Thomas Chisholm had a humble beginning back in 1866 in a small log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky. At the time, no one ever thought that this baby boy would eventually set the Christian world to singing and leave behind such a great legacy of song, but he did. He is best remembered for giving us “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” written because of Lamentations 3:22-23 and the overwhelming truth of God’s mercy and faithfulness. Before this song was written in 1923, Thomas penned a song that expressed so well the life of a man surrendered to God.
Tomas described the day his mother died as “the darkest day of his life” which caused him to realize his own mortality and needy condition. Two years later, at a revival meeting in his hometown, he was born again under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and God’s word.
At the age of 16, Thomas began teaching at the one room schoolhouse he had attended; and five years later, he began work as an editor of the Franklin Favorite. Soon, his writing talents would advance him to working for the Pentecostal Herald in Louisville by invitation of the evangelist who had won him to the Lord, H.C. Morrison. Ten years later, he was ordained as a Methodist minister. He served a congregation for one year, but health problems forced him to resign. Thomas moved his family to Winona Lake, Indiana, where he sold life insurance. In 1916, they moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where he continued to sell insurance.
In 1915, Harold Lowden, a preacher who had been a life insurance salesman, wrote a “light and summery” gospel song to be sung by children. The song became quite popular because of the music, but many felt the text needed improvement. It was at this time that Pastor Lowden sent the music to Thomas Chisholm with a suggested phrase, “Living for Jesus,” and asked him to provide the rest of the text.
Lowden said Chisholm “returned it to me, saying he didn’t have the slightest idea as to the method used in writing words to music. Immediately, I sent the material back to him, telling him I believed God had led me to select him.” Since Thomas could not read music, he asked his daughter to hum the melody over and over until he was able to write the text of this hymn that reminds us how we should live our lives surrendered to God:
Living for Jesus a life that is true, Striving to please Him in
All that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.