"Nothing Between"

My last two posts featured the writings of Charles Wesley and John Owen, but I think it would be fitting to pull something from the rich legacy and tradition of the Black Church: namely, a hymn by the Black Methodist pastor and songwriter, Charles A. Tindley (1851-1933) of Philadelphia.

Charles Wesley wrote of “a principle within” to fight indwelling sin, and Owen wrote of the “mortification” of sin. Tindley, here, writes of what I believe must be our commitment if we are to conquer in our ongoing fight with indwelling sin.

Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream:
I have renounced all sinful pleasure,
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure,
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever,
He is my all! there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved! there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching and prayer and much self-denial,
I’ll triumph at last, with nothing between.

(Refrain)
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor;
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

May God help us to experience this reality.