Is It For Me?

Songs touch us in a way other words simply cannot. Supposedly, music activates a different part of our brains than regular conversation does. That would explain why certain songs affect us so strongly. In my case, one of these is the hymn “Is It For Me?” I rarely make it through this song without my voice catching at least once. The lyrics sink deeply within me as I ask the same questions.

“Is it for me, dear Savior, Thy glory and Thy rest? 

For me so weak and lowly? Oh, shall I be so blessed?”

It can’t be. Maybe for that fellow over there, but not for me. Do I dare to hope? Shall I (even I) be so blessed? It almost seems too good to be true. Salvation is certainly for those other more deserving people, but even for me? Can it truly be? How could God be talking about me? Doesn’t He know how weak I am? Doesn’t He know how many times I fail Him and fall short in a day? Oh yes, He knows. That is precisely why He makes the offer. He knows how tiring the battle against sin is, so He offers us rest. He offers us a place in His glorious presence where there will be no sin and struggle. But how can this be possible for one such as I?

“Is it for me, Thy welcome, Thy gracious ‘enter in’

For me, Thy ‘Come, ye blessed,’ for me so full of sin?”

The Lord does not make a grudging allowance to permit our entry into heaven’s glory. Instead, He holds the door wide open and eagerly welcomes us into His home. Who would open His door to such a grubby houseguest? He does not stand with arms crossed in disapproval looking down His nose at our filthiness. Instead, he beckons us to come enjoy His hospitality. How could we respond to such kindness?

“My heart is at Thy feet”

We have nothing to give that would adequately show our gratitude. We bring no gift to impress our Host. All we have is what lies within us, weak and flawed as it is, and that is what we place before Him. The good news is that our heart is exactly the thing which melts His own. It’s all He wanted anyway.

“O, Savior, my Redeemer. What can I but adore?

And magnify and praise Thee and love Thee evermore?”

We are left with no way to repay such kindness and mercy. What else can we say but “Thank you. I love You.” Jesus did not come to make servants who would bow before Him throughout eternity. He came to save God’s precious children. He came to bring back those lost sheep who had strayed. Jesus prepared a heavenly home just for us (John 14:2-3). When we are tempted to ask in disbelief, “Is it for me? Really and truly?” the answer is a resounding “Yes!” It is for you, and for me, and for all who will come in loving obedience to Jesus. May the Lord shine upon you.

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy,

From His lighthouse evermore,

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Refrain:

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

 

Dark the night of sin has settled,

Loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

 

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Written by Philip P. Bliss 1871

Copyright: Public Domain