Hymn of the Week: Take Time To Be Holy

I think the key phrase here is "take time." We are almost all busy (some of us think we are busier than most), but we still must take the responsibility to spend time with God.

The verb seems imperative, as if it were a command. That's appropriate. We are commanded throughout God's Word to pray, to read His Word, to seek His will—and these things do put demands (perfectly justified, I might add) on our time.

As God's children, we ought to love Him enough that we feel pleased, not obligated, to yield that time to Him. These words by William Longstaff should remind us of this.

Take Time To Be Holy

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.