Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Great Work of God's Workmanship


"Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD... And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did... and the people feared the LORD" (Exodus 14:13,31).  "A woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised... let her own works praise her in the gates" (Proverbs 31:30,31).  "For by grace are ye saved through faith... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

Stand still and see the work of God
In those whom He has saved by grace. 
Behold His mercy and applaud
His faithfulness we clearly trace!

The fear of God perfects His beauty
In women, men, and children too,
As worship beautifies our duty
In everything we say and do. 

Consider well His great salvation
In those whom He has saved forever,
In whom there is no condemnation
By grace (and not by our endeavor). 

O Lord, as we are standing still
To view Your work so marvelous,
We are astonished at Your will
And at Your workmanship in us!  

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Pillars on our Path


"The LORD went before them... He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people" (Exodus 13:21,22).  "Lead me, O LORD... make Thy way straight before my face" (Psalm 5:8).  "Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "Ye heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation... that ye may know what is the hope of His calling" (Ephesians 1:13,18). 

The Lord led with shade and with light:
The pillar of cloud every day,
The pillar of fire each night; 
He took not these pillars away. 

The Lord leads us on by His grace
With faithfulness that is assured
In all of the things that we face,
Directing our way by His Word. 

The people of God have a calling
As each of us follow our Lord.  
He's able to keep us from falling; 
Our diligence He will reward. 

Your words, Lord, by which we are led,
Are pillars directing our path,
By which we are called and have fled
To You as our Shield from wrath.  

 

Monday, January 29, 2018

Passover Peace


"I will execute judgment: I am the LORD... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you" (Exodus 12:12,13).  "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8).  "Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).  "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them" (Galatians 6:14,16). 

The judgment promised by the Lord
In Egypt was approaching fast,  
Yet by the blood He would afford
A hiding place where judgment passed. 

There is a place that offers peace
Beneath the blood of Christ today,
Where captives find their sweet release
And all our sins are washed away. 

We hear our Savior's invitation
To find our refuge in His blood
And thereby hide from condemnation
As in the ark throughout the flood. 

O Lord, Passover peace is found
In You alone, our Hiding Place,
As mercies from Your cross abound
Where we are rescued by Your grace.  


Sunday, January 28, 2018

Warning by His Wonders


"The LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 11:9).  "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: Thy blessing is upon Thy people" (Psalm 3:8).  "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things... Whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:5,26).  "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). 

We ponder Pharaoh's awful error,
Who saw the plagues and heard the thunders. 
How could he thus dismiss the terror
Of wrath, as God displayed His wonders? 

Alas!  It is the same today
As many still have closed their eyes
To God's salvation on display,
Refusing thereby to be wise. 

The Lord has made His judgment plain,
Yet many will not seek His face
And hurry on to endless pain,  
But those who seek Him, find His grace!

The warning by Your wonders, Lord,
Is clear to those who heed Your Spirit,
But sadly it is still ignored
By those who yet refuse to hear it!  


Saturday, January 27, 2018

Time and Tomorrow


"Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more... And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more" (Exodus 10:28,29).  "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings... Kiss the Son, lest... ye perish from the way" (Psalm 2:10,12).  "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).  "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son... to redeem them that were under the law" (Galatians 4:4,5). 

What Pharaoh rashly said before 
Would rise to taunt him with tomorrow: 
"Take heed to... see my face no more"
Would be fulfilled with death and sorrow. 

God's Spirit bids us to be wise
And "kiss the Son" whom we should cherish,
While yet His Gospel testifies
That those who trust Him shall not perish. 

How foolishly the rebel boasts
Of future things, yet does not bow
To Jesus Christ, the Lord of hosts,
Who calls the sinner to come NOW. 

Lord, right on time, You were sent here 
As our Redeemer and our King.
Now all who trust You need not fear
The things tomorrow yet may bring.  


Friday, January 26, 2018

Congregation of the Cursed


"Gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field, for...  the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die... And he that regarded not the Word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field" (Exodus 9:19-21).  "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous" (Psalm 1:5).  "The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2).  "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13). 

The congregation of the cursed
Still mocks God's Word without regard
To fearful warnings of the worst
That judgment holds for hearts so hard. 

How fearful is this introduction
To those who yet continue scorning
Without concern for the destruction
 Of those will dismiss God's warning! 

By all means, God is saving some
Who from His wrath will turn and flee. 
The curse that's causeless shall not come
To those in Christ eternally! 

O Lord, we've seen this congregation,
For this is where we all begin, 
But You were cursed for our salvation
To be our Hiding Place from sin!