Music and poetry (5)
The poetry of Catherine Baird
Catherine Baird was a gifted writer and, as a Salvation Army Officer, was used in that capacity for Salvation Army publications. In addition, she wrote poetry and song words, some of which are in the Salvation Army Songbook. These devotional thoughts are linked to some of her songs.
John 1:9-18 New International Version (NIV)
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Devotional thoughts by Lt. Colonel Diane O’Brien
The scripture today is part of John’s theological statement, most often read at Christmas.
The song uses Catherine Baird’s words found in SB 615, which starts “O love, revealed on earth in Christ.”
So how … on earth … are we ordinary people supposed to understand God, the creator of heaven and earth? In this song, He is called “Love”, and this prayer is directed to Him. All the Thees and Thys refer to Him, to God the Father.
For generations through the journeys of the Old Testament, people tried to understand the Creator God. But the concept that they had was cloudy. It was passed through the consecrated hearts of prophets and leaders as they tried to help the people to know God.
Then, as John 1 tells us, Jesus came and gave clear sight of God. This is what He is like – gentle, strong, generous, wise, pure, light, life, love.
O Love, revealed on earth in Christ,
In blindness once I sacrificed
Thy gifts for dross; I could not see,
But Jesus brings me sight of Thee.
When we truly see the beauty of Jesus we have a choice. One choice is to turn away from Him and continue in our comfortable, self focussed way. The other is to look at Jesus, and if we do so, we will be drawn closer to God.
This is true attraction. This beautiful, perfect man came to lead us into closer communion with the Holy God, with God, the creator of heaven and earth.
O love, invisible before,
I see Thee now, desire Thee more;
When Jesus speaks Thy word is clear;
I search His face and find Thee near.
O Love, forever claim my eyes!
Thy beauty be my chosen prize;
I cast my load on timeless grace
That my free soul may run the race.
The setting, by Norman Bearcroft, of the lyrics included below, uses the chorus as the fourth verse, so it concludes with words of commitment. May you experience a quietness of mind that will lead you to know Jesus, to follow Him and so to live in deeper and deeper communion with God.
I come to Thee with quiet mind,
Thyself to know, Thy will to find;
In Jesus’ steps my steps must be,
I follow Him to follow Thee.