Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Blest Be the Tie That Binds
Words by John Fawcett, 1740-1817
Music by Hans G. Naegeli, 1773-1836

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.

I’ve posted this one before. This song, the words, the idea behind them, they’ve been on my mind so much for the past couple years.

There is so much more story there than I’m ready to tell today, but I’ve been thinking so much about fellowship, and Christian love, and hearts bound by the most blessed of ties.

Jesus.

He is the tie.

His love, His mercy, His matchless grace, that none of us deserve, yet any of us can freely access. It ties our hearts, in Christian love.

We do not all look the same, we Christians. We come in all colors, sizes, and yes, even styles.

Those of us in Christ? We’re bound. By Him.

Skirt or pants. If we’re in Christ, we’re bound.

Sacred hymns, contemporary Christian music, or gasp, secular music. If we’re in Christ, we’re bound.

Homeschooling, private schooling, public schooling. In Christ? Bound.

We’re in this together.

And I’m so glad, aren’t you?