Jesus, the very thought of Thee

C171 CB209 E209 G209 K171 P209 R158 T209
1
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
  With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
  And in Thy presence rest.
2
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
  Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
  O Savior of mankind!
3
O Hope of every contrite heart,
  O Joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
  How good to those who seek!
4
But what to those who find? Ah, this
  Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is
  None but His loved ones know.
5
O Jesus! light of all below!
  Thou fount of life and fire!
Surpassing all the joys we know,
  And all we can desire.
6
No other source have we but Thee,
  Soul-thirst to satisfy.
Exhaustless spring! the waters free!
  All other streams are dry.
7
Jesus, our only Joy be Thou,
  As Thou our Prize wilt be;
Jesus, be Thou our Glory now,
  And through eternity.
34
Un Hermano

Counting Also All Things to Be Loss on Account of the Excellency of the Knowledge of Him

In verse 8 Paul goes on to say, “I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. ” Paul not only counted as loss on account of Christ the things of his former religion listed in verses 5 and 6 , but he also counted all other things as loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. For the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, which he treasured, Paul counted everything as refuse, dregs, rubbish, filth, that which is thrown to the dogs.

(1) Counting All Things to Be Loss

The “all things” in verse 8 must certainly include the three categories of religious things, philosophical things, and cultural things. If we would drop our religion, philosophy, and culture, we would truly abandon everything. By dropping these categories of things, we would automatically drop the worldly, material things, which are actually dominated by religion, philosophy, and culture. Although it is easy to overcome the influence of material things, it is very difficult to overcome religion, philosophy, and culture. Those who love the Lord may easily abandon material things for His sake, but it is not easy for them to lay aside their particular thought and logic. You may love the Lord and seek Him for years without dropping one bit of your personal philosophy or logic.

Paul counted the matters of religion, philosophy, and culture as loss because they were all substitutes for Christ, hooks used by Satan to keep people from Christ and from the experience of Christ. How subtle the enemy is in keeping us from the experience of Christ! To some extent at least, we still have within us certain things that are substitutes for Christ in subtle, secret ways. These substitutes mainly involve religion, philosophy, and culture. As a result, we still are not fully and thoroughly occupied by Christ. We have not yet counted all things loss on account of Christ. May the enemy’s subtlety be exposed, and may we truly count all things loss, including our own philosophy and logic, on account of Christ and the experience and enjoyment of Him!

The Conclusion of the New Testament:

Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ,

Message Chapter 348 (LSM)


Un Hermano

May 3, 1997

You are so charming and so attracting. Living on this earth without having You, Lord, is really nothing. I love You, Lord. I really love You. Amen, Lord. Amen, Lord. You are so real, and Your riches are unsearchable. Praise my Lord. Praise my Lord. I owe my Lord so much. You are attracting, so charming. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. I love Him...

Final Prayers and Speakings by Brother Witness Lee

Chapter 1 CWWL, 1994–1997, vol. 5 (LSM)


Lisa Ruzicka

Papillion, NE, United States

I like how these words are sung to Jesus himself, not just about him. I hope they minister to His sweet heart.


Patricia Ruffin

Kettering, Ohio, United States

Thanks for sharing with me.


Rebecca

Here from Seedbed Ministry/JD Walt’s Wake Up Call!


Stephen Bellingham

Irvine, CA, United States

Lord Jesus, we love you!


Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Jon B. Dykes composed SAINT AGNES [for Jesus the very thought of Thee]. Dykes named the tune after young Roman Christian woman who was martyred in A. D. 304 during the reign of Diocletian.

Hymnary. org.


Ruth Morgan

Wimborne, Dorset, United Kingdom

Wonderful, timeless truth.


Leonard Towett

Nairobi, Rift Valley, Kenya

Wonderful song indeed, it inspired me a lot


Thelma

Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

WOW ~Worth Of Worship

Piano Hymns