Living For Jesus

The author of this hymn, Thomas Obediah Chisholm, is also the author of the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” He was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. At age 16, he began teaching in the country school where he had received his education. At 21, he became associate editor of his hometown weekly newspaper, The Franklin Favorite. He came to Christ at age 27 and was ordained to the ministry at age 36. But after a one-year pastorate his health failed.

Always interested in poetry, Chisholm began writing hymn texts. During his lifetime he wrote 1,200 poems and hymns, “living for Jesus” and “striving to please Him” in all that he did.