Trust and Obey

Whew......I just returned from a walk out in the hot sun. This hymn came to mind for some reason, so here it is. We sang "Trust and Obey" very often in the Baptist church I grew up in. At first glance now, as a Lutheran, I would say, "No, sorry, not the sort of hymn to sing......bad doctrine....". But as I walked, I realized that Lutheranism definitely teaches to trust and obey. By "obey" they mean, be baptized, and then go to church regularly to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament. As we Lutherans do those things, we "trust" that God is working in us. That is the Lutheran way to "walk with the Lord" and "do His good will", as say the words of the first verse.

The words of this hymn were written in 1887 by John H. Sammis, in Massachusetts. Tune is by Daniel B. Towner.

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"Trust and Obey"

Verse 1:

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

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Verse 2:

Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt nor a fear,

Not a sigh nor a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

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Verse 3:

But we never can prove

The delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

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Verse 4:

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we'll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go---

Never fear, only trust and obey.

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Refrain:

Trust and obey,

For there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

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Cyberhymnal link: www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/r/trstobey.htm