Hymn Spotlight: "Come, Ye Sinners"
Song Title: Come, Ye Sinners
Artist: Matthew Smith
Album: Even When My Heart is Breaking
Writer: Joseph Hart
Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus, ready, stands to save you,
Full of pity, joined with power.
He is able, He is able;
He is willing; doubt no more.Come ye needy, come, and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.
Without money, without money
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the fall;
If you tarry 'til you're better,
You will never come at all.
Not the righteous, not the righteous;
Sinners Jesus came to call.Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.
This He gives you, this He gives you,
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended;
Pleads the merit of His blood.
Venture on Him; venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.
None but Jesus, none but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.
Why this hymn: Well, this could have easily been chosen for the blog theme hymn, but it's too obvious. Like I've said before, when I can find a hymn to match the other things I'm writing about, I will, and I believe this wonderful hymn fits the below discussion on Matthew 11:28-29 very well. I had the pleasure of singing this song in church Sunday, and I've been thinking of it since. I really took a liking to this song when Matthew Smith put a version on his first solo CD, "Even When My Heart is Breaking." Matthew actually sang this song at our church a month or two ago when he led the worship back-to-back weeks. Man, I really enjoyed that.
Why I like it: There is so much meat in each stanza...I just don't know where to start. We have an invitation, a picture of a Jesus who is ready to save, and a constant reminder that Jesus wants us to come just as we are, and not only is he the only one who can save our wretched souls, but it is necessary that we do indeed come to him -- and we should do it now! I think what I like best is how the words humble the one singing it...it's almost impossible I'd say to be singing this song fully engaged without seeing yourself as a wretched sinner in need of God's grace and mercy.
Related Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29, Matthew 9:11-13
Favorite Line: " If you tarry 'til you're better, You will never come at all." Isn't this the truth? I think this line can work for both Christian and non-Christian alike. As a Christian, I know there have been times in my life in which sin has plagued me (and there will be more, probably tomorrow), and if I try to fix it by making myself better - on my own - then I will struggle for a long time and never get better. I have to go to God for help in overcoming sin. And for the non-Christian, there is no need to clean yourself before you take a shower, just as there is no need to try and make yourself good enough to be washed new by Christ -- because the sad truth is that we haven't the ability to help ourselves. I guess there's an old saying that 'God helps those who help themselves,' but I'm here to say that God helps those who admit they can't help themselves.
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