Walker Brothers
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Browsing through a copy of The Cokesbury Worship Hymnal (copyright 1938) I came across a hymn that is short and sweet and gets straight to the point in only three lines.
Its title is "Everybody Ought to Love Jesus", written by H.D. Loes. It was written in 1917 when, apparently, everything was simpler, including the presentation of the Gospel.
The complete lyrics are:
Everybody ought to love Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
He died on the cross to save us from sin
Everybody ought to love Jesus
Even as we Christians explore, discuss, and argue theological issues-which often can and do lead to divisiveness, the Gospel message is still beautiful in its power and simplicity: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 KJV
When it is matched with the next, somewhat less "famous", verse, the message remains simple and to the point: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17 KJV
That's the way I first read and heard those verses--in the old King James Version. Somehow that seems appropriate to me since this was the translation used when I was first made aware of this simple Gospel message.
In light of the message of John 3:16, the words of the song could not be truer. On the basis of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, everybody ought to love Jesus!
There are several uses for the word ought. Among them are these: to indicate an obligation or duty, as in "You ought to work harder", to communicate prudence or advisability, as in "It's cold today. You ought to wear a coat", as an expression of desirability, as in "You ought to have been at the party. It was so much fun" or used to show the logical consequence of an event, as in "This rain ought to be good for the crops."
All too often we Christians use ought in the first sense as if holding a rule book over the heads of the lost and unsaved-or even those "backsliding" fellow Christians who "ought to be in church, and, before they get there, they ought to dress right!" (I say "rule book" because we don't use just the Ten Commandments. No, we go far beyond those with our own form of pharisaical law, hypocritically self-righteous and condemnatory, where even one person's rules don't match another's.)
While I cannot know what was in the mind of the author of the song, it seems to me that his use of ought is different than duty or obligation. He writes, "He [Jesus] died on the cross to save us from sin." Even at the young age I was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, it seemed "prudent and advisable" for me to do so although, naturally, I would not have used these words. It just seemed like the "smart" thing to do!
Since that time I have come to see this "ought" as in "You ought to have been at the party. It was so much fun." I do not view the unsaved or those Christians who are not part of a fellowship of Christians as "heathens" or "backsliders." Instead, I want to tell them, "You don't know what you're missing!"
This is not meant to indicate that I believe our Christian experience is always sweetness and light nor that there are no ups and downs-no "trials and tribulations." Jesus told us we would have these and I continue to experience them. However, after telling us this, Jesus continues, "...but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]" John 16:33 Amp
My life as a Christian has been one I would not trade for any other. In the worst of times I can rest on John 6.
Followers of Jesus were deserting Him right and left, saying that His teaching was hard and strange. Even the disciples around him (referred to as "the Twelve" in the book of John) were becoming confused and discouraged. And Jesus knew that, of course.
"Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me?] Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life. And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God." John 6:67-69 Amp
In the best of times-which come much more often than the worst-I follow the instruction of Jesus to "be of good cheer." I have the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ, the opportunity to gather with them in praise and worship, to learn and grow together, to minister to them and have them minister to me.
And to have FUN-yes, real fun-the kind that has no hangover or regrets or condemnation the morning after!
Above all I have the love of and fellowship with my Lord, Savior, Brother, and Intercessor with the Father, Christ Jesus. I have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in me as Comforter and Guide. I have friendship with God-my Abba Father.
And what is the greatest gift of all? I have the promise of spending eternity in His presence.
Yes, having all of that I would definitely say, "Everybody ought to love Jesus."
Love,
Brother Bill
William Walker is the creator and webmaster of Everyday Christianity, which provides ministry and resources for Christian families. This article may be shared freely as long as it includes this resource box and a link back to the website at Everyday Christianity
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