Burning Brightly

“Cause the lamp to burn always” (Exodus 27:20).  “Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me… Thou hast taught me… therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:98-104).  “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction… plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8,9).  “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). 

The tabernacle which was reared

Contained the lamps that always burn,

And so should God be always feared,

As for His glory we should yearn. 

The Word of God that makes us wise

Should never tend to make us proud;  

It’s rather to evangelize

With grace as long as allowed! 

We cause the lamp to always burn

As we are pondering God’s Word,

Obeying what we thereby learn,

And reaching souls with what we’ve heard. 

We are commanded to be ready

To answer those who question us,

So let the lamps be burning steady,

To show our God is glorious!

For thereby we may plead the cause

Of those who find they need a Savior,

When by the Gospel truth they pause,

Repent, and humbly seek His favor.

So let our lamps be burning brightly,

And seek for souls to be converted,

By praying for them daily, nightly,

That they may thereby be alerted. 

O Lord, we thank you the light

That shines the Gospel You impart

With longing that You will ignite

In souls who give to You their heart! 

So send us, Lord, with fresh desire,

As lamps are burning now within

With Your compassion and desire

To rescue souls yet lost in sin!  

Settled Submission

“Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven… Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to Thine ordinances: for all are thy servants” (Psalm 119:89-91).  “Who hath established all the ends of the earth?  What is His name, and what is his Son's name, if thou canst tell?  Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:4,5).  “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God… Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:6-10). 

God’s Word has been settled forever

In heaven and all of creation,  

Yet rebels who think they are clever

Are blinded by self-exaltation.

How strangely it hasn’t occurred

To those who are blinded by pride

That God has established His Word

In visible Laws that abide. 

How sadly they don’t see the cost

For turning away from the Lord,

For all who resist Him are lost,

Since grace, by their choice, is ignored.

The souls of all rebels are cherished,

For Christ laid His life down for them.

God grieves for the soul that has perished

That justice must rightly condemn. 

But God will give grace to the soul

Who humbles himself in His sight,

Extending salvation so full

That sin stains are purged and made white!

O Lord, in the midst of this strife,

We still see Your labor of love,

For so You have laid down Your life,

To fit souls for heaven above. 

Lord, settle our hearts with submission

To long after souls as You do,

That they may be saved from perdition

And find their salvation in You.  

Which Wisdom?

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).  “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:14-17). 

The earthly wisdom of this life,

Which doesn’t come from God above,  

Will manifest itself in strife

And envy that is void of love. 

Where envying and strife abound,

We’re finding evil and confusion. 

Beware whenever these are found,

Exposing Satan’s dark intrusion! 

The wisdom from above is pure;

It’s peaceable and gentle too.

This kind of wisdom, we are sure,

Descends from heaven and is true.

This grace is easily entreated;

Its mercy and its fruits are full. 

Our joy in Christ is thus completed

When we will walk by His control.

No hint of partiality,

Each soul is precious in God’s sight. 

True wisdom hates hypocrisy

And walks with freedom in the light.

Lord, thank You that You freely give

The fruit of being truly wise,

So by Your mercy we may live

A life that’s pleasing in Your eyes. 

Lord, send us with the Gospel’s vision

To urge the lost to make their choice

And turn from foolish indecision

To heed the wisdom of Your voice. 

Unlocking our Understanding

“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments” (Psalm 119:73).  “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things” (Proverbs 28:5).

There’s no one better qualified

To give us proper understanding

Than God, who searches us inside

And fashioned us by His commanding. 

The Lord is teaching those who seek

To know the truth of who He is,

As by His Word our Lord will speak

To all the hearts He knows are His. 

Since God created all mankind,

And He sustains all nature’s Laws,

It’s surely logical to find

He is the Ultimate First Cause. 

He holds the absolutes of math,

Of mass, and moral truth as well.

It’s He who saves our souls from wrath

By Christ who rescued us from hell.

How sadly sinners yet have mocked

The Lord who died to be our Savior!

Upon their door the Lord has knocked,

Yet still they scorn His loving favor. 

We pray for souls to rightly reason

And turn to God as yet they may. 

There is a time-appointed season: 

The Lord has said it’s called TODAY. 

O Lord, we thank You for Your love

That reasons with the stubborn heart,

To understand the things above

By wisdom that You will impart! 

O Lord, in every situation,

We pray for grace to understand

How we may show Your great salvation

Through doors unlocked by Your own hand.  

Perfecting Patience

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word… It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:67,71).  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend… My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me” (Proverbs 27:6,11).  “The trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:3,4,17).

The psalmist pondered his affliction

And knew, at last, that it was good.

We need to have the same conviction,

To see things as we rightly should. 

The Lord will work in every heart

Of all His children He will win.  

He sees our stubborn inward part

Where we are yet inclined to sin. 

How faithful is this mighty Friend

Who teaches us with perfect love

That nurtures patience in the end

Which God has sent us from above! 

“My son, be wise,” we hear Him say,

And here His heart to us He shows: 

It gives Him joy when we obey,  

And thus He answers all His foes. 

As we encounter every trial,

We’re told that we should count it joy,

For thus we see our Savior’s smile

Along with patience we employ.

O Lord, we thank You for this goal

By which our life is thus directed:  

When You are glad, our joy is full

And patience thereby is perfected. 

Lord, teach us how to better be

Perfected by Your patient love,

So that the lost may clearly see

Your grace that comes down from above.