Jesus is with you;
Going before you, coming behind you.
Jesus is with you;
In your troubles and distresses:
If the earth turns upside down;
Even if mountains roll into the sea,
Do not fear, do not fear:
He's with you forevermore...
If you love your Lord
With your heart and with your all;
If you love your friend,
And love your brother as yourself,
The earth may turn upside down;
And mountains even roll into the sea,
Do not fear, do not fear:
He's with you forevermore...
This is one popular piece of local hymn I have grown to love so much and sing often. It contains beautiful words of consolation for you and for me. It assures or reassures us of the unfailing love and partnership of Jesus with us, even in the darkest moments of life. It says in times like these, He is with us forever. But there is something very profound in the second stanza...
The second stanza begins with two conditions: If you love the Lord...if you love your friend, and love your brother as yourself... It says if we do these, then the assurance in the first stanza would follow. First, our love for God must be paramount, and then, our love for our friends and brothers. The rule is: if we love God, we would love our friends and brothers. How about those who say they love God but hate their brothers, and those who say they love their friends but hate God? They all are liars...
The bottom line is, if we want to enjoy good days, we should love God, and love our brothers, and our friends. This seems unimportant, but without it, we may never see peace. If we plot evil against our fellows, it may turn against us. If we do good for our friends, it may be beneficial for us in the end. Therefore the rule is one, but the choice is yours. Will you love your friends and see peace, or will you hate them and get troubles? Choose wisely...
-ISAAC ESSOUN
(By God's grace)
Going before you, coming behind you.
Jesus is with you;
In your troubles and distresses:
If the earth turns upside down;
Even if mountains roll into the sea,
Do not fear, do not fear:
He's with you forevermore...
If you love your Lord
With your heart and with your all;
If you love your friend,
And love your brother as yourself,
The earth may turn upside down;
And mountains even roll into the sea,
Do not fear, do not fear:
He's with you forevermore...
This is one popular piece of local hymn I have grown to love so much and sing often. It contains beautiful words of consolation for you and for me. It assures or reassures us of the unfailing love and partnership of Jesus with us, even in the darkest moments of life. It says in times like these, He is with us forever. But there is something very profound in the second stanza...
The second stanza begins with two conditions: If you love the Lord...if you love your friend, and love your brother as yourself... It says if we do these, then the assurance in the first stanza would follow. First, our love for God must be paramount, and then, our love for our friends and brothers. The rule is: if we love God, we would love our friends and brothers. How about those who say they love God but hate their brothers, and those who say they love their friends but hate God? They all are liars...
The bottom line is, if we want to enjoy good days, we should love God, and love our brothers, and our friends. This seems unimportant, but without it, we may never see peace. If we plot evil against our fellows, it may turn against us. If we do good for our friends, it may be beneficial for us in the end. Therefore the rule is one, but the choice is yours. Will you love your friends and see peace, or will you hate them and get troubles? Choose wisely...
-ISAAC ESSOUN
(By God's grace)
