Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts

Life Being in Him

Verse 4 of chapter 1 says, “In Him was life. ” Life is in Christ; this implies that we do not have life in ourselves, because life is in Christ, and Christ is life. Christ is not only the expression of God—the Word of God; He is also the content of God—the life of God. The Word is the expression; life is the content. Christ is the Word spoken out by God as well as the life that is in God. Christ came not only to express God but also to dispense God into us. What He expresses is the Word; what He dispenses is life.

God expressed is the Word, and this Word is Christ. God entering into us is life, and this life is Christ. Hence, the Word is God’s expression, and life is God’s content. Through God’s expression His content enters into us. When God speaks to us, His word contains life; God’s life is in His word. The Gospel of John is not a shallow book. Its words are simple, but their meaning is exceedingly profound. For example, John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, ” and verse 4 says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ” These words are very simple; even elementary school students can read them, but someone with a doctorate in philosophy may not be able to understand their meaning. The profoundness of these words is difficult for man to fully express.

LIFE BEING THE LIGHT OF MEN

The first four verses of John 1 speak not only of the Word and life but also of light. Verse 4 says, “The life was the light of men. ” The Word we receive is life, and this life is light in us.

The Word Being the Expression, Life Being the Entering In, and Light Being the Function

The Word is the expression, life is the entering in, and light is the function. The Word is what is expressed, life is what enters in, and light is what operates and functions inwardly. We must remember these three points: in the beginning was the Word, in Him was life, and the life was the light of men. These words are simple yet profound, and we can understand them only according to experience. What is God? God is the Word. Where is God? He is in the Word. Where can we touch God? In the Word. The Word is truly mysterious. For the past two thousand years Christians have lived by this Word. Our faith is the Word, which is God, and God is in the Word. When the Word comes, the Spirit comes. If we have the Word, we have the Spirit, and the Spirit is God. When the Spirit comes, God comes. If we sense God’s presence, we have touched and heard God’s Word. God is the Word. The more that the Word comes, the more God comes, and the more the Word is expressed, the more there is an expression of God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God; in Him was life, and this life is the light of men. The Word is expressed among us, life enters into us, and light functions in us.

Light Being the Functioning of Life in Us

Life functions in us as light, just as electricity shines when it enters into an electric light bulb, giving forth the light of electricity. The life that is in God is the light of men. In 8:12 the Lord said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ” Christ is the light of life; once life enters into us, it becomes the light of men, which is the light of life.

A Study of the New Testament
in the Light of Christ as Life
Chapter 9 CWWL, 1955, vol. 1
(LSM)

God is great full of care

O Lord, be Thou our strength and stay!
Make all our moments calm and bright,
Chase all dark thoughts of sin away,
Shed o’er us here Thy holy light.

Great hymn. God bless you for sharing it here

Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts,
Thou Fount of life, Thou Light of men,
From the best bliss that earth imparts,
We turn unfilled to Thee again.

Henry Percy Smith composed the music for this hymn. He was born December 1825, Malta and died January 28, 1898, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

Smith attended Balliol College, Oxford, and was ordained an Anglican priest in 1850. He was a curate at Eversley (1849-51), then received an appointment as perpetual curate at St. Michael’s Yorktown, Camberley, Surrey, in 1851. He only stayed until 1868, though, when he became vicar of Great Barton in Suffolk.

In 1822, he became chaplain at Christ Church, Canes, France, and in 1892, canon of the cathedral at Gibraltar.

Beautiful hymn
It made my day.
Please help share the harmonized music score here

Our restless spirits yearn for Thee!

Inspirational and soothing hymn for refreshing worship.

I love hymns and this one of my favorite communion hymn.