I Gave My Life For Thee

Ecce Homo by Antonio Ciseri

I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be,
and raised up from the dead
I gave My life for thee,
what hast thou given for Me?

Seorang gadis muda bernama Frances Ridley Havergal meninggalkan rumahnya di Inggris untuk melanjutkan studinya di kota Düsseldorf, Jerman. Pada suatu kesempatan, di dalam ruang belajar pendetanya, ia melihat ada moto yang tertulis di bawah suatu lukisan berjudul “Ecce Homo”. Lukisan tersebut sedang menggambarkan Kristus yang sedang dihakimi, disiksa tanpa belas kasihan, dan mengenakan mahkota duri dan jubah ungu sebagai tanda ejekan. Ia berdiri di antara massa yang menuntut hukuman mati bagi-Nya dan Pilatus, yang berkata, “Ecce Homo (Lihatlah manusia itu).” Gambaran yang mengharukan itu membuat Havergal merenungkan dengan dalam tentang kejadian dalam Alkitab tersebut. Sebelum ia meninggalkan ruangan itu, ia menyalin tulisan di bawah lukisan tersebut: “I did this for you. What have you done for me?” (Ini Kulakukan bagimu, apa yang kau lakukan bagi-Ku?)

Kemudian sesudah kembali ke Inggris, ia melihat kalimat tersebut di dalam buku tulisnya, mengingatkan dia akan respons emosionalnya akan lukisan tersebut dan dengan segera ia menulis suatu puisi dengan 5 bait, yang setiap baitnya diakhiri dengan suatu tantangan: Apa yang sudah kau berikan… tinggalkan… tanggungkan… bawa kepada… Sang Kristus?

Setelah selesai menuliskan, ia termenung sejenak dan merasa hasil karyanya kurang baik lalu  melemparkannya ke dalam perapian, ke dalam api yang membara. Namun kertas tersebut tidak terbakar! Ia mengambil lagi dan kemudian memperlihatkannya kepada ayahnya, yang menyarankan untuk disimpan. Beberapa tahun kemudian, ia menulis suatu lagu himne yang menjadi salah satu himnenya yang paling terkenal “Take My Life”.

Apakah engkau sudah menghidupi hidupmu bagi Tuhan seperti Ia sudah melakukannya bagimu?

Sumber: http://www.christians.com/inspirational/ecce_homo

English:

As a young woman, Frances Ridley Havergal traveled from her home in England to advance her education in Dusseldorf, Germany. While on the continent, in a pastor's study, she saw a motto printed beneath a painting titled "Ecce Homo". The portrayed scene is Christ at his trial, whipped mercilessly, wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe meant for mockery. He's standing between a crowd demanding death and Pilate, who says, "Ecce Homo (Behold the Man)". This arresting depiction of Jesus' trial struck Havergal, who paused to contemplate the biblical event. Before leaving the scene, she copied the caption-phrase, translated: "I did this for you. What have you done for me?"

Later, back home in England, she noticed the line in her notebook, recalled her emotional response to the painting, and quickly embellished the caption. She wrote a poem of five stanzas, each ending with a pointed challenge: What have you given to . . . left for . . . borne for . .. brought to . . . the Christ?

Pausing to read through her completed verse, Havergal thought poorly of her endeavor, and threw the paper into the fireplace. Yes, into the fire. But it didn't burn. Retrieving the lines, she eventually showed them to her father, who suggested they be saved. Years later, she wrote what would become one of her most famous hymns, "Take My Life".

Source: http://www.christians.com/inspirational/ecce_homo

I Gave My Life for Thee

Words by Frances R. Havergal
Music by J.E. White
Listen to the hymn's music


I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?

Take My Life

Words by Frances Ridley Havergal

Music by Henri A. C. Malan
Listen to the hymn's music


Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise*.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

*Some hymnals insert this couplet after silver and gold.