Scripture Verse

When you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, Friend, move up to a better place. Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:10–11

Introduction

portrait
Johnson Oatman, Jr.
(1856–1922)

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in The Young Peo­ple’s Hym­nal (Nash­ville, Ten­nes­see: Pub­lish­ing House, Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Church, South, 1890).

Music: Jack­son­ville Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William J. Kirkpatrick
(1838–1921)

Lyrics

I ask not for the high­est place,
But find a spot more sweet,
Where God be­stows on me His grace,
At my Re­deem­er’s feet.

Refrain

Come joy or pain, come weal or woe,
In Christ I am com­plete;
My high­est place is ly­ing low,
At my Re­deem­er’s feet.

Tho’ waves of dark­ness round me roll,
I have a safe re­treat;
No storm can ev­er harm a soul,
At my Re­deem­er’s feet.

Refrain

He gives me from His lov­ing hand,
The fin­est of the wheat;
I live in Hea­ven’s bor­der land,
At my Re­deem­er’s feet.

Refrain

And when I reach the mys­tic sea,
Where earth and Hea­ven meet,
I’ll spend a blest eter­ni­ty,
At my Re­deem­er’s feet.

Refrain