WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 08 August 2013

Hi all,

In 1951, my parents sent me to Kingswood College in Grahamstown.  Dad’s work required him to be itinerant. Mom wanted to be with him, so this was an attempt to provide stability for my schooling. I loved the school. It was full of tradition, dating back to the 19^th century. 

Part of the tradition was that once per week after “prep.” the local Methodist minister or his representative visited us. There in the dining hall of the junior establishment, he started by reading to us part of Pilgrim’s Progress”. Then he would lead us in a good old “sing song”. Not surprisingly, the songbook was always the Methodist Hymn Book. He would ask the boys the number of the hymn they wanted to sing. After a deafening chorus of requests, he would choose one of them and we would all sing it. I can’t remember if there was any musical instrument accompaniment; probably not.

WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME
“Whosoever heareth,” shout, shout the sound! Spread the blessèd tidings all the world around; Spread the joyful news wherever man is found; “Whosoever will may come.”     CHORUS
	“Whosoever will, whosoever will,” Send the proclamation over vale and hill; ’Tis a loving Father, calls the wanderer home: “Whosoever will may come.
Whosoever cometh need not delay, Now the door is open, enter while you may; Jesus is the true, the only Living Way; “Whosoever will may come.”     CHORUS
“Whosoever will,” the promise secure, “Whosoever will,” forever must endure; “Whosoever will,” ’tis life forevermore: “Whosoever will may come.”     CHORUS

It wasn’t long before we were familiar with many of the more popular hymns such as “Blessed Assurance”, “Jesus Saves”, “To God be the Glory”, “Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour”, “In Loving-kindness Jesus Came”. 
One of the most popular and frequently “requested” was, “Whosoever will may come”. The words are in the “box” on the left.

This grand old favourite was written by Phillip Paul Bliss. (1838 to 1876) His premature death, along with that of his wife was in a tragic train wreck caused by a bridge collapse. He survived the initial impact, but went back into the flames in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue his wife. (Courtesy Google)

Those were the days of the singing evangelists and a great number of hymns were written for drawing men and women into the Kingdom of God. “Whosoever will” is only one of them. It was probably based on Jesus’ words recorded in John’s Gospel. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV.In those days, I was 9 years old. Perhaps I was a bit young for being sent to a boarding school. However, many years later, talking about this with Mom and Dad, we concluded that I should have stayed there for all my years in school. 

To this day I owe a debt of gratitude to Kingswood. Those days seems to have ignited within me a love for the old hymns. How was I to know that the Lord was laying a foundation in me for loving the “People called Methodists” and their Hymn Book? I still do and suppose I always will.

The foundation was used on which to erect a love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Scripture was always one of my favourite lessons. It was thus not surprising that it was in a Methodist Church Hall in October 1960 that I heard the gospel preached by a young man and committed my life to Jesus. In a way it gave me a slight advantage over my peers in the church because I knew many of the hymns we sang.

Those early days of being a committed Christian were wonderful. I had only one consuming passion - a passion for Jesus. Today, the words, “Whosoever will may come” still excite me. 

It’s great fun to say, “I’m a whosoever!” How about you? You are also a “whosoever? He gave His life for you. Come and join us. Be one of us with Him.”

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

I'm a "Whosoever"! What about You?

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus 8th August 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME
One of my favourite quotations is, “Love God and do as you please”. My suspicion is that it dates back to Augustine. It’s the sort of comment one would expect from him. Its meaning is dramatic. If you love God, you will want to please Him. Furthermore, what pleases you will be what pleases Him. So we end up with one of the most liberating quotations a Christian can know. The question is, whether or not it’s that simple? It should be. But we tend to be so complex in our thoughts and actions; it’s all too easy to falsely imagine that we are correct when we are not! By way of illustration we only have to look back over the last two thousand years of Christianity. Literally millions of Christians, men and women have been tortured and butchered in the name of Jesus Christ. It is also quite true that the Crusades are not really something to brag about. Rightly or wrongly, their dealings with Islam are still remembered in the Arab nations to this day. Before everyone jumps down my throat and says that what happened was not Christian, let me state categorically, I agree. But the perpetrators genuinely believed that what they were doing was in the best interests of Christianity! So how can we know that what we are doing is Christian? The fact is we do not have a series of “laws” with which we must comply. That would make it easy. We do have the Holy Spirit and He will guide us, if we are prepared to pause and listen. But bear in mind, in those days the perpetrators thought He was leading them too! So where do we go from here? In the Old Testament we have been given a couple of thumbnail sketches which we may apply as we think about the Christian life. My favourite comes from the Book of Micah. 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 ESV These instructions encapsulate most of what the Lord requires of us to this very day. The reason I mention this in today’s meditation, is because many people come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they ask, “What now?” Generally speaking, this question is seldom raised by those who come to Jesus Christ. The emphasis has always been, “Come to Jesus!” Nothing could be more important. But what then? Often they go home and that’s the last anyone sees of them. We must help our new converts. They may be sinners, dying on their own cross. They could be young people with lives and potential ministry in front of them. What they don’t need, is to be forgotten! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 So then, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 GW	Poles and Finns and Russians, Norwegians, Czechs and Danes, Swazi’s and Namibians, citizens of Spain. Peruvians and Latvians, and men who come from Chad. Canadians, Australians, though they be good or bad. Chinese and Koreans and folk from Pakistan. Everyone’s included be you woman or a man. He’s said “whosoever”, and that means me and you. All the citizens of earth, they are invited too. All your friends and relatives, yellow, white or black. No one is excluded, the Master want’s them back. Islamists and Buddhists, Confucians and Hindu’s Sikhs and Orientals, Christians and Jews. He is all inclusive and will not turn away, Anyone who trusts Him and calls on Him today. The vilest, wicked sinner this world has ever seen, If they come to Jesus, He’ll wash them squeaky clean. Even if you’re on a cross, being crucified; Do not be discouraged. For you, the Lord has died. You are not excluded, paradise awaits. You don’t have to go to Hell. Indeed, the Master states, If you will return to Me, you will be secure. I will cleanse you white as snow and I will make you pure. If the devil’s blinded you, let Me touch your eyes. You will have your sight restored and see the devil’s lies. Step right up and follow Me. You won’t be led astray. I’ll be with you constantly, each second of the day. Even though you’re evil, your children get the best. My Father up in Heaven, He wants to see you blessed. He’ll give the Holy Spirit, to anyone who asks. He’ll give to you a brand new heart to fit you for the task. That stony heart within you, He’ll certainly replace. You will have a heart of flesh to fit you for the race. You will be My people, fruitful you will be. Like sheep within a pasture, if you will follow Me! Anything you ask for, in line with Father’s will, I know that He will certainly provide and will fulfil, The deepest aspirations, you have ever made. Just because you follow Me; and Me you have obeyed. Jim Strickland Written 8 August 2012
			37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. I will never send away anyone who comes to me. John 6:37 NIrV
			42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord; remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42-43 KJV
			32 Jesus stopped and called over, "What do you want from me?" 33 They said, "Master, we want our eyes opened. We want to see!" 34 Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant, and joined the procession. Matthew 20:32-34 MSG
			13 Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 NIrV
			26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ESV
			37 "'Message of GOD, the Master: Yet again I'm going to do what Israel asks. I'll increase their population as with a flock of sheep. Ezekiel 36:37 MSG
			14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15 NLT a