This is the test of true devotion

Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1 This is the test of true devotion, To keep and hold fast to the Lord; And evermore without omission In all things to obey His Word. In small and unimportant matters, Yet to be careful and sincere, Not knowingly to faults consenting, However small they may appear. 2 Remember, soul, that not the humblest Obedience shall the Lord forget; Because the most unselfish spirit In humble service here is met. In small things then begin thy training; The smallest sin shun and abhor; For in obeying, love is gaining; And loyalty grows more and more. 3 If thou the great sins wouldst be shunning In fear of punishment and yet The lesser faults in thee allowing, ’Twould not true honesty beget. That would not be a true devotion, Which sacrifices all to God; ’Twould be to follow selfish motives And serve two masters in your thought. 4 For who would wholly be the Saviour’s Will follow Him in all things here, Will shun the smallest sin and even The things that sinful do appear, Will seek in all things Jesus’ glory, Will strive in all sincerity To be conformed unto the image Of Him whose servant he would be. 5 In every deed, at every hour, His care it is unto his Lord In everything to be found faithful, And loyal to His holy Word. For Him he suffers every trial, Dishonor, sorrow, cross and woe; Enough that he may say sincerely: “My loving Lord hath willed it so!” 6 O, heart, for truthfulness in living Endeavor, strive, sincerely plead; And day by day be more aspiring To love and honor Him indeed! Not in the lofty, but in humble And small things serve Him, be thy aim; And diligence will then accomplish What slothfulness could not attain. 7 O, do not say, “In greater trials Will I to Jesus faithful be!” That is what Peter also promised, And yet thou dost him weeping see. So learn true faithfulness in small things; In little conflicts faithful be; Or else thou shalt perhaps like Peter For faithlessness weep bitterly.

Source: Zion's Harp: a collection of hymns and songs for the Apostolic Christian Church of America #179

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Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta

Spitta, Carl Johann Philipp, D.D., was born Aug. 1, 1801, at Hannover, where his father, Lebrecht Wilhelm Gottfried Spitta, was then living, as bookkeeper and teacher of the French language. In his eleventh year Spitta fell into a severe illness, which lasted for four years, and so threw him back that his mother (the father died in 1805) abandoned the idea of a professional career, and apprenticed him to a watchmaker. This occupation did not prove at all congenial to him, but he would not confess his dislike, and his family were ignorant of it till an old friend, who was trying to comfort him after the death of a younger brother, discovered his true feelings. The younger brother had been preparing for ordination, and so Carl was now invited… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	This is the test of true devotion
Author:	Karl Johann Philipp Spitta
Publication Date:	2003
Copyright:	This text may still be under copyright because it was published in 2003.