Charles Wesley - Jesus, The Gift Divine I Know Lyrics
Lyrics
1 JESUS, the gift divine I know,
The gift divine I ask of thee;
That living water now bestow,
Thy Spirit and thyself, on me;
Thou, Lord, of life the fountain art,
Now let me find thee in my heart.
2 Thee let me drink, and thirst no more
For drops of finite happiness;
Spring up, O well, in heavenly power,
In streams of pure perennial peace,
In joy that none can take away,
In life which shall for ever stay.
3 Father, on me the grace bestow,
Unblamable before thy sight,
Whence all the streams of mercy flow;
Mercy, thy own supreme delight,
To me, for Jesu's sake, impart,
And plant thy nature in my heart.
4 Thy mind throughout my life be shown,
While, listening to the wretch's cry,
The widow's and the orphan's groan,
On mercy's wings I swiftly fly,
The poor and helpless to relieve,
My life, my all, for them to give.
5 Thus may I show the Spirit within,
Which purges me from every stain,
Unspotted from the world and sin,
My faith's integrity maintain;
The truth of my religion prove,
By perfect purity and love.
Video
Jesus, the gift divine I know #601 Red Songbook Salvation Army Tune: St Catherine Charles Wesley
Meaning & Inspiration
"Jesus, the Gift Divine I Know," found at number 601 in the Red Songbook of The Salvation Army and set to the tune of "St. Catherine," stands as a profound declaration of faith, penned by the prolific Charles Wesley. This hymn, released for contemporary engagement on August 11, 2024, transcends mere musical composition; it is a vibrant testament to the transformative power of divine grace and the deep yearning for spiritual fulfillment. The core of this hymn lies in its earnest petition for Jesus, not merely as a historical figure, but as a "gift divine." Wesley articulates a desire to receive this gift in its fullness, specifically asking for the "living water" of God's Spirit and the very presence of Christ within the believer's heart. This echoes Jesus' own invitation in John 7:37-38, where He declared, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him." The hymn powerfully captures this plea for an internal, life-giving spring of God's presence, recognizing Jesus as the ultimate "fountain of life."
The subsequent verses delve deeper into the concept of spiritual satisfaction. Wesley articulates a desire to drink so deeply from this divine source that earthly "drops of finite happiness" become insufficient. The plea for the "well" to spring up with "heavenly power" and "streams of pure perennial peace" speaks to a joy and life that are eternal, a stark contrast to the fleeting nature of worldly pleasures. This aspiration aligns with the promise of eternal life found in John 4:14, where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The hymn thus serves as a powerful prayer for unshakeable joy and enduring life, rooted in Christ's unfailing provision.
Furthermore, the hymn moves into a petition for divine enablement and moral transformation. The prayer for "grace" to be "unblamable" before God and for "mercy" – God's "supreme delight" – to be imparted for Jesus' sake, highlights the understanding of salvation as a gift received through Christ's sacrifice. The desire to have God's "nature planted in my heart" reflects the Pauline concept of being "born again" and transformed into Christ's likeness, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This transformation is not merely internal; the hymn boldly extends this to a call for outward demonstration of faith.
The final verses vividly portray the outward expression of an indwelling Spirit. Wesley envisions a life lived with a constant awareness of human suffering, moved by compassion to "swiftly fly on mercy's wings" to aid the vulnerable – the "wretch's cry," the "widow's and the orphan's groan," and the "poor and helpless." This selfless dedication, the willingness to "give my life, my all, for them," is presented as the natural outflow of experiencing God's love and is a direct reflection of Christ's own sacrificial ministry. The hymn concludes by stating that this demonstration of love and service is the tangible proof of the "Spirit within," a Spirit that purges sin and maintains "faith's integrity." This ties back to the teachings of Jesus, who stated in John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Ultimately, "Jesus, the Gift Divine I Know" is an inspiring anthem, calling believers not just to receive God's grace, but to embody it in a life of purity, love, and active compassion, proving the truth of their faith through tangible acts of mercy and devotion.