HYMN OF THE MONTH:
Our Great Savior
(Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners)
by J. Wilbur Chapman, 1859-1918
Lina Sandell Berg grew up in Sweden during a time of nationwide revival. Her health was frail, often preventing her from playing outdoors and confining her indoors instead. She learned to play quietly for hours at a time while sitting in her father’s study as he prepared sermons for the church he pastored.
Eventually, Lina recovered—one account describing this as a sudden healing—and she responded with deep gratitude for this memorable answer to prayer.
As her faith grew, she began writing hymns that expressed her trust in Jesus and His care for her life.
Over time, Lina became a prolific hymn writer, composing hundreds of hymns that were loved by believers throughout Sweden during a season when God was drawing many hearts to Himself. Because she was such a prolific hymn writer, Lina is often compared to Fanny Crosby, who wrote hundreds of hymns in America.
While all of Lina’s hymns reflect God’s work in her life, one hymn in particular was shaped by deep personal loss. Lina endured a devastating tragedy when she witnessed her father fall overboard and drown while they were crossing Sweden’s Lake Vättern. God used this sorrow to further deepen her faith and dependence on Him.
Out of that season came the hymn “Day by Day”—a lasting reminder that God gives strength to meet our trials, one day and even one hour at a time.
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Read & Relate
Our Great Savior
By J. Wilbur Chapman, 1859-1918
By Jesus! What a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Luke 7:34; Gal. 2:20; 2 Tim. 4:16-17; Mark 10:52
Refrain:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Heb. 7:25; John 15:15; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 4:26; Jude 24; Rom. 8:35; Matt. 28:20
Jesus! What a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my vict'ry wins.
2 Cor. 12:9; Ps. 32:7; 1 Pet. 1:6-7; 1 Cor. 15:57
Jesus! What a Help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Ps. 34:18; Isa. 43:2; Ps. 147:3; Matt. 11:28
Jesus! What a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o'ertakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.
Ps. 23:3; John 10:28; Micah 7:8; Mark 4:39-41; Heb. 6:19-20; Heb. 2:10
Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find,
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.
John 1:12; Phil. 3:8; Eph. 1:7; Rom. 14:8
