Living for Christ

Born in Ohio on this day in 1843, Ralph Hudson moved with his parents to Pennsylvania when Ralph was a boy. Responding to the outbreak of America’s Civil War, he enlisted in the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving for more than three years. After the war Ralph devoted much of his life to his primary passions, serving God and his love of music. For more than 20 years, he was able to focus on both passions while teaching music at Mount Union College in Ohio.

However, he was best known as a hymn writer and music publisher, and for his commitment to evangelism. While he left no best-selling biography, we learn a great deal about him through a hymn he wrote in 1882, called, “I’ll Live for Him.”

Here, Hudson revealed the priorities of His life. His focus was not on fame or fortune but on serving God. “My life, my love I give to Thee, Thou Lamb of God Who died for me.” His goal was to be faithful to Jesus, “my Savior and my God!”

He realized that he owed everything to Jesus, for He “died that I might live.” He trusted Him with his life, and knew that He was “my Savior and my God!” His prayer was that others would know the joy he had discovered in serving Jesus: “I’ll live for Him Who died for me, how happy then my life shall be! I’ll live for Him Who died for me, my Savior and my God!”

Today, this message still rings true. Ralph Hudson had discovered the same truth that Paul expressed in his letter to the Philippians. That nothing was more important than serving Jesus. Make sure that you have the right priorities. Seek to live for Jesus! He is your Savior! Make sure that He is your Lord!