Lyrics
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You
To grow as Your disciple in Your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Oh lead me on, I will run after You
Oh lead me on, I will run after You.
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You.
To know and follow hard after You
To grow as Your disciple in Your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you my Lord
Oh lead me on, I will run after You
Oh lead me on, I will run after You.
Song History & Meaning
Composer / Hymnodist: Mark Altrogge
In a world full of endless distractions, our hearts often get pulled in a thousand different directions. This song gently reminds us that true joy and peace are found when we narrow our focus down to a single, glorious ambition: knowing Jesus. Compared to the beauty and worth of Christ, everything else in this world fades into a pale shadow. As you sing today, let your heart be drawn back to the simple, breathtaking desire to follow hard after Him and grow as His disciple.
📖 Related Scripture Passages:
- Philippians 3:8: “Yes, most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, that I may gain Christ”
- Matthew 6:33: “But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added to you.”
- Psalm 63:8: “My soul stays close to you. Your right hand upholds me.”