Thursday, April 30, 2015

Now - or Never?


"Blessed be the LORD God... who only doeth wondrous things" (Psalm 72:18).  "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?  Who hath gathered the wind in his fists?  Who hath bound the waters in a garment?...  Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5).  "Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us... Thou art the LORD, even Thou only" (Isaiah 37:20).  "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"  (2 Corinthians 6:2).

How great indeed is Christ our Lord
Who only does such wondrous things
Which in the earth may be explored
In His salvation which He brings.

To heaven He alone ascended,
Who had descended down to earth. 
Upon His cross we were defended,
And by His grace we have new birth.

The winds are gathered in His fists;
He makes the ocean's border sure. 
Creation by His word exists,
And every word of God is pure. 

He is forevermore a Shield
To all who place in Him their trust.
But many hesitate to yield;
Yet in a time called "now" they must! 

A soul may trust in Christ - or perish. 
The time called "now" will soon depart. 
Distraction by the things men cherish
Can turn away their hardened heart.

The moment "now" may change to never. 
The day is now for God's salvation. 
Delay may soon deny forever
The last escape from condemnation. 

O Lord, how precious is the time
In which the hearts of men may choose
To trust You in the "now" sublime
Or never, if they so refuse.  


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Terror and Tenderness


"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men... For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead:  and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:11-15). 

We know the terror of the Lord,
For judgment cannot be denied. 
The tenderness He can afford
Was purchased when our Savior died. 

We plead with hearts to turn to Christ
And place their trust in Him today
Who for our souls was sacrificed
That He might take our sins away.

There surely is no greater error
By anyone that could be made
Than making light of judgment's terror,
Unmoved though Christ Himself persuade.

We are persuaded and constrained
By terror and by tenderness
To trust the Savior God ordained,  
Who rescued us in our distress. 

O Lord, to You alone we're led,
Who died for us and rose again. 
Beneath Your wings our souls have fled
As chickens gathered to their hen.

Dear Lord, in tenderness and love
You bore the terror of the wrath
That fell upon You from above
To give to us salvation's path. 

How great the terror of Your pains
Which were endured for us, O Lord!
Your tenderness to us constrains
A life of love to You outpoured.  


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Blind to the Blessings


"Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified" (Psalm 70:4).  "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things" (Proverbs 28:5).  "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing" (Isaiah 35:5,6).  "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not" (2 Corinthians 4:3,4).

Let everyone who seeks the Lord
Rejoice in Jesus Christ our Savior!
Let Him forever be adored
Who gave Himself to grant us favor! 

Though evil men don't understand
The judgment that their sins require,
The Lord will lead them with His hand
If they repent with true desire.  

The Lord shall open then their eyes
And God shall then unstop their ears
To give a mouth that magnifies
The Lord who heals and who cheers. 

How sadly is our Gospel hid
To those preferring to be lost.
In spite of all our Savior did,
The blind refuse to count the cost.

We thank You, Lord, for all You gave,
Enduring judgment in our place
That You might bless the souls You save
With heaven's wondrous, costly grace. 

Lord, we who also once were blind 
Now see because You gave us sight
To ponder love and life we find
With endless blessings in Your light!   


Monday, April 27, 2015

Responding to Reproach


"The reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me" (Psalm 69:9).   "My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me" (Proverbs 27:11).  "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read" (Isaiah 34:16).  "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men... changed... from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:2,18). 

Reproach upon our Lord was hurled
By those who mocked Him to His face. 
The Lord is answering the world
By those whom He has saved by grace. 

"Be wise," we hear our Father say,
So we make His heart be glad,
As He responds to foes today
By showing mercy He has had. 

We search the Book of God and read
That there is truth which we may know,
And by that truth our souls are freed,
And thus God answers every foe. 

We are epistles God will use,
Which now by men are read and known,
To show the grace they too may choose
As His salvation thus is shown. 

Lord, manifest the Gospel story
By mercies we display from You,
Thus changed from glory unto glory
As we confirm Your Word is true. 

Lord, purge us by Your Holy Spirit,
Responding to reproach thereby
With truth to those who yet will hear it,
As by Your grace we testify.  


Sunday, April 26, 2015

Triumphant in Trouble


"Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which Thou hast wrought for us" (Psalm 68:28).  "O LORD, be gracious unto us... our Salvation also in the time of trouble... the LORD is our King; He will save us" (Isaiah 33:2,22).  "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ... in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Our God has commanded our strength
To triumph with heavenly force.
His mercy extends through the length
Of life till we finish our course. 

In trouble He is our Salvation,
Who gives us a new song to sing.
Triumphant in our jubilation,
We worship our Savior and King. 

Now thanks be to Jesus our Savior,
Our Lord, and the Lamb sacrificed!
We triumph alone by the favor
And truth of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

How sweet is the fragrance of grace,
Which manifests Christ in our life. 
We magnify Him in each place
Who makes us triumphant in strife. 

How great was the trouble, O Lord,
In which we had found ourselves in! 
You ran to our rescue and poured
Your soul out to save us from sin!

Lord, thank You for all that You do
To save us from infinite loss! 
We triumph in trouble by You,
With blessings that flow from Your cross!