Return to Thy Savior Today

Will you heed the divine invitation

Author: James M. Gray
Tune: [Will you heed the divine invitation]
Published in 3 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Will you heed the divine invitation,
O hearken to heavenly love,
And take of the cup of salvation,
And taste the new life from above?
The Spirit hath pleaded so often,
Oh, how can you longer delay?
May love of the Saviour now soften
The heart that hath wandered away!

Refrain:
O heart that hath wandered away,
Return to thy Saviour today!
The promise is not for tomorrow,
Return to thy Saviour today!

2 Do you think of the sins you’ve committed,
The wages your folly has earned,
The patience and love unremitted,
Which you have so ruthlessly spurned?
The “portion of goods” you have squandered,
The losses you fain would repay,
They call to the heart that has wandered,
Return! O return while ‘tis day! [Refrain]

3 In that far away country you’re feeding,
On husks that the world gives for bread;
While voices from home are still pleading,
“Come share in our plenty instead!”
O heart, are you weary of straying,
And worn with your wearisome quest?
Come back to the Lord as we’re praying,
For He is a haven of rest. [Refrain]

Source: The Voice of Thanksgiving No. 2 #154

Author: James M. Gray

Born: May 11, 1851, New York City. Died: September 21, 1935, Passavant Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City. Gray accepted Christ at age 22. He was educated at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (Doctor of Divinity), and the University of Des Moines, Iowa (Doctor of Laws). In 1879 he became Rector of the First Reformed Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served 14 years. He then became dean (1904-25) and president (1925-34) of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, and directed publication of four editions (1921-28) of the Voice of Thanksgiving, official hymnal of the Institute. A conservative theologian, Gray was one of seven editors of the popular Scofield Reference Bible. He was… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Will you heed the divine invitation
Title: Return to Thy Savior Today
Author: James M. Gray
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O heart that hath wandered away
Copyright: Public Domain

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Hymns, Psalms and Gospel Songs with Responsive Readings #d435

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Hymns, Psalms and Gospel Songs #354

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The Voice of Thanksgiving No. 2 #154

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