Musical Notes

Hello OCBC family, 
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4).

We are very familiar with the hymn “Amazing Grace” and its author John Newton, but perhaps you don’t know that John Newton has more hymns that he wrote while he was a pastor in his local church. One of those hymns is “I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow.”

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and ev'ry grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.

'Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once he'd answer my request,
And by his love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

John Newton used various passages to write this hymn, especially James 1:2-4, where we learn that affliction brings maturity to every believer. James is telling us that trials are a normal part of the Christian life, and John Newton knew about this in his very personal life.

Let me just repeat some parts of Newton’s life just to make the point about this passage and his hymn. John Newton was born in a Christian home, but his mother died when he was very young, and he joined his father at sea when John was 11. When he grew up, his life changed, and he became a very unchristian person. He became ungodly that he was a captain of a slave ship. He heard the gospel and his life changed, he accepted the call to be a pastor, proving that his affliction helped him to have joy in his new life.

Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more with his own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low.

Lord, “Why is this?” I trembling cried,
“Will you pursue your worm to death?”
“’Tis in this way,” The Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

In the Holman Illustrated Commentary we can read about James’ passage in these words. “Endurance indicates that further work must be done for the purpose of making the believer mature and complete, lacking nothing. Immaturity and incompletion are not acceptable long-term states for the Christian disciple.”

The melody that we are familiar with, people called it an American melody, but its origin is Irish and Scottish, but became popular in the Appalachia, because of immigrants.

Be faithful to the Lord all the time, because He is faithful all the time, and He will help you during your trials.

“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set you free
And break your schemes of earthly joy
That you would seek your all in me.”
​
In His service,
Israel