In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find,
His service is the golden cord
close-binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith,
whate’er your race may be.
All children of the living God
are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west:
in him meet south and north.
All Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth,William Arthur Dunkerly (aka John Oxenham) ca. 1908
Here’s a hymn I’m unfamiliar with until reading the devotional based on it. I checked online and was starting to think there were conflicting theories about who wrote this hymn, William Arthur Dunkerley or John Oxenham.
As it turns out, John Oxenham is a pseudonym used by Dunkerley for various works, such as books, songs, poetry, and many more, including the lyrics to this hymn written circa, 1908.
The lyrics are powerful and ring so true, then and now – amidst escalating conflicts in and around the world.
Below is the devotional based on this hymn, sourced from the book “Hymns Volume 1, Daily Grace Co”.
Although this hymn by William Arthur Dunkerley is not a popular one sung much today, there is a heart-warming story told about it all these years later: It is said that toward the end of World War II, there were two ships docked, waiting to be allowed back into their country. One ship was filled with Americans, and the other was filled with Japanese aliens. For 24 hours, they glared at each other from the rails of their ships. Suddenly, out of nowhere, someone began singing this hymn, and soon, all the soldiers joined in, singing in unison. Former enemies were now united under the banner of, Jesus Christ.
We were all enemies of God before salvation. Romans 5:8 says, “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. What great love the Father has for us! He did not only die for His friends. He died for the people who hated Him. Who are we to choose who we will accept and who we will reject? Jesus asks this question: if we do not love one another, how could we love the Father whom we cannot see (1 John 4:20-21)? This is how we show that we are Jesus’s disciples-by loving one another. Let us lay down our weapons and declare peace among God’s people. Let us claim Galatians 5:13, which says, “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, bur serve one another through love.”Study by Cara Cobble Trantham, Daily Grace Co
Inspiring words! The world we live in now might prove challenging and difficult, but as the Bible reminds us, with God, everything is possible 🙏
Luke 18:27 NIV
[27] Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Jeremiah 32:26-27 NIV
[26] Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: [27] “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
To God be the glory always 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 