May 16, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Thursday, May 16.
When these Daily Devotions began in March of 2020, my audience was primarily the members of our church choir. And so, looking back, many of those first little thoughts were stories behind hymns. God has blessed by expanding our readership and broadening our audience, and so I don't write about hymns as much now. But the stories are still interesting and powerful. Here's one.
The year was 1969 and Bill and Gloria Gaither were having a baby. This songwriting couple was already famous for such songs as "He Touched Me" and would go on to write classics like "The King is Coming". But in 1969 they were experiencing a phenomenon that many literary artists go through called writer's block. And as the birth of their child approached, they were troubled by the state of the world. If you were alive in 1969, you'll remember it as a time of war, violent protest demonstrations, and tremendous cultural change. Sound familiar?
The Gaither's worried about bringing a child into a world like that. But, as all artists do, they began to work out their concerns through their art. Gloria wrote a simple verse -
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still, the firm assurance
This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives
And then Bill added a chorus -
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
My life is worth the living just because He lives
The new song ministered to the hearts of the Gaither's, and during the last 55 years, has blessed the hearts of millions. My heart. Your heart. Whatever we're facing today, or may face in the days to come, we can find peace and comfort and hope . . . Because He Lives!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
