Blest Be the Tie
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 our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin we shall be free, a
nd perfect love and fellowship
reign through eternity.
By John Fawcett
- What is the value of a relationship when things are going your way? What is the value when your life is difficult? What difference does it make if the relationships are with Christians or non-Christians?
- Each of us prays “ardent prayers” privately in time alone with God. What difference does it make if other people pray with us or for us?
- What happens when you tell a loving friend your troubles? What happens when there is nobody to tell and you feel completely alone? Why do we need friends who share our faith in Christ?
- The hymnwriter looks forward to a future when we don’t have trouble but we do have friends. Where did he get that idea? What is the value of friends in that setting?
Living On Tilt 
Katherine,
The hymn you’ve posted here by John Fawcett is very good. One thing I pulled from the first stanza is that the love Christians have for each other when gathered together, especially in prayer, is like the love God has for us. I found your questions for thought and discussion helpful. The one that I related to immediately is the difference it makes to pray with and for each other. This has been a new experience for me within the past few years. The effect is powerful. The love expressed through the prayers of others praying with us and for us binds us very closely. This intimacy becomes permanent and our love for God and each other grows exponentially. A strong sense that God is there with us and will answer our prayers according to what is best for us in the long run becomes very clear.
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Your description of the effect of praying with and for one another is moving. It reminded me of an experience when I had major surgery. Every day that I was in the hospital, someone from my church showed up to pray with me, and any number of people called to say that they were praying for me. I had never been bathed in prayer before. The presence of God and all those people was palpable. Your comment sums up that experience beautifully. Thank you very much. It is the essence of the hymnwriter’s feeling as I experience this hymn.
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