LBW #518, "Beautiful Savior"
Devotion
One of the first hymns I learned as a child in Sunday school, “Beautiful Savior” has been part of my life ever since.
It is a hymn that has been sung for centuries, possibly by German crusaders in the 12th century. Or, it may have been sung by the Moravians who were driven out of Bohemia in the bloody anti-Reformation purge of 1620. They settled in Silesia, now a part of Poland. The hymn is thought to be a folk hymn that came from these devout Silesian peasants.
Whatever the origin, Christians for centuries have been blessed with this worshipful, joyful hymn. It focuses on Jesus, and could well be used as the opening hymn, the hymn before or after the sermon, or the hymn to sing as we go "out into the world.” Just like the Crusaders ... or more like the Silesian peasants, God bless them.
Prayer
Beautiful Savior, help me to love thee, and serve thee every day. Help me that I might sing glory and honor and praise and adoration to thee now and forevermore. Amen.