You Never Mentioned Him to Me

Last weekend we had lectureships at church with 3 different men taking turns preaching. They were all assigned songs to preach on. Tim Norman was assigned the song You Never Mentioned Him to Me. This song has always "haunted" me. Every time I have ever sung it I think about all the people I come in contact with that don't know our Savior and ways I can reach out to them. Tim did a super job with the lesson so I want to share some of my notes.



Luke 19:10: 10:2

You Never Mentioned Him to Me

When in the better land before the bar we stand, how deeply grieved our souls may be; if any lost one there should cry in deep despair, "You never mentioned Him to me."



O let us spread the word where'er it may be heard, help groping souls the light to see, that yonder none may say, "You showed me not the way, you never mentioned Him to me."



A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, or turn sad eyes on Calvary, so work as days go by, that yonder none may cry, "You never mentioned Him to me."



Chorus: "You never mentioned Him to me, you helped me not the light to see; you met me day by day and knew I was astray, yet never mentioned Him to me."



ANALYSIS OF KEY WORDS AND PHRASES:

1. When in the better land before the bar we stand. Eternity vs. time, not heaven vs. earth Revelation 20: 11-15. (I imagine waiting in line on judgment day and seeing my friends before me)

2. How deeply grieved our souls my be; if any lost one there should cry in deep despair, "You never mentioned Him to me." Why would we be deeply grieved? Missed opportunities, the anticipation of losing our own soul. Acts 20:26-27. (We could lose our soul for not doing what Jesus did --seeking to save the lost.)

3. You met me day by day and knew I was astray, yet never mentioned Him to me. (The ones we see everyday, lost but we say nothing)

4. O let us spread the word where'er it may be heard. (I think of all the ways and opportunities we have to spread the word)

5. Help groping souls the light to see. . .lost. . .astray. . .sad. (the world needs what I have)

6. A few sweet words may guide a lost one to His side, or turn sad eyes on Calvary. (Just saying something nice to the lady in front of me at the grocery store)

7. So work as days go by, that yonder none my cry, "You never mentioned Him to me." (I think this is what gets me the most, seeing my friends say this to me on the day of judgement)



APPLICATIONS:

1. There are three motivations--fear, duty, love. Lunch room analogy. There is an important place for each in a Christian's life, but the succeeding should progressively preempt the preceding. 2 Cor 5:11A; Luke 17:10; 1 John 4:18. The songs motivation is fear. Evangelism is much more that a duty--its a privilege we should exercise because our hearts overflow with love for Jesus and other people. 1 Cor. 16:14; 13:3
2. The better land. Earthly life is a shadow, the substance of which is the life to come. consider life's highs and lows. Truly if we miss heaven, we've missed it all. We need to understand now what we'll finally understand then, i.e. what's true and what's truly important. This world is not our home, we're just passing through.
3. Deeply grieved. Imagine watching someone we met day by day and knew was astray being sentenced to hell; imagine losing our own soul. Let's be deeply grieved now so we won't be deeply grieved then. Romans 10:1; 9:1-3; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 How many of us tried to save a soul last week?
4. Why don't we mention Him to them?
A. We don't think about it. Acts 8:4
B. We don't really believe that people are lost without Christ.
C. We're too busy. The most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing!
D. We are ashamed, we fear rejection by men. Matt 10:32-33
E. We make excuses.
1. Prospects are everywhere. "You met me day by day and knew I was astray." Luke 10:2. We don't see prospects because we aren't looking for prospects. Prospects, not suspects.
2. We can all say a few words.
3. It will do good. 1 Cor. 3:5-7
F. We aren't sold on our product. We've got what the world needs. there is light, a way. John 10:10 We need to enjoy it and then we'll share it! John 7:38-39
5. A few sweet words. Eph 4:15A
6. Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late. 1 Corinthians 6:2B