Thank Lord Jesus for Calling Us
Cecil Alexander (1818-1895) was
the wife of a parish minister in an
impoverished area of North Ireland.
She loved the people. From one
house to another she went. She
especially loved children and most
of her hymns were written for them.
“Jesus Calls Us” was one of the
few hymns she wrote for adults.
She wrote the hymn to accompany
sermon her husband was preaching
about the calling of Peter & Andrew
by Jesus on the shores of Galilee.
Lord, we purpose to Follow You:
One day as Jesus was walking
along the shore of the Sea of Galilee,
he saw two brothers – Simon, also
called Peter, and Andrew -throwing
a net into the water, for they fished
for a living. Jesus called out to them:
Come follow me, and I will show
you how to fish for people. They
immediately left their nets and
followed Him (Matthew 4:18-20).
Going on from there, He saw
two other brothers, James… and
John… in the boat with Zebedee
their father mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately
they left the boat and their father
and followed Him (v21-22).
And Jesus went about all Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom
& healing all kinds of sickness (v23).
Lord, You call us to turn away from our own selfish interests, to take up our cross and to follow after You. Grant us grace to trust You even if the path is difficult to see or heading in a direction we will not choose. Help us see with eyes of faith rather than from our human point of view. Teach us to follow without fear for You are with us, leading the way. Grant us grace to say “Yes” when You come calling “follow me”. Amen
Lord, You are always making this challenge to us: “Follow Me.” But to follow You will also mean bearing the cross and being willing to die to our own ambitions, our own strengths & make way for God to work thro us. But in gratitude of all that You Lord had done for us, make us hear Your call to follow You. Grant us grace to give our hearts in obedience, so that we serve and love Thee best of all. Amen.
Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea; Day by day his sweet voice sound Saying, “Christian, follow me.” In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease, Still He calls, in cares & pleasures, Christian, love me more than these. Jesus calls us– by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call; Give our hearts to Thine obedience, Serve & love Thee best of all. Amen.