Thee Will I Love, My Strength
Thee Will I Love, My Strength
Thee will I love, my strength, my tow’r,
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown,
Thee will I love with all my pow’r
In all my works and Thee alone,
Thee will I love ’til sacred fire
Fills my whole soul with pure desire.
I thank Thee uncreated Sun
That Thy bright beams on me have shined;
I thank Thee, who hast overthrown
My foes, and healed my wounded mind:
I thank Thee whose enlivening voice
Bids my freed heart in Thee rejoice.
Uphold me in the doubtful race,
Nor suffer me again to stray;
Strengthen my feet with steady pace
Still to press forward in Thy way:
That all my pow’rs, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.
Thee will I love, my joy, my crown;
Thee will I love, my Lord, my God;
Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown
Or smile, Thy sceptre or Thy rod;
What though my flesh and heart decay,
Thee shall I love in endless day.
Translated by John Wesley (1703–1791)
JOHN WESLEY’S life is confusing because he ministered in the church before his well-known conversion. But he would say that he was just working for God and not loving God.
Years later, John and Charles Wesley went to Georgia as ministers of the Church of England. They were devoutly following the letter of the law in regard to Christian teaching, but the spirit was still missing. On the boat trip to America, Wesley met a group of Moravian Christians who impressed him greatly. There was great joy in their faith, and they were always singing. This Scheffler hymn may have been introduced to Wesley by those Moravians.
But it wasn’t until 1738, back in England, that Wesley himself felt the “sacred fire” within him. His faith was no longer just an agenda of spiritual activities. Now he could sing, “Thee will I love, my joy, my crown.”
Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
Luke 10:26-28
From the book
