The Word Chapel
Hymnal
The Word Chapel
923 Vanderbilt St.
Birmingham, Alabama  35206
Don’t believe everything you think.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22
Pastor:
Chaplain Larry McDowell
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Click on the song's name to view the written lyrics for the hymn. If there is a video link, then clicking on it will reveal the lyrics and the music in a presentation of slides so that you can sing to the presentation with the music. It is assumed that all the songs below are in the public domain or that we have permission. If you are the owner of the song rights and feel this is in error, contact the website provider through the contacts link at ChurchProvider.com.
Dedication, Invitation, and Commitment
17
Living for Jesus
Music by Lowden, C. Harold
Lyrics by Chisholm, Thomas O.

1
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please him in all that I do,
Yielding allegiance glad hearted and free
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to you,
For you in your atonement,
Did give yourself for me.
I own no other master,
My heart shall be your throne:
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for you alone.

2
Living for Jesus, who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace:
Such love constrains me to answer his call,
Follow his leading, and give him my all. [Refrain]

3
Living for Jesus wherever I am,
Doing each duty in his holy name,
Seeking the lost ones he died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in him. [Refrain]

4
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him. [Refrain]
Composer C. Harold Lowden stated the following about this hymn:

In 1915 I wrote a "light and summery" type of gospel song entitled 'The Sunshine Song" for children's services. It became quite popular, and many pastors wrote to me that the music should be saved, and more general words wedded to it. I came across a copy of it in my files in 1917 and played it over. The rhythm and tempo suggested the words "Living for Jesus." . . . I decided to ask T. O. Chisholm to write the words. I mailed him a copy of the music and suggested the title and the type of refrain which I thought it deserved. In a day or so, Mr. Chisholm returned it to me, saying he didn't have the slightest idea as to the method used in writing words to music. I sent the material back to him immediately, telling him I believed God had led me to select him, and suggesting that he permit God to write the poem. Within a couple of weeks he had completed the writing of the words.

Thus the author, Thomas O. Chisholm (b. Franklin, KY, 1866; d. Ocean Grove, NJ, 1960), wrote "Living for Jesus" in 1917. Although he had little formal education, Chisholm served at various times as a teacher, editor, and pastor. He also wrote more than twelve hundred poems and hymn texts. Chisholm's accomplishments included being associate editor of his hometown newspaper, The Franklin Advocate, and editor of the Pentecostal Herald. He was ordained in the Methodist Church but served only briefly as a pastor in Scottsville, Kentucky, because of poor health. After that he sold life insurance in Winona Lake, Indiana, and Vineland, New Jersey. His devotional poetry and hymn texts were published primarily in religious periodicals.
His wrote his text to fit Lowden's tune in four stanzas and a refrain. Stanza 3 in the Psalter Hymnal collates phrases from stanzas 3 and 4 of Chisholm's original text. The text and tune were first published together in Uplifting Songs (1917), a hymnal compiled by Lowden and Rufus W. Miller.

This is a hymn of total consecration and dedication in which we commit to "living for Jesus" in all that we do (st. 1) and wherever we are (st. 3) in response to Christ's sacrifice (st. 2; refrain). "Living for Jesus" is well known in the Christian Reformed Church as the theme song of the Calvinist Cadet Corps, a church-related organization for young boys.

Liturgical Use:
Most often as a post-sermon hymn; also as a hymn of dedication or commitment at a suitable place in the worship service.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook from Hymnary.org

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