‎Jesus Calls Us

1. Jesus calls us: o’er the tumult
Of our life’s wild restless sea,
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow me.”

‎2. In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”

‎3. Jesus calls us: by thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thine obedience,
Serve and love thee best of all.

Cecil Frances Alexander

• The first two lines of this hymn sound quite contemporary. How would you explain their meaning to someone who is not a Christian?
• Verse 2 asks a question that puts Christians squarely in conflict with the philosophy that says, “You’re worth it!” What human value is served by the call to do what makes you feel good? Who or what do you serve if you think your own feelings are not the measure of what is right?
• In what way does verse 3 provide the rebuttal to a claim by secular thinkers that Christians who obey Christ are forcing their views on others?
• The language of this hymn reflects the fact that it was written in the 19^th century. How would you explain the contemporary value of this hymn in the 21^st century to someone who does not know Christ?