LSB #783, 784 "Take My Life and Let It Be"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Romans 12:1-2, Romans 6:13, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:15

Romans 12:1-2:  "1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Romans 6:13:  "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."

1 Corinthians 6:20:  "for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body."

2 Corinthians 5:15:  "and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

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The text is public domain:

1 Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 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.

3 Take my voice and let me sing

Always, only for my King;

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect and use

Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.

5 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.

6 Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee.

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All of the cited passages have a similar theme, which is summarized in the first two lines of the hymn:  "Take my life and let it be / Consecrated, Lord to Thee."  Romans 6:13 is a bit more prominent than the other texts; the hymn expands on "present... your members to God as instruments for righteousness" and provides specific examples:  "Take my hands... Take my feet..." and so on.

The lines "Take my feet and let them be / Swift and beautiful for Thee" refer to Isaiah 52:7:  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'"