year-old hymn by Thomas Obediah Chisholm sheds light on the connection shared between believers and the Redeemer due to His death at Calvary.

Written in 1917 in the United States by poet Thomas Obediah Chisholm, “Living for Jesus” gives insight into the duties of Christian believers and the bond they share with the Son of God due to His sacrifice on the Cross. It is included in hymnbooks of different denominations from all over the world and has been translated into many languages throughout its more than one hundred years.

The poem has a particular history. In 1915, composer Carl Harold Lowden wrote a nice song for children’s services; however, after listening to other opinions, the songwriter decided that his work should have more general lyrics. After much prayer, Lowden sent a letter to Chisholm, asking him to write them and suggesting the type of refrain to be used. The writer replied that he did not have the slightest idea as to the method used in writing words to music. Lowden wrote back and told him to let God write the hymn. In a couple of weeks, he completed the writing of the song.

GREAT SONGWRITER Writer of more than two thousand hymns, Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, on July 29, 1866. Guided by the Holy Ghost, he came to Jesus at the age of 26, after listening to missionary Henry Clay Morrison, president of Asbury College, preach the Gospel. In 1903, he became a minister of God.

Faithful to the Holy Scriptures until his death on February 29, 1960, he once described his purpose for writing Christian songs: “I have sought to be true to the Word, and to avoid flippant and catchy titles and

LIVING FOR JESUS

1 Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me.

2 Living for Jesus Who died in my place, Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace; Such love constrains me to answer His call, Follow His leading and give Him my all.

3 Living for Jesus, wherever I am, Doing each duty in His holy Name; Willing to suffer affliction and loss, Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

4 Living for Jesus through earth’s little while, My dearest treasure, the light of His smile; Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

REFRAIN O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

treatment. I have greatly desired that each hymn or poem might have some definite message to the hearts for whom it was written.”

Carl Harold Lowden was born on October 12, 1883, in Burlington, New Jersey. Lowden was a endowed with a remarkable musical talent that he used since a very young age to spread the Lord’s message. He taught music for several years at the Bible Institute of Pennsylvania and was the minister of music for the Linden Baptist Church in Camden for 28 years.

During another twelve-year period, this songwriter was also music editor for the Evangelical and Reformed Church board (now the United Church of Christ.) Lowden composed a number of hymns tunes and edited many songbook collections during his life time. He died on February 27, 1963.

“Living for Jesus,” a song based on the Scriptures, sheds light on the greatest blessing obtained through the Redeemer: Salvation.