Billy Graham, evangelist of our century, wrote this tribute
to Judson Van DeVenter: “One of the evangelists who influenced my early
preaching was also a hymnist who wrote ‘I Surrender All.’ He was a regular
visitor at the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity Bible College) in the late
1930’s. We students loved this deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in
his winter home at Tampa, Florida, for an evening of fellowship and singing.”
Judson Van DeVenter was born on a farm in Michigan in 1855
to a farmer, John Wesley and his wife, Eliza Ann. Judson had an older brother,
Virgil and at least two younger siblings, Nelson and Fanny.
At the age of 17 he accepted Jesus into his heart. However,
he struggled with surrendering it all. Following graduation from Hillsdale
College, he married Malissa Miller, in 1880. Van DeVenter lived with his
in-laws and worked as a painter, before teaching art in the public schools of
Sharon, PA. He was, in addition, an accomplished musician, singer, and
composer. Van DeVenter was also an active layman in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, involved in the church's evangelistic meetings.
Over the years Van DeVenter mastered thirteen different
musical instruments, along with singing and composing music, and he became very
involved in the music ministry at his church.
Van DeVenter began to struggle with the call upon his
life. He was torn between continuing his teaching career or leaving and
entering evangelistic ministry. His friends greatly encouraged him to
enter evangelism, because of his fervent faith.
Van DeVenter describes the day he surrendered. “The
song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and
in the home of George Sebring (founder of Sebring Camp Meeting Bible Conference) . . . For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the
field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work.
"At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered
all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered
down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in
my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing.”
Following his decision to surrender his life to Christ, he
traveled extensively throughout the United States, England, and Scotland in
evangelistic work. Van DeVenter had a radio program, “The Gospel in Song and
Story.”
He retired to Tampa, Florida and was a regular professor of
hymnology at Florida Bible Institute in the 1920s. After his retirement,
he was a regular visitor to the Bible Institute. He remained active with
speaking and ministry engagements even after he retired.
Scripturesavvy.com: The conclusion of Paul’s testimony is a beautiful affirmation of God’s eternal Kingship, His immortality, and His invisibility. It is a declaration of praise and honor to the only God, highlighting His eternal nature and ultimate authority. It reminds us that no matter what challenges we may face in this life, our hope and focus should always be on God and giving Him the glory He deserves.
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: This is the resolution the psalmist came unto; the promise he made, that should he be delivered from his enemies, he would give God thanks in the most public manner; that is, he would acknowledge God to be the Author of the mercy, and himself unworthy of it; and would ascribe glory, honor, blessing, and thanksgiving to Him, in the midst of the church and people of God.
Biblehub.com, Barnes’ Note on the Whole Bible: That denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts – ‘That by denying ourselves of these, or
refusing to practice them, we should lead a holy life.’ The word ungodliness
here means all that would be included under the word impiety; that is, all
failure in the performance of our proper duties towards God. The phrase ‘worldly
lusts’ refers to all improper desires pertaining to this life - the desire of
wealth, pleasure, honor, sensual indulgence. It refers to such passions as the
people of this world are prone to and would include all those things which
cannot be indulged in with a proper reference to the world to come. The gross
passions would be of course included, and all those more refined pleasures also
which constitute the characteristic and special enjoyments of those who do not
live unto God.
Scripturesavvy.com: This plea for the presence of the Holy Spirit is a reminder of empowerment. We can’t do anything worthwhile in our own strength. This realization can be a freeing, albeit humbling, acknowledgment. As followers of Christ, we need to lean into His strength, drawing on His wisdom, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide our paths every day. When we seek God’s presence, we are ensured of His provision for our lives, just like David was when he continually sought the Lord during his reign as king.
Scripturesavvy.com: The verse Ephesians 3:19 speaks to a profound experience that we, as believers in Christ, can have. It highlights the love of Christ, an unconditional and everlasting love that goes beyond our human understanding. This love is not just for intellectual knowledge but is meant to be experienced and felt deeply in our hearts. The phrase “that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” suggests that when we grasp the depth of Christ’s love, it leads us toward a richer and more complete life filled with God’s presence . . . Knowing the love of Christ is transformational . . . It’s about a personal relationship with Him, where we can feel His love, mercy, and grace in our lives. This love not only shapes who we are but also helps us understand how we interact with others. By understanding Christ’s love, we can also love others deeply and selflessly. This verse encourages us to seek a deeper relationship with God, embracing His love that is both vast and profound.
“That you may be filled with all the fullness of God”
summarizes the outcome of knowing Christ’s love. This fullness represents all
that God is—the wisdom, love, joy, and peace that come from Him. It assures us
that God desires for us to be complete and fulfilled. When we embrace Christ’s
love, God fills us with the essence of Himself, allowing us to represent His
character in our everyday lives.
Surrender is a powerful word. To give oneself up into the power of another. That is what we do. We give all of us into Jesus.
We have no need to fear giving God our all. He loves us
deeply and knows what is truly best for us. On whatever path He takes us, we
can be sure that the result will be a happier and more fruitful life than the
one we would have planned for ourselves. May we sing with wholehearted
confidence:
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.”
