When my daughter had a flat tire on the highway on the way back to college a few years ago, it was difficult to hear the rough, male voices of the two truckers who stopped to help her change it. Though they were wonderful Good Samaritans, as a dad I envisioned them abducting her while I was powerless to stop them.
Because of sin, we have earned death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). The hymn, “I Gave My Life for Thee,” challenges us to return all of ourselves to God because Jesus has given all to us (Psalm 91).
I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might’st ransomed be, And quickened from the dead.
I. John 17:3-5. Jesus left the glory of heaven for our sakes. Since God is His refuge, the same promises are ours if we make our home within His wings. The question in the chorus challenges us to leave this world for ministry:
My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne, I left for earthly night, For wand’rings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me? I left, I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me?
II. Hebrews 2:16-18. Jesus was made like us in every way that He might suffer for us in every way to be a help for us in time of struggle (Isaiah 53:4-6). Shouldn’t we also suffer all things in this world for Him?
I suffered much for thee, More than thy tongue can tell, Of bitt’rest agony, To rescue thee from hell;
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me? I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me?
III. Matthew 4:5-7. Because He did not yield to temptation, Jesus was able to bring us salvation, pardon and love. The last stanza of the hymn speaks of His protection and provision and asks:
And I have brought to thee, Down from My home above, Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me? I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me?
Thankfully, my daughter got the help she needed to change her tire. Dead in our sins and separated from God, Jesus gave His life for us to ransom us from hell. What is our response to that?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me? I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me?