Center For Church Music, Songs & Hymns
Browse Hymns:
Browse by:
We Invite You To Sing
To sing with us, 1) Click on the music thumbnail icon to view the sheet music (you don't have to read music!), and 2) Engage the audio file by clicking on the Real audio or Mp3 file.
Find Songs And Hymns
Facts:
- Lyricist: Mary D. James
Lyrics Date: 1889
Key: C
Theme: The Christian Life, Obedience
- Composer: John Stainer
Music Date: 1887
Tune Name: WYCLIFF
Meter: 8.7.8.7.
Scripture: Romans 12:1,2
Devotional:
"Christ offers what other religions cannot". To illustrate, think of a man who can't swim, falling into a lake. What do other religions say to him?
Confucius says, 'Profit by your experience.' Buddha's word for him? 'Struggle!' What are the teachings of Hinduism for him? 'You may have another opportunity in your next incarnation.' And finally, the fatalistic words of Mohammed, 'Whether you sink or survive, it is the will of God.' The God of the Bible gently says to this soul...
See More
"Christ offers what other religions cannot". To illustrate, think of a man who can't swim, falling into a lake. What do other religions say to him?
Confucius says, 'Profit by your experience.' Buddha's word for him? 'Struggle!' What are the teachings of Hinduism for him? 'You may have another opportunity in your next incarnation.' And finally, the fatalistic words of Mohammed, 'Whether you sink or survive, it is the will of God.' The God of the Bible gently says to this soul: 'Take my hand'.
For this reason, St. Paul wrote:
Such is the conviction of Mary James, the writer of our hymn:
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure:
Only Jesus will I trust."
She opens the hymn by committing herself to serving this unique Christ,
let my feet run in His ways."
A beautiful poem by Annie Johnson Flint says in part:
He has no feet but our feet to lead folks in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongues to tell folks how He died;
He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.
We are the sinner's Gospel; we are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message written in deed and word;
What if the line is crooked? What if the type is blurred?
What if our hands are busy with other work than His?
What if our feet are
walking where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking of
things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him unless from Him we
learn?
See Less
Hymn Story:
Mary D. James wrote "All For Jesus" as a New Year's resolution. As she wrote a New Year's letter for 1871, she rejoiced in the effectiveness of her work for Jesus the previous year. She wrote that "I have written more, talked more, prayed more, and thought more for Jesus than in any previous year, and have had more peace of mind, resulting from a stronger and more simple faith in Him." She saw how her increased commitment to God gave her a stronger ministry. "All For Jesus" was a personal e...
See More
Mary D. James wrote "All For Jesus" as a New Year's resolution. As she wrote a New Year's letter for 1871, she rejoiced in the effectiveness of her work for Jesus the previous year. She wrote that "I have written more, talked more, prayed more, and thought more for Jesus than in any previous year, and have had more peace of mind, resulting from a stronger and more simple faith in Him." She saw how her increased commitment to God gave her a stronger ministry. "All For Jesus" was a personal expression of her devotion to God; that all that she was going do in the coming year would be for His glory.
This text is one of two commonly used for this hymn, the other being by William J. Sparrow-Simpson.