Singing of Christ, She Accepted Him
In the absence of the organist at East Northfield, Massachusetts, at one of the meetings during the summer gathering, a woman stepped forward and volunteered her services. She made a deep impression by her playing and also by the sweetness of her singing, with the result that she was in constant demand at the other services. When urgently requested she related her experience.
She used to be one of the leading singers of New York, going from place to place, singing classical and operatic music, but hymns she disliked. One evening, while attending a mission service, she was invited to sing a solo, which she did with pleasure. Then someone asked her to sing a Gospel hymn. She first laughed at the idea, and refused. Later she consented. Opening the book at random, she began:
“My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.”
The words caused her to think of her past life. She continued:
“I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.”
These words struck her forcefully, and she began to wonder if she really meant them. The last verse followed:
“In mansions of glory and endless delight
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
It was enough. She arose from her seat at the organ a Christian woman, and henceforth served Christ whole-heartedly.
The initiative is always taken by God, as seen in the story where