Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

Closer to Jesus

Representative Text

1 The Savior is dearer to me ev’ry day,
The closer I live to Him;
And brighter His glory illumines my way,
The closer I live to Him.

Chorus:
Closer to Him, closer to Him,
I want to live closer to Jesus;
There’s no one so precious, so faithful to me,
And I want to live closer to Him.

2 His service grows sweeter and sweeter to me,
The closer I live to Him;
And more of His goodness and mercy I see,
The closer I live to Him. [Chorus]

3 His love more abundantly flows thro’ my heart,
The closer I live to Him;
And richer the blessings that He doth impart,
The closer I live to Him. [Chorus]

4 I’m longing the more in His likeness to be,
The closer I live to Him;
And surer I am that His face I shall see,
The closer I live to Him. [Chorus]

Source: Victory Songs: For the Church, Sunday School and Evangelistic Services. #143

Author: R. H. McDaniel

Rufus H. McDaniel was ordained in the Christian church in 1873. He found much joy in church music. He began writing hymns in the 1880's. He wrote, "I feel in my soul that God has something for me to do in brightening the experience of struggling souls. My chief desire is to be a blessing, if possible, to my fellow-men through these hymns and thereby glorify God in the name of his dear son 'whose I am and whom I serve.'" Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The Savior is dearer to me
Title: Closer to Jesus
Author: R. H. McDaniel
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Closer to Him, closer to Him
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 9 of 9)
TextAudioPage Scan

Awakening Songs for the Church, Sunday School and Evangelistic Services #139

Children's Hymns and Songs #d98

Page Scan

Gospel Hymns and Songs #139

Page Scan

Rodeheaver's Gospel Solos and Duets #156

Rodeheaver's Sunday School Songs #d184

Page Scan

The Sheet Music of Heaven (Spiritual Song) #59

Page Scan

The Sheet Music of Heaven (Spiritual Song) #59

TextPage Scan

Victory Songs #143

Page Scan

Williston Hymns #53

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.