The lines of this poem have also been something that lingers and challenges me since my youth and like Forest Grauel, I too can say my heart knows how much I have fallen short of my aspirations but as Browning put it: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp or what is a Heaven for." I believe it is God's intention to place before us such unlimited possibilities that we are forever reaching forward dependent on His loving mercy Who hopes all things!!!
Bessie F. Hatcher caught the need of the hour and the prayer that should be prayed by
many in these days when she wrote:
LET ME BURN OUT FOR THEE
Oh God, the world is lost in sin, And so few that seem to care!
Many of whom profess Thy name no burden will help to bear.
We need a passion, Lord, for souls, to bring the lost back to Thee;
Our hearts must be stirred, till all have heard at least once of Calvary.
How cold has been our giving, Lord! How selfish our love has been,
Keeping from those who never heard the gospel that saves from sin!
How often we have turned aside, Neglecting to do our part,
Forgetting Thy tears and agony, Forgetting Thy bleeding heart!
Meet us and break us up, dear Lord, Until driven to our knees.
Bare to our gaze Thy cross and love, Of blood-baptized Calvary.
Speak till we hear again Thy call, And hold nothing back from Thee.
Oh, burn on our hearts the hopeless wail of souls damned eternally.
O God, with shame I humbly bow, In tears and with contrite heart.
Forgive me for the broken vows, And failure to do may part.
I heed Thy call and say, "Fare-well," To all that would hinder me;
Thy grace and Thy love to lost ones, tell, And my life burn out for Thee.
Chorus:
Let me burn out for Thee, dear Lord, Burn and wear out for Thee.
Don't let me rust, or my life be a failure, my God to Thee.
Use me and all I have, dear Lord, And get me so close to Thee
That I feel the throb of the great heart of God,
Until I burn out for Thee.
R. Barry Tait
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