A Favorite Hymn 4

This hymn today once again goes back to my childhood days.  I don’t think you will find this hymn in any current hymnal; I find it in the 1956 Baptist Hymnal.  This is another one of those rousing hymns that calls followers of Jesus to move forward in mission through loyalty to Christ.  The hymn title is “Loyalty to Christ” and was written and composed by E. Taylor and Flora H. Cassel. Here is the third verse and refrain of the hymn:

“The strength of youth we lay at Jesus feet today,

‘Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ;

His gospel we’ll proclaim thro’-out the world’s domain,

Of loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.

 

‘On to victory! On to victory!’ Cries our great Commander: ‘On!’

We’ll move at his command, We’ll soon possess the land,

Thro’ loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.”

 

Many of the hymns that I remember from my childhood are songs of motivation and exhortation for believers to live boldly in Jesus.  In my mind I hear this song being sung by a Baptist congregation lifting their voices together without any concern of how they sounded or who else may have been listening.  The lyrics are simple and carry the idea of a people like the Israelites proceeding boldly into the promised land.  The theme of the song quite obviously is loyalty to Jesus.

Loyalty doesn’t seem to be a priority in the way of the world, especially in the corporate world.  The word itself means, “a strong feeling of support and allegiance.”  Most times when we hear of or think about loyalty it is in reference to a beloved pet. I think about what loyalty means as related to Christ, is it simply a feeling a believer should have because believers should be loyal?  Or is it a personal conviction of commitment, allegiance, and dedication to Jesus that is strengthened when shared with other believers who share the same loyalty to Jesus?  The Bible’s use of loyal and loyalty is confined mostly to the Old Testament, one use stands out that is found in 1 Samuel 13:14 and talks about David.  It is significant in that Paul in a message found in Acts 13:22 references David and his loyalty to God.  Two things come from both passages. First, in 1 Samuel David’s loyalty is literally “a man according to God’s heart.”  Second, in Acts, Paul describes David’s loyalty to God as “who will carry out My will.”  These are two God defined characteristic of a loyal follower of God.  Maybe this is what the church needs, loyal believers, those who will seek after God’s very heart and will carry out His will faithfully.  In loyalty to Christ we can move on to victory, on to victory!


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