In 1898, Cyrus S. Nusbaum penned the well-known hymn, “Let Him Have His Way with Thee,” while living in southeastern Kansas. The three stanzas of the song each ask three questions about your relationship with Jesus and what “you” would be willing to let Him do in your life and what “you” would be willing to do for Him. Each of the nine questions begins with, “Would you?” And the answer that he gives to each of the nine questions is the same seven words: “Let Him have His way with thee.”
In the chorus of the hymn, Nusbaum focuses on three major incentives and blessings that result when one chooses the “best” life of submitting to the care and direction of Jesus. Give these some serious thought.
“His power can make you what you ought to be.” Interestingly, he does not say that the power of Christ can make you what you “want” to be. No. The focus is on what you “ought” to be. Of course, the power of Christ is rooted in the Word of Christ. “The word of God is living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). The power of Christ can “turn” you “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). That’s what you ought to be. The power of Christ, in His Word, can “transform” you into the “image” of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). When we let Jesus have His way and we yield our self-focused, minute power to His infinite, eternal power, He can make us what we ought to be.
“His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free.” The power of His Word, recognized in the first point, can “save your soul” (Jas. 1:21), because it transforms you from the inside out. When we submit ourselves “in obeying the truth,” our “souls” are “purified” (1 Pet. 1:22) by the “pure” Word (Psa. 19:7) and the “cleansing” power of His blood (1 John 1:9), “cleansing” our “conscience from dead works” (Heb. 9:14) and setting us “free from sin” (Rom. 6:7). When we let Jesus have His way and are baptized (Acts 22:16) and then live faithfully (1 John 1:7), He will cleanse us and free us.
“His love can fill your soul.” It is so easy to go through life and be dominated with love for self. But when we submit ourselves to the power of Christ and purify our hearts (Jas. 4:7-8; 2 Cor. 7:1)—all through the application of His Word to our hearts and lives—our passions and desires change. Love of self is removed and is replaced with the love of Christ—His love “abides” in us (1 John 4:12-16), “compels” us (2 Cor. 5:14) and “perfects” us (Col. 3:14). When we let Jesus have His way, His love will truly fill our lives and impact every part of who we are and what we do. Yes, “you will see ‘twas best for Him to have His way with thee.”