I Found a Friend, O Such a Friend
Backgrounder: James Small was
a minister in the Scottish Free
Church who loved to write hymns
This hymn published in 1863
in the Revival Hymnbook, is full
of great theological truths. From
our standpoint we sing: I’ve found
a Friend but the truth is “He loved
me ere I knew Him” and “He
drew me with the cords of love”.
Obviously it is Jesus who initiated
this friendship. Such a Friend
is truly worth singing about.
Lord, we’ll obey Your command:
This is my commandment, that u
love one another as I’ve loved u.
There is no greater love than
to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. You are my friends
if you do what I command…
Now you are my friends, since
I have told you everything the
Father told me… I appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in
My name He may give you. These
things I command you that you
love one another (Jn 15:12-17).
Lord Jesus, thanks for your
sacrificial love and for being
our friend. Help us to love one
another, as You have loved us,
even as we purpose to obey
your challenging commandment.
We note that your command
for us to love one another is for
the purpose that we bear fruit.
As people see the love between
Christians, they will be drawn to
the source of our love, our Savior.
Lord, you know our propensity
towards selfishness, so help us
to always remember love is not
optional for those who follow You.
And help us also to abide in Your
love for it is the key to loving
our brothers & sisters in Christ.
After all, apart from you,
we can do nothing. Amen.
I’ve found a Friend, O such
a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords
of love
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still
closely twine
Those ties which naught
can sever
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.
I’ve found a Friend; O such
a Friend!
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own self He gave me.
Naught that I have my own I call,
I hold it for the Giver;
My heart, my strength, my life,
my all,
Are His, and His forever.
I’ve found a Friend; O such
a Friend!
So kind and true and tender;
So wise a Counsellor and Guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From Him who loves me
now so well,
What pow’r my soul shall sever?
Shall life or death, shall earth
or hell?
No; I am His forever.
Backgrounder: James Small was
a minister in the Scottish Free
Church who loved to write hymns
This hymn published in 1863
in the Revival Hymnbook, is full
of great theological truths. From
our standpoint we sing: I’ve found
a Friend but the truth is “He loved
me ere I knew Him” and “He
drew me with the cords of love”.
Obviously it is Jesus who initiated
this friendship. Such a Friend
is truly worth singing about.
Lord, we’ll obey Your command:
This is my commandment, that u
love one another as I’ve loved u.
There is no greater love than
to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. You are my friends
if you do what I command…
Now you are my friends, since
I have told you everything the
Father told me… I appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit remain, that
whatever you ask the Father in
My name He may give you. These
things I command you that you
love one another (Jn 15:12-17).
Lord Jesus, thanks for your
sacrificial love and for being
our friend. Help us to love one
another, as You have loved us,
even as we purpose to obey
your challenging commandment.
We note that your command
for us to love one another is for
the purpose that we bear fruit.
As people see the love between
Christians, they will be drawn to
the source of our love, our Savior.
Lord, you know our propensity
towards selfishness, so help us
to always remember love is not
optional for those who follow You.
And help us also to abide in Your
love for it is the key to loving
our brothers & sisters in Christ.
After all, apart from you,
we can do nothing. Amen.
I’ve found a Friend, O such
a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords
of love
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still
closely twine
Those ties which naught
can sever
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.
I’ve found a Friend; O such
a Friend!
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own self He gave me.
Naught that I have my own I call,
I hold it for the Giver;
My heart, my strength, my life,
my all,
Are His, and His forever.
I’ve found a Friend; O such
a Friend!
So kind and true and tender;
So wise a Counsellor and Guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From Him who loves me
now so well,
What pow’r my soul shall sever?
Shall life or death, shall earth
or hell?
No; I am His forever.