Let the Lower Lights be Burning

On the morning in question, I awoke later than my usual early morning time, to be greeted with this hymn by P. Bliss. “Trim Your Feeble Lamp My Brother”. It is the well-known, well-loved and well-used evangelistic hymn which calls believers to be right and prepared to help others in need and distress. The melodic and ever drum-like clarion call, is for all believers to let our lights be salvation lights.

Here is the chorus

Let your lower lights be burning,

Send a gleam across the way,

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman,

You may rescue, you may save.

In this refrain of four lines, each line comes with its own strong empowerment and gripping engagement.

The Command – Let your earthly lights be not off, but burning.

The Call – There is a call for you to cast your light across the way.

The Cause – The reason or cause for this command is that someone needs rescuing or saving.

The Celebration – If you do as told, some dying and needy soul may be saved.

Indeed this refrain has all of the power and purpose of salvation in it, however, we have been brought to stay for a while on this verse. It is the words of this verse, which were being drummed into me with urgency, strength, and most unyieldingly that I now offer to you. Whether you know this verse by heart or not, whether you have seen it before or not, come to it without pride, preconceived notions or any of your human learning.

Unless you count your understanding as nothing, in order to receive the Holy Spirit’s understanding, this will be all spiritually vain to you. Seek the Lord’s humbling and He will grant your prayer.

Here is the stanza which was drummed into me and had me totally surrendered with each hearing and showing.

Trim your feeble lamp my brother,

Some poor sailor tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbour,

In the darkness may be lost.

Just in this one, four-line stanza, there are five salvation truths to be illuminated. These must be alive and visibly active in each of us who is a believer. Indeed! Every single one of us who has given his or her life to Jesus, is a Salvation Saver. These five truths, to be a life saver, will be discoursed throughout the week.

Holy Spirit, grant us the grace to understand, believe and achieve all You have determined for us in this Salvation Saver, for Jesus’ sake. Amen!