Intimate Instruction

"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding... For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words.... My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.... Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:1-4,20,27). "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4).

Hear instruction from a Father
Administered with tender love:
Lesser love would never bother
To instruct us from above.

Hear instruction that is pure,
Perfect wisdom, undefiled,
From the Father's love secure,
Finding pleasure in His child.

Hear instruction from the heart
Of the Father who knows best
How to perfectly impart
Truth that gives us joy and rest.

Hear instruction and obey,
Turning neither left nor right,
Walking in the Father's way
By His truth that gives us light.

Hear instruction we employ
As from a Father to His youth,
Who has no sweeter, greater joy
Than to know we walk in truth.

Look or Lose

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6). "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward" (2 John 8).

Look to yourself that you may not lose
The blessings that God would reward.
In all your ways, acknowledge and choose
The privilege to trust in the Lord.

Look to yourself that you may assess:
Who are you trusting today?
Lean on the Lord who has promised to bless
Each one who will trust and obey.

Look to yourself that you may surrender
Your heart to the Lord of your soul.
He's the Rewarder and faithful Defender
Of all who will give Him control.

Treasures vs. Trivia

"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever" (Psalm 12:6,7). "My son, if thou wilt receive My words... yea, if thou criest after knowledge... if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5).

Some things aren't worth the time
We take to search them out.
Sometimes mountains that we climb
May only lead to doubt.

How different is the great reward
We find as hidden treasures
In words inspired by the Lord,
Surpassing earthly pleasures!

The words which God Himself inspired,
He faithfully preserves.
Nothing in this world desired,
Comparison deserves!

The vain pursuits now seem absurd
That waste our precious time,
When we may search God's precious Word,
Eternally sublime!

Favorable Fear

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.... They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.... But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from the fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:7,27-33). "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment.... There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:17,18).

The fear of the Lord is where we begin
To find out the knowledge that God will impart.
It's where we discover the nature of sin
And how to be cleansed from that sin in our heart.

The fear of the Lord is a choice we must make
If we would dwell safely by God's own protection,
Quiet from fear of the evil mistake
That leads us astray from the Savior's correction.

The fear of the Lord is perfected by love,
Casting out fear, for there's no condemnation!
We're living below with affections above,
Grateful each day for eternal salvation.

Bearing our Blame

"And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me.... I will be a surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever" (Genesis 43:8,9). "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

We view a faint reflection
In the words that Judah said.
The Surety for our protection
Was Jesus in our stead.

Judah was a surety
For the youngest of his brothers.
Yet Christ for all eternity
Would bear the blame for others.

"Let me bear the blame forever!"
So Judah said that day.
Yet our Lord by His endeavor,
Has borne our blame away!

Here is love's initiation:
Before our love begins,
Christ is our Propitiation
To save us from our sins!

Lord of love, to bear our blame,
You left Your throne above,
And on that cruel cross became
Our Surety of love.

There are no words, O Lord, it seems,
To thank You as we should.
You are, beyond our grandest dreams,
Our Surety for good.

So may we give our lives to You
As living sacrifices.
There's nothing more that we can do,
And nothing less suffices.

Purifying Precepts

"Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5). "And now, little children, abide in Him, that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.... When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 2:28, 3:2,3).

Every Word of God is pure,
So when we trust in Him and yield,
God will cause us to endure
As our purifying Shield.

The pure account of history,
Which witnesses have testified,
Was told before through prophecy,
By God's foreknowledge purified.

Thus purified by what God said
As day by day our Savior nears,
We look with confidence ahead:
To be like Him when He appears!

Let the Word of God proclaimed
So purify us as we learn,
That we may not be ashamed
When our Savior shall return.

Finding the Fairest

"Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said... There is none so discreet and wise as thou art.... and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:38-43). "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth" (Psalm 8:1).

Can we find one such as this
With such a reputation?
We have found the Source of bliss:
The Lord of our salvation!

There is no other in the earth
So mighty, wise, or kind!
We search the world for such worth:
None fairer can we find!

We see the striking parallel
In Joseph's rise to fame,
When every knee in honor fell,
Exalting thus his name.

Yet Lord, our Lord, how excellent
Your name is above all!
We are lost in wonderment
As on Your name we call!

For why would You afford such grace
Through Your redemption plan
By entering the human race
To rescue sinful man?

Lord, we find no other one
Who even can compare!
We bow the knee to God the Son,
The Fairest of the fair!

Cleansing and Closure

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.... If we confess our sins, He if faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7,9).

If we walk in the light with Jesus our Savior,
We're bound to catch sight of our sins.
The light from our Lord will expose our behavior
And check it from where it begins.

For even before our thought is a word
Or intentions have formed in our heart,
God is aware; He has seen and has heard
Our inventions before they can start.

So let us not foolishly make this mistake:
To cover our sins with a mask,
But rather confess them as well as forsake,
For cleansing is ours— if we ask!

Grief and Grace

"And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and... an Egyptian bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man... the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight" (Genesis 39:1-4). "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

There is grace for every grief
That we may thereby grow.
There is promise of relief
Our Savior will bestow.

There is grace when we abound,
And when we are abased,
Just as Joseph likewise found
The grace of God he traced.

There is grace amid the strife
To give us inward calm.
In each season of our life,
There is a healing balm.

There is grace today, tomorrow,
And grace for all the past.
God will show that even sorrow
Was for our good at last.

Musing on our Manner

"The Lord is... not willing that any should perish.... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away... the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.... Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be?" (2 Peter 3:9-11).

In view of the love of our God for mankind,
Not willing to see even one sinner perish,
As He looks upon us, what then should He find
Regarding our manner and things that we cherish?

In view of the day of the Lord that draws near
That surely will come as a thief in the night,
What manner of persons ought we to be here,
Assured of the judgment that God brings to light?

Lord, give us wisdom in this latter day
To live in a manner that glorifies You!
The heavens and earth shall soon pass away;
Revive in us holiness with this in view!

Wells Without Water

"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased" (Psalm 4:7). Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain" (Proverbs 25:14). "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest.... They speak great swelling words of vanity.... While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption" (2 Peter 2:17-19).

Wells without water: how well this portrays
The great swelling promises, hollow and vain,
That this age so proudly and loudly displays,
Like clouds that are empty and wind without rain.

Wells without water: how unlike my Lord,
Whose promises always are faithful and true!
His riches in glory will always afford
The bountiful blessings He promised to you.

Wells without water can never bestow
The joy of the Lord and His wonderful peace.
Wellsprings of gladness from Christ overflow
More than from all of this world's increase.

Lord and Lifter

"Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head" (Psalm 3:2,3). "Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:15). "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9).

Many there are who might say of my soul:
Now there goes a pitiful case!
But God has reminded me He's in control;
He governs my life with His grace.

The Lord is the Comfort and Refuge of all
Who call on Him when they are low.
He is their Lifter when His children fall,
Their Shield against every foe.

The Lord surely knows the way very well
To deliver His own from temptation.
He Who has rescued His children from hell,
Preserves them in each situation.

Savior and Lord, we rest in Your love
That shields our souls from our shame
And lifts us to set our affections above
With all who delight in Your name.

Prophecy vs. Privacy

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.... We have also a more sure word of prophecy... knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Peter 1:16-20).

We have the word of prophecy
Which God has manifested,
Interpreted by history,
Fulfilled just as expected.

The birth, the life, and death of Christ
Were perfectly foretold.
The Lamb of God was sacrificed
For sinners to behold!

History sets the record straight:
This is no private claim.
The year A.D. still marks the date
That Christ our Savior came!

Our Lord declared that He would rise
Soon after He was killed,
And three days later (no surprise!),
His promise was fulfilled.

There's nothing private or obscure
About the Word of God.
Its prophecy has proved it sure,
And doubt is surely flawed.

Fruitful Factors

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season" (Psalm 1:1-3). "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue... knowledge... temperance... patience... godliness... brotherly kindness... charity.... that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Subtracting and adding must both have their place
As factors essential to fruit cultivation:
Take away things that detract from God's grace,
And add things of virtue to faith and salvation.

There are things we should do, and things we should not.
There are times we should speak, and times to refrain.
There are things we should think; let us filter each thought,
As God's Word replaces the thoughts that are vain.

These are the primary factors we find
That make us like prosperous, fruit bearing trees.
By the virtues we add, and the vain left behind,
Let us be faithful to cultivate these!

Heart in the Hand

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.... The Lord pondereth the hearts.... A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, He directeth His way" (Proverbs 21:1,2,29).

The Lord holds the heart of the king in His hand,
And lends to him every breath that he draws.
By God's sovereign rule he will fall or will stand,
As rivers and planets conform to His laws.

As for the upright who humbles his heart,
God will be pleased to direct in His way.
This is the privilege that God will impart
To all who will humbly and gladly obey.

How good is the option to freely surrender
The throne of our heart to Christ Jesus our Lord!
No one could ask for a greater Defender,
A better Commander, or a sweeter Reward!

Inaudible Inauguration

"Mercy and truth preserve the King: and His throne is upholden by mercy" (Proverbs 20:28). "If any man speak... if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:11).

Inaugural speeches and loud celebration—
Political leaders acknowledge each other—
The torch has been passed, and the inauguration
Has transitioned power from one to another.

Yet nothing has changed in heaven's opinion:
Christ Jesus is Lord, as all heaven knows.
The heavens declare His praise and dominion,
Inaudibly, though, to all who oppose.

Pray for the president coming to power.
Ask for God's mercy that he may succeed,
Yet never lose sight that our Lord every hour
Remains on the throne; He's all that we need.

So if anyone speaks, if anyone sings,
Or if anyone serves, let all our behavior
Inaugurate freshly the King of all kings,
The Lord Jesus Christ, our God and our Savior.

Unfettered by Unfairness

"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.... For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:15-18).

Be ready always to answer the call,
In every setting, throughout every season,
To speak of your hope in your meekness to all
Who seeing a difference, are asking the reason.

What is the reason, when things are unfair,
That you don't respond or revile in kind?
Why are you free from self-pity and care,
Unfettered by malice that poisons the mind?

Christ is the reason! He gives the power
To live in a manner reflecting His love.
Call on the Lord, every day, every hour,
That He may extend you His help from above.

For Christ also suffered, the Just for unjust:
Falsely accused by unmerciful men.
So may we likewise be ready to trust,
Reflecting His image till He comes again.

He Heals

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names" (Psalm 147:3,4). "A wounded spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14). "Christ also suffered for us... by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 1:21-24).

God put the stars and the planets in space;
He placed them in orbit and named every star.
Yet we are the objects of His love and grace:
He searches our hearts and He knows who we are.

The sorrows we bear, He knows and He feels,
For He bore our sorrows and suffered for us.
Yet by His stripes and affliction He heals,
And fits us for heaven eternally thus.

He heals the broken in heart who will turn;
He binds up the wounds of the spirit distressed.
While there is much more about Him to learn,
To know that He heals the heart gives us rest.

Troubling Trust

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope in the Lord his God... which keepeth truth forever" (Psalm 146:3-6). "That your faith and hope might be in God.... for all flesh is a grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. But the word of the Lord endureth forever" (1 Peter 1:21-25).

Put not your trust in corruptible man,
No matter how solemn his vow is today,
For soon every promise, intention, and plan
Shall vanish the moment he passes away.

Hoping in man is a troubling trust;
The future is out of his sphere of control.
A certain tomorrow returns him to dust,
And then he shall stand before God in his soul.

How happy is he who is trusting the Lord,
Who created all things by the word of His power,
Who never is threatened by man's feeble sword,
Neither his glory which fades like a flower.

So let all your faith and your hope be in God
Who keeps every promise He ever will make.
Trust in another is faith that is flawed,
A hope that will fail, and a troubling mistake.

Motivated Minds

"Salvation [is] ready to be revealed in the last time.... of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently.... which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:5-13).

Prophets foretold of the grace we would find
Within this salvation they searched and inquired.
Oh what a privilege to gird up our mind
To look into things even angels desired!

Gird up the loins of your mind's motivation,
Steadfast and ready to share the good news.
So may the Gospel with its preparation,
By sharing God's peace, be girded as shoes.

Prophets foretold with unerring detail
The sufferings of Christ to purchase salvation.
The glory they spoke of shall surely not fail
When Christ shall return at His revelation.

Let us then gird up our mind and be sober;
As stewards of grace we are debtors to all.
So may we find when our short life is over
That we were thus girded and true to our call.

Eyeing the Elect

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.... Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" (Proverbs 15:3,11). "To the strangers scattered... elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied" (1 Peter 1:1,2).

The eyes of the Lord behold every place
And also look forward in time.
Nothing is hidden from His searching face,
No matter how small or sublime.

Looking through time at people's behavior,
The Lord saw the hearts of all those,
In foreknowledge, who would trust in the Savior,
And thus were elect ones He chose.

Marvelous thought! How good and how wise
The God of our salvation is!
How wondrous to know that He sets His eyes
On all those elected as His.

How great is our privilege and duty as well,
Who are by His grace set apart,
To live for the One who has save us from hell,
Obeying our Lord from the heart.

Servant Supplications

"Hear me.... Cause me.... Deliver me.... Teach me.... Lead me.... Quicken me.... for I am Thy servant" (Psalm 143:7-12).

Dear Lord, as Your servant I make supplication;
In order to serve You I've brought You my list.
I'm spreading before You my long application,
And I will be back if there's something I missed.

First, I will need Your attention above
To hear every prayer that I'm bringing to You.
Secondly, cause me to hear of Your love,
And cause me to know in my walk what to do.

Thirdly, dear Savior, deliver my soul
From all of my foes from without and within.
Fourthly, Lord, teach me to do as I'm told,
And not to slide backward again into sin.

Fifthly, Lord, lead me by Your Holy Spirit
Right to the center of Your perfect will.
Sixthly, regarding Your will when I hear it,
Quicken my heart by Your grace to fulfill.

Dear Father, I think that will do it for now.
I know that You don't really need me to serve,
Yet You have employed me and thus shown me how
To ask for the grace that I do not deserve.

Christ Cared

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path.... I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the living" (Psalm 142:3-5).

I was overwhelmed inside
And couldn't find a soul to care,
Then at last my spirit cried:
Show me, God, if You are there!

Surrounded then by apathy
With no one caring for my soul,
The vortex of eternity
Drew me with relentless pull.

I didn't know that Christ would care!
I didn't know that He would hear
My feeble cry, my anguished prayer:
I didn't know that He was near.

But Jesus pulled me with His hand
To the shelter of His love
To be my Portion in this land,
And my Advocate above.

Lord, You knew me on that path,
And You drew me to that place
To there escape eternal wrath
By finding refuge in Your grace.

Thank You, Lord, that when I cried,
My remedy had been prepared:
For on the cross You suffered, died,
And gave Yourself— because You cared.

Jehovah-Jireh

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb.... And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh (i.e., The Lord Provides): as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen" (Genesis 22:8,13,14).

Here in the mount of the Lord it is seen:
The offering Abraham saw in the ram.
This is the Scriptural promise we glean:
God has provided Himself as the Lamb!

Here where the father of Isaac obeyed
We see the shadow of Christ in our stead.
This is the portrait in Isaac displayed:
Christ has been offered, and yet is not dead!

Jehovah-Jireh! Yes, that is the name
Abraham gave to that mount of provision.
On Calvary's mountain the ransomed can claim
They saw the Savior and made their decision.

Jehovah-Jireh! The Lord has provided
The blessing He promised from Abraham's Seed.
Mercy and truth in the Lamb coincided,
Providing salvation, our soul's greatest need!

Mirror Meditation

"If any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was" (James 1:23,24).

When you look into a mirror
And won't fix what's wrong with you,
This is like the careless hearer,
Hearing what he will not do.

God is faithful in His Word
To reprove us by His grace.
We should do what we have heard,
Like a man would wash his face.

Do not hear and then forget
What the Word of God will say.
There's no need for you to let
God's correction slip away.

Hearing only will not make
The changes that our God desires.
Do not make that sad mistake,
But do right now what He requires.

Searching my Sincerity

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.... Thou understandest my thought afar off.... for there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.... Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:1,4,23,24).

Before a word has reached my tongue,
Before my thought has formed a word,
Before my praises have been sung,
Lord, You've searched them and have heard.

Since, O Lord, You search my heart,
And since You understand my ways,
Try me, Lord, and thus impart,
A heart that's cleansed to give You praise.

Surely, Lord, there's much You hear
That demands Your clear reproof.
Am I callous or sincere?
Am I earnest or aloof?

Search and cleanse my heart today,
For this is what I daily need.
Purge from me each wicked way,
And I will walk where You will lead.

Wellpleasing Work

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble.... the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands" (Psalm 138:7,8). "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20,21).

The Lord will continue His work in my life,
Until He's completed the work of His hands.
In each situation, in peace or in strife,
All things conform to His sovereign commands.

The unfailing love of my Shepherd and Savior
By His perfect wisdom and infinite might,
Works in my heart and my outward behavior
His wellpleasing plan in His merciful sight.

The Great Shepherd God brought again from the dead,
Now seated forever on His glorious throne,
Who never forsakes us, will do as He said,
His wellpeasing work in each one of His own.

Near Judgment is No Joke

"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law" (Genesis 19:14). "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.... for Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:25-29).

Judgment day is drawing near
As in the troubling days of Lot.
Mockers mock, they do not fear,
Or even give it second thought.

God, by prophets, clearly spoke,
Whom sinful scorners have refused.
The world thinks it's all a joke,
By which they merely are amused.

Eternity is very long,
And life at best is very brief.
How horrifying to be wrong,
Condemned by stubborn unbelief!

Stir again, Lord, our desire
To woo, to warn, and win the lost,
To thus escape the lake of fire,
Where unbelievers shall be tossed.

Looking at Laughter

"Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?.... Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord?.... Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, Nay, but thou didst laugh" (Genesis 17:17, 18:12-15).

Abraham laughed when he worshipped about
The promise that God would yet give him son.
Sarah laughed also, but God saw her doubt,
Reproving her questioning this could be done.

She tried to deny what could never be hid,
For God heard the laughter and thought of her heart.
She said that she didn't, but God said she did,
For God was the Searcher of her inward part.

Looking at laughter in this special case
Gives us an insight to God's holy view:
So may He search and reprove by His grace
Each thought underlying what we say and do.

Savior Who Sees

"And she [Hagar] called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after Him that seeth me?" (Genesis 16:13). "The idols of the heathen.... have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not" (Psalm 135:15,16).

Lord, I have looked, and to my delight,
I have discovered that You look at me!
You are the One Who gave me my sight,
And all that is in me You certainly see.

The idols imagined from man's feeble mind
Are crafted with mouths, but they cannot speak.
They're fashioned with eyes, and yet they are blind,
Like those who make them, so mindless and weak!

Lord, You have opened my once-blinded eyes:
How great is the evidence You clearly gave!
My once-muted mouth as well testifies:
God is still looking for those He may save!

Richer by Righteousness

"The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion" (Psalm 134:3). "And Melchizedek blessed him [Abram], and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, Possessor of heaven and earth.... And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt Thou give me?.... And behold, the Word of the Lord came unto him, saying.... So shall thy Seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness" (Hebrews 14:18, 15:1-6).

Lord and Possessor of heaven and earth,
Thank You for how You have chosen to bless!
Above all possessions there's far greater worth,
In what You impart by Your own righteousness!

Freely imparted, but not freely gained:
For You were the Priest and the Offering as well.
But where sin abounded Your righteousness reigned,
Imparted to those whom You rescued from hell.

"What will You give me?" Abram inquired.
That's when you pointed to Christ as his Seed.
Above all he asked for or could be desired,
You gave Him righteousness, meeting his need.

What would it profit to give us the earth,
Or anything else, Lord, without Your salvation?
Thank you for righteousness in our new birth
That saves us forever from our condemnation!

Precious Presence

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments" (Psalm 133:1,2). "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised), and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:23-25).

The precious presence of our Lord
Inspires unity.
How pleasant is that sweet accord
When Him alone we see.

When Aaron was anointed,
And Israel gathered round,
This portrait thereby pointed
To where our peace found.

When upon our Lord and Christ
We focus every eye,
We see our Savior sacrificed
And hear Him testify.

We see Him as our great High Priest,
Yet as our Lamb as well.
Let His presence be increased
Who rescued us from hell!

Our Lord is coming back again
To gather all His own.
Exhort each other until then,
By love, to make Him known.

Destiny after Death

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:27,28).

It is appointed once to die,
Then comes our destiny:
When God shall stand to justify
Or judge eternally.

Those who look for Jesus Christ
Have trusted in His grace,
Who for their sins was sacrificed;
And they shall see His face.

Those who will not trust the Savior,
Whose hearts will never budge,
And won't repent of their behavior,
Shall meet Him as their Judge.

O Lord, renew our urgency
To pray for the salvation
Of those who by complacency
Draw near to condemnation.

Renew our joy, O Lord, as well,
For Your enduring love
That changed our destiny from hell
To live with You above!

Sum of our Savior

"Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an High Priest Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heaven" (Hebrews 8:1).

After everything is spoken,
After all has been explored,
We perceive yet but a token
Of the glory of our Lord.

We will contemplate the sum,
Of our Savior's majesty
In His kingdom that shall come
And for all eternity.

Yet we see the total now
That the prophets look toward:
When every knee to Him shall bow,
And every tongue confess Him Lord.

Thus we see Him on His throne
As the Lord of our confession
And the High Priest of His own,
Making for us intercession.

Oh! The view is glorious here
As we see our Savior's sum!
One day closer! He draws near!
Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

Abundantly Able

"With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption" (Psalm 130:7). "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

Able to the uttermost
Is Jesus Christ to save!
In Christ alone we make our boast,
Who rose up from the grave.

He ever lives to intercede
For those who trust in Him.
He fills our cup with every need;
It overflows the brim!

And thus we face the year ahead
With confidence in Christ,
Who robbed our future of its dread
When He was sacrificed.

And even though we cannot show
What future days entail,
Our Savior can, and this we know:
His love shall never fail!

Sure and Steadfast

"We... have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest forever" (Hebrews 6:18-20).

Sure and steadfast is our hope:
Christ, the Anchor of the soul!
In His arms that envelope,
We are sure He's in control.

Jesus Christ within the veil
Draws us homeward with His arm.
He Who promised cannot fail;
He will keep our souls from harm.

This has been our consolation
Sure and steadfast through the year.
Christ, our Refuge of salvation,
Has removed our cause for fear.

In the year two thousand eight,
God was faithful everyday.
Next year He may come or wait:
Let us therefore watch and pray!

Priesthood Paradigms

"We have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.... called of God, as was Aaron.... As He saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 4:14, 5:4,6).

How marvelous it is to know,
For every need, in all our times,
There is a Priest to Whom we go
Portrayed by Scripture's paradigms.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
Called like Aaron, sacrificed.
Yet the Lamb He brought, unflawed,
Was Himself, our Lord and Christ!

And also in another place,
We see another Priest reflect
Our Lord's eternal truth and grace,
Called as was Melchisedec.

What a Savior is portrayed
In these Priesthood types foreshown!
What perfection is displayed
In our High Priest on His throne!

Labor with the Lord

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep" (Psalm 127:1,2). "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest" (Hebrews 4:11).

We have a battle yet to fight,
We have a building yet to build,
We have a burden in the night
Until God's work has been fulfilled.

But all our efforts are in vain
Except the Lord will go before
To build, to battle, and sustain
The burden of this daily war.

We need not work without His power,
We need not watch without His keeping,
We need not worry any hour,
But rest, for God is never sleeping.

Yet while we rest, we labor too,
As fellow workers with God's Son.
His work upon the cross is through;
The church He builds is not yet done.

Renewed Rejoicing

"When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord" (Psalm 126:1-4).

Remember when you found the Lord
And asked Him to come in.
Let your joy now be restored
By Him Who took your sin.

Remember it was like a dream
When Christ came into you,
So marvelous it did not seem
The Gospel could be true.

But Jesus Christ is real indeed,
And He came in to stay,
And when He did your soul was freed!
Recall that happy day!

When others looked upon your life,
They may have thought it strange:
They saw your peace instead of strife,
And marveled at the change.

Do not let the laughter cease
That once your mouth had filled,
But let rejoicing now increase,
For why should it be stilled?

If you had won the lottery,
The riches you had won
Are not worth the reality
Of God's beloved Son!

Thank You, Lord, for all You did
To save us by Your grace!
Renew the joy that can't be hid
Upon our life and face!

Ark and Altar

"And God said unto Noah.... Make thee an ark.... Thus did Noah; according to all the God commanded him, so, did he.... And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord.... And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 6:13-22, 8:20,21). "The Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever" (Psalm 125:2). "He... by Himself purged our sins" (Hebrews 1:3).

Noah feared and he obeyed
When God told him to build an ark.
When time elapsed that God conveyed,
The rain-filled clouds then gathered dark.

What a portrait here we see:
The ark is surely like our Lord,
Surrounding us eternally,
Shielding us from judgment's sword.

Noah built an altar too,
And God regarded its sweet savor,
And with this sacrifice in view,
He gave the promise of His favor.

What a picture here in truth
Of Christ this altar thus displays!
Though we're sinful from our youth,
He inhabits now our praise!

The ark is Christ we're shielded in;
The altar's fragrances reveal,
Our Lord Himself who purged our sin,
And bruised the serpent with His heel.

Remembering our Rescuer

"And God remembered Noah... and the waters assuaged; the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained" (Genesis 8:1,2). "If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side... then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul" (Psalm 124:1-4).

If it hadn't been the Lord
Then none would have been saved
When the rains of heaven poured
To judge a world depraved.

The flood above the mountains
Assuaged by God's command.
The deep then stopped her fountains,
By God's arresting hand.

Our God remembered Noah then
And brought him through the flood.
And He remembered sinful men,
And shed for them His blood.

Remember now that rescue well,
Which granted us new birth!
Refresh your memory and tell
How Jesus came to earth.

A Child was born to bear our load
And rescue us from sin.
The judgment waters overflowed
And plunged Him deep within.

But on the third day He arose
And conquered thus the grave.
We recall Him with all those
Christ Jesus came to save.

Messengers for the Master

"Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens... as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters" (Psalms 123:1,2). "A faithful messenger... refresheth the soul of his masters" (Proverbs 25:13).

To You, O Lord, we lift our eyes
To heaven's highest throne,
And pray that You would make us wise,
To make Your glory known.

We see by faith where You now dwell
Where praise proclaims Your worth,
From those whom You redeemed from hell
When You came down to earth.

Those shepherds now are where You are
Who tended sheep in Bethlehem;
The wisemen, too, who saw Your star,
When You were leading them.

Make us, Lord, like each of these,
That we might thus proclaim
And spread the message where You please,
That Christ our Savior came.

Grasping Grace

"Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8). "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11).

The saving grace that Noah found
Before the coming flood,
Yet flows from Christ and will abound
To cleanse us by His blood.

The grace of God has now appeared
That brings to us salvation.
Our Savior bore the wrath we feared,
Removing condemnation!

The grace of God extends to all
Who call upon the Lord.
He hears the sinner's urgent call
Who flees from judgment's sword.

Behold, the time for grasping grace
Is while it's called today.
You don't know the time and place
When you'll be swept away.

Now come to Christ! You dare not wait
Or boast of a tomorrow.
There is a time when it's too late
That brings eternal sorrow.

We thank you, Lord, for grace that came
So long ago to earth.
To save our souls, remove our shame,
And give us a new birth!

And thank you, Lord, for grace that stays
And vows to never leave!
Our adoration, grateful praise,
And love, O Lord, receive.

Gift for God

"My son, give Me thine heart" (Proverbs 23:26).

God has one gift on His list
That you and I should give:
That He might reign within our midst
And in our hearts might live.

Neither gold nor frankincense
Nor costliness of myrrh
Nor other treasures of expense
Does Christ our Lord prefer.

Give to Him the life He bought
At heaven's highest price!
This is what our Savior sought
When He was sacrificed.

Lord, we bring our hearts to You,
Our souls for which You paid,
And bodies sanctified anew,
All on Your altar laid.

Greatness of His Graciousness

"Great are Thy tender mercies, O Lord.... I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil.... Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:156,162,165).

Beyond what we can understand
Is His majestic power
Who made the heavens, sea, and land,
And keeps them at this hour.

And, oh, the greatness of the love
In Jesus Christ we've heard,
Who left His majesty above
According to His Word.

How great His tender mercies are!
How great His Word to us,
Which preaches peace to those once were far
And reaches rebels thus!

Oh, Lord, we thank you for Your peace,
A treasure that transcends
All this world's vain increase
That very shortly ends.

Oh Lord, we came in poverty,
But You gave us the spoil
That You had won by Calvary
By suffering and toil!

We thank you, Lord, for graciousness
That draws us near to You,
For perfect peace, for tenderness,
And for Your Word so true!

Destiny beyond Dust

"Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.... Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.... And in the process of time... Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering" (Genesis 3:19,21, 4:3,4).

Death came to humanity,
Consigning man to dust.
And thus the law of entropy
Was on this world thrust.

As from dust we came to be,
To dust shall we return.
But this is not our destiny,
As God's would have us learn.

For God instructed fallen man
By making coats of skins,
Revealing thus His wondrous plan
For covering their sins.

A sinless, living sacrifice,
By death, their clothing made.
Their bloodless work would not suffice
To show a ransom paid.

Abel brought his offering,
And God was pleased as well,
To thereby show that He would bring
The Lamb that saves from hell.

The sacrifices now are gone
But Jesus Christ remains.
The work He did goes on and on
In each heart where He reigns.

And thus we see our destiny,
So far beyond the dust,
Extends with Christ eternally
To all who in Him trust.

Needing His Nearness

"They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from Thy law. Thou art near, O Lord; and all Thy commandments are truth" (Psalm 119:150,151). "There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

The mischievous are drawing near
Who hate the law of God.
And many give to them an ear,
Approve them, and applaud.

Yet God is with us, praise His name,
Our Lord, Emmanuel!
What a comfort we can claim,
Assured that all is well!

For God has never left His own;
His promises are true.
The Lord is ruling on His throne;
He sees what sinners do.

There is day of reckoning
Approaching even now
When sinners who have mocked our King
Shall then be forced to bow.

Thus we comfort one another
Until He shall appear:
Our Lord sticks closer than a brother;
He is a Friend that's near.

Enmity for Eternity

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it (lit. He) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15). "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 13:7). "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.... And a man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10:34-36).

The Lord has put His enmity,
Where once there had been none,
That now divides humanity
By Jesus Christ His Son.

Destruction's path is wide and broad,
Where once we all did dwell.
But Jesus Christ brought peace with God
That plucked our souls from hell.

Praise the Lord that He thus came,
To wake that awful sword
By which He bore our sin and shame
And severed judgment's cord.

Thank You, Lord, for the division
That makes us now Your own
By love that prompted Your decision
To leave Your glorious throne!

Lord, at Your feet in love we kneel!
You suffered in our stead,
But when the serpent bruised Your heel,
You thereby crushed his head!

Said and Settled

"Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1).

Caution! There is subtlety
That's lurking round about!
Satan works relentlessly
To sow the seeds of doubt.

Are you sure that God has said...?
The serpent thus began,
And when the doubt like cancer spread,
He had achieved his plan.

God has said, and we have heard,
His counsel and instruction.
We either will believe God's Word,
Or fall by our seduction.

Though dispensations have gone by,
And much has been achieved,
Satan sows the same old lie,
And many are deceived.

God has said just what he meant,
And meant just what He said.
Except the sinner shall repent,
He'll perish when he's dead.

Be on guard for Satan's lies!
Let nothing slip away.
God will bless and make those wise
Who trust Him and obey.

Testing Times

"Deal with Thy servant.... I am Thy servant; give me understanding.... It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law" (Psalm 119:124-126). "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1).

The time has come to work, O God.
Lord, show Your servants what to do.
Beneath their feet have sinners trod
Your Law they mock and call untrue.

These are times that You foretold,
When Satan would unleash His lies.
Times of testing now unfold:
Let Your servants now arise!

Faithful servants stand the test,
And others fail by seduction.
Thereby God shall manifest
The path of life and of destruction.

Yet faithful servants sometimes fail,
But by God's grace they are restored.
For by His strength they shall prevail,
And by His mercy serve the Lord.

Faithful servants stand by grace,
Not by power of their own,
To work in such a time and place
Assigned by God, and God alone.

Times of testing now are here:
Lord, give Your servants understanding
So that we, by grace and fear,
May do the work that You're commanding.

Holding the Holy

"Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy statutes continually" (Psalm 119:117). "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.... The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Psalm 119:27).

Lord, You know my tendency
To backslide down the slope
When I forget You're holding me,
And You're my only hope!

The Fountain of my hope is Christ,
Who gives grace to the lowly.
His grace to save alone sufficed,
And grace shall make me holy.

Lord, I know You hold my hand,
And that You draw me near,
And by Your grace alone I stand,
Perfected by Your fear.

So I will trust You, Lord, to hold
And strengthen me each day
To make me holy, humble, bold,
And lead me in Your way.

Let there be Light

"Darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:2-4). "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). "The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out" (Proverbs 13:9). "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:4).

In the beginning before there was light,
When darkness had covered the face of the earth,
God spoke a word that invaded the night:
"Let there be light", and light had its birth.

The Word that God authored gives light to our path
And gives us a message to this world sent:
The Light of the World will save you from wrath,
And you shall not perish if you will repent.

The light of God's Word is a lamp for our feet,
Feet that should carry Good News to the lost.
Jesus came into this world to complete
His work to save sinners at so great a cost.

God would have everyone come to the light,
But He will not force them to trust in the Savior.
Yet He commands us to shine in their sight,
As lights in this world by word and behavior.

"Let there be light," our Lord still decrees,
And thus He has given to us our commission.
So whether we're walking or down on our knees,
Let us be praying that sinners will listen.

Jewels for Jesus

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels" (Malachi 3:16,17).

So let the world count us fools
As we think upon our Lord.
God is making up His jewels,
By all those who have adored.

God has hearkened to the speech
And also to the meditation
Of those who often think and teach
On Jesus Christ and His salvation.

What privilege it is
And what a prospect we can see:
We who love the Lord are His,
Both now and for eternity!

So let think upon His name
And let us at His beauty look,
Rejoicing that our Savior came,
And we are written in His book!

Cherish His Changelessness

"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations.... Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction" (Psalm 119:89,92). "I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). "The Lord is faithful, Who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil" (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

As faithful as His Word decreed,
As changeless as His throne,
As sure as Scripture that we read,
The Lord is to His own.

What a comfort to our hearts!
His changelessness we cherish!
What assurance He imparts
That we shall never perish!

He is faithful! That is why
We shall not be consumed.
Surely otherwise we'd die
And be forever doomed.

Faithful, changeless, loving Lord,
The labor is so sweet
That seeks a crown with this reward:
To lay it at Your feet!

When Clouds Will Clear

"My soul fainteth for Thy salvation: but I hope in Thy Word.... For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget Thy statutes" (Psalm 119:81,83). "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish" (Proverbs 10:28). "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.... And the Lord shall be King over all the earth" (Zechariah 14:6-9). "He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:10).

Our hope of gladness is not vain,
Though clouds obscure that day.
When Jesus Christ returns again
Those clouds shall clear away.

And though the clouds have not yet cleared,
To faith it is not dark,
As when the time of judgment neared
When Noah built the ark.

Thus we walk by faith, not sight,
For God has now assured
That everything will be alright
For those who trust His Word.

Our faith is like a periscope
That sees above the clouds.
Behold the gladness of our hope
That human vision shrouds!

For Christ the Lord, our glorious King,
Shall govern all the earth.
The clouds will clear, and we shall sing,
Admiring His worth!

His Hands

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:73). "I will pour... the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced... And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends" (Zechariah 12:11, 13:6).

Lord, Your hands have fashioned me.
Only You can clearly show
The truth that You would have me see,
To understand what I should know.

Here is where it all begins;
My heart by this now understands:
I see the horror of my sins
As I now look upon Your hands.

Here is where it also ends,
For on the cross Your love prevailed
As in the house of Your own friends
Your holy hands for us were nailed.

Your holy Law was satisfied!
Your hands yet wounded still display
That Love for me was crucified,
To put my horrid sins away.

Lord of all of Your creation,
You have taught my heart and mind
By hands once pierced for my salvation:
You are holy and so kind!

Pricing the Precious

"The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver" (Psalm 119:72). "My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and My revenue than choice silver" (Proverbs 8:19). "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me My price... So they weighed for My price thirty pieces of silver" (Zechariah 11:12).

Far better now it is to choose
The Word of God today
Than gold and silver revenues
The earth has on display.

The world casts aside its worth,
The same as it does Christ,
For when He came down to this earth,
How poorly He was priced!

The silver that they gave for Christ
Was thirty pieces weighed.
The Lamb of God was sacrificed
And for this price betrayed!

Lord and Savior of the earth,
With what shall we compare
The value You are truly worth
That heaven did not spare?

Lord, not a trillion worlds full
Of silver and fine gold
Can weigh Your Gift unspeakable
Of priceless worth untold.

Precious Lord, receive our love
As humbly we adore,
Until we're face to face above
To praise You even more.

Greatness of His Goodness

"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass, upon a colt the foal of an ass.... Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope.... For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!" (Zechariah 9:9,12,17).

How great is the goodness of Jesus our King!
How great is His beauty Who came meek and lowly!
How great His salvation He came down to bring,
That sinners, once hopeless, by grace are made holy!

How great is the distance that Jesus Christ came,
Descending to earth from eternity's throne!
How great is His mercy that purges our shame,
That holds us in love and that calls us His own!

How great was His ransom for captives set free,
Purchased by blood that is precious and pure.
How great is the strong hold to which we now flee:
Our refuge in Christ shall forever endure!

Chorus of Comfort

"This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy word hath quickened me.... I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself.... Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage" (Psalm 119:50,52,54). "My son, keep thy Father's commandment.... When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee" (Proverbs 6:20,21).

There is a daily chorus found
Of comfort that our Lord imparts,
For though afflictions may abound,
Yet His Word revives our hearts.

When you go, His Word shall lead,
Guiding, guarding all the way.
In this pilgrimage we need
His Word of comfort everyday.

When you come at each day's end,
As you close your eyes to sleep,
Thank the Lord, Your faithful Friend,
Watches those He vows to keep.

When you wake to read His Word,
Listen, and you'll hear His voice.
Let your heart by Him be stirred;
Wake to worship, and rejoice!

When our pilgrimage is through,
We will sing on heaven's shore
Of all the things in life we view
That God had meant for good before.

Beauty of the Branch

"Behold, I will bring forth my SERVANT the Branch.... And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.... Behold the MAN, whose name is The Branch.... He shall be a Priest upon His throne" (Zechariah 3:8,9, 6:12,13). "In that day shall the Branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious" (Isaiah 4:2). "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a KING shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment in the earth" (Jeremiah 23:5).

Behold the beauty of the BRANCH!
The SERVANT of the Lord who came
To save us when we had no chance,
Hopeless in our sin and shame.

Behold the BRANCH who is the MAN
Who came to be our saving Priest.
He carried out salvation's plan
When every other hope had ceased.

Behold the BRANCH who is the LORD;
How beautiful and glorious now!
How worthy is the Lamb adored
With many crowns upon His brow!

Behold the BRANCH who is the KING
Who soon shall reign upon the earth.
Bring to Him your offering
In worship that proclaims His worth!

Plain Path

"Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments, for therein do I delight... Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy way" (Psalm 119:35,37). "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of Thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand or to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:25-27).

Help me, Lord, to understand
And walk the way that You make plain.
It is the path of Your command;
Every other way is vain.

Turn my feet, O Lord, away
From paths that spend my energy
On things that waste the time of day
And dead end in futility.

Your path is surely plain to see;
Your Word illumines it with light.
The problem is the vanity
That turns my eyes from left to right.

It boils down to just one thing:
I need to fix my eyes on You.
O Lord, my Savior, God, and King,
This is what I long to do!

Guarded Garments

"Joshua was clothed with filthy garments.... And unto him He [the Lord] said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment" (Zechariah 3:3,4). "But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Colossians 3:9,10).

Filthy garments! What a mess!
These are all I had before.
But now the robe of righteousness
Is mine in Christ, and so much more!

Those garments now I would not touch,
Much less choose again to wear!
Since God has given me so much,
Those filthy rags cannot compare.

Still, the old man is not gone,
With his malice, filth, and lies,
And he bids me to put them on;
Telling me they're just my size!

Guard me, Lord, in each temptation;
Wash me thoroughly within.
Since I'm clothed in Your salvation,
Keep me free and far from sin.

Manifest the Mystery

"The mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations... now is made manifest to His saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:26,27).

The mystery hid from long ages past
Cloaked in the shadows of prophetic story,
Is manifest now to the world at last:
Christ in His people, the Hope of God's glory!

God would make known this mystery now
To show all the riches of glory He gives.
We should be those who manifest how
This hope is revealed, for Christ in us lives!

He's dwelling in heaven upon His great throne,
And living in those who surrender their hearts.
This is the mystery God would make known:
This is the glorious hope He imparts!

Lord, we're Your people in whom You display
The hope of Your glory that You would not hide.
Help us to show forth Your mystery today
As vessels of mercy in whom You abide.

Prioritize His Preeminence

"All things were created by Him (Christ), and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:16-18).

Before there was time,
Any matter, or space,
Our Savior sublime
Was enthroned in His place.

He is the Creator
Of things near and far,
Eternally greater
Than all things that are.

For by Him the earth
And the heavens exist,
Which herald His worth
By Whom they consist.

And He is the Head
Of each one He will save,
Firstborn from the dead,
Who has conquered the grave.

Lord, reign in my heart,
As You purge its pretense!
Invade every part;
Have the preeminence!

Heart for Him

"Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways" (Psalm 119:2,3). "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:13,14).

Away with distracted, unworthy desire
That gives to my Lord a halfhearted praise!
Lord, I would give You my heart now on fire,
That seeks You completely and walks in Your ways!

Surely, I know I have not apprehended
This wholehearted search that I hope to attain.
I'll press for that mark till my journey has ended,
Where living is Christ and my dying is gain.

Here is my heart, Lord, submitted to You,
Aimless without You, toward evil prone.
This is the one thing I'm longing to do:
To seek to be pleasing to You, Lord, alone.

Singing with the Savior

"The Lord is my Strength and Song, and is become my Salvation" (Psalm 118:14). "Sing... be glad and rejoice with all the heart.... The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing" (Zephaniah 3:14-17).

The Lord is our Strength and our Song,
And He has become our Salvation.
The Savior is singing along
Rejoicing with His new creation!

Yes! Our Savior is singing as well
With joy over those He redeemed
And those He has rescued from hell;
How hopeless and helpless they seemed!

But Christ has delivered our souls,
And sings with us now on our path.
We sing now the song that extols
The Love that delivered from wrath!

How sweet is His singing that blends
His song with His own people's voices!
The song of our Lord never ends
That rests in His love and rejoices.

He Humbled Himself

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 117:1,2). "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

He humbled Himself: now what does that mean?
How can we know what that meant for our Lord?
Can we comprehend that spectacular scene
When He was by angels in heaven adored?

He humbled Himself! He set it aside!
He came down to earth in the likeness of man.
For us He would suffer and be crucified:
If we would be saved, there was no other plan.

He humbled Himself! We scarcely begin
To ponder that distance when He stooped so low!
That we might be rescued and ransomed from sin,
Even to death on the cross He would go!

He humbled Himself, but God has now raised
His name above all other names for His worth!
How rightly the name of our Savior is praised
And worshipped in heaven and nations on earth!

Thoughtful and Thankful

"I love the Lord because He hath heard my voice.... I was brought low, and He helped me.... What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?.... I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name o the Lord" (Psalm 116:17). "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen" (Ephesians 6:24).

Do you remember that wonderful day
When you cried to the Lord and He heard your voice?
The sorrows of death, of hell, and dismay
Were conquered by Christ! Recall and rejoice!

No wonder we love Him! We all surely know
The price that He paid to answer our prayer.
We each can remember when we were brought low,
And His nail-pierced hand delivered us there!

In view of His benefits, what shall we render?
We cannot repay that unspeakable price!
But we can in love and thanksgiving surrender
Ourselves as a living and right sacrifice.

Bless our Blesser

"The Lord hath been mindful of us.... He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.... Ye are blessed of he Lord which made heaven and earth.... But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 115:12-18). "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

Come, bless the Lord, for the way He has blessed;
How great are the blessings our Savior bestows!
Forgiveness, redemption, revival and rest:
Yes, Christ is the Fountain from Whom blessing flows!

Come, bless the Savior for all He has done:
Give Him the praise Who made heaven and earth.
For all of His blessings bestowed in God's Son,
We will give thanks, magnifying His worth.

Come, bless the Blesser, Who came from above
To meet us with mercy and truth on the cross.
Bless Him forever for His wondrous love
That spared not His life to protect us from loss.

Dread of His Dominion

"When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah was His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion. The sea saw it and fled: Jordan was driven back.... What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest?.... Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord" (Psalm 114:1-7). "Wherefore He saith, Awake... because the days are evil. Wherefore.... be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:1,18).

Looking back in history,
When Israel was God's dominion,
Why did Jordan have to flee?
Now what is your informed opinion?

No, it wasn't Israel
From whom those waters fled.
The presence of Immanuel
Then caused the earth her dread.

Now in these dark and evil days,
The Devil rages like a flood.
The hellish army he arrays
Is surely not of flesh and blood.

Let us therefore be aware,
And let us be awake!
Our feeble powers neither scare
Nor Satan's forces shake.

But through our God, Immanuel,
The battle shall be won
And turn away the powers of hell
For dread of God the Son.

Lord, we know we have no power
Or wisdom of our own
Within this present evil hour
To make Your Gospel known.

So come and reign, Lord, as You please;
All other help must fail!
For by Your presence Satan flees,
And thus shall we prevail!

Fall at the Feet

"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies thy footstool... Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning" (Psalm 110:1,3). "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of glory... hath raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places... and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:17-23).

Scripture knows no middle ground,
For Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
The saved delight to see Him crowned,
His enemies will surely fall.

We'll fall in worship or in wrath:
There simply is other choice.
There is a broad or narrow path:
The lost will weep; the saved rejoice.

Oh how thrilling it is now
To worship humbly at His feet!
One day every knee shall bow
When at His throne we all shall meet.

Before His feet our joy is full;
Beneath His feet His foes lament.
We praise the Lord who saved our soul,
And so will they if they repent.

Blessed in the Beloved

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love... to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted (Greek "charito" = highly favored) in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:3,6).

God bestows the highest favor
That can come from heaven's place
Through the love of Christ our Savior:
Praise the glory of His grace!

We are more than just "accepted":
Christ removed from us our blame.
By His grace we were perfected
When we called upon His name.

Before He gave the earth foundation,
Even then our Lord foresaw
And chose us to receive salvation
With grace that satisfied His law.

What countless blessings are bestowed
(Yes, all that heaven can afford!)
When we exchange sin's heavy load
For favor found in Christ our Lord.

Reaping vs. Retiring

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9,10).

The thought that one day we retire
To live for leisure and to sleep,
Is out of step with God's desire
To never faint and thus to reap.

Strength of body may diminish,
But never God's sustaining grace.
Fight the good fight to the finish,
Keep the faith, and run the race.

While there's opportunity
Let us do what good we can.
In view of our eternity,
Retirees should have this plan!

Cost of the Calm

"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.... Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord" (Psalm 107:29,43). "Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? For the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you.... So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging" (Psalm 107:11,16).

We read in Psalm one hundred seven,
This sweet, majestic Psalm,
That God extends His hand from heaven
To make the storm a calm.

Whoever will observe these things
Will see there was a price:
The calm of spirit that God brings
Required Sacrifice.

The storm that Jonah's ship was in
Where souls were nearly lost,
Portrays God's wrath against our sin,
And for the calm, the cost.

For Jonah was a type of Christ,
Then lifted up and hurled.
The Lamb of God was sacrificed,
For God so loved the world.

The sea is calm that used to toss
And rage because of wrath,
For Christ was lifted on the cross:
Peace had no other path.

O let us praise and thank the Lord
Who left His throne above!
The wrath of God was on Him poured,
But on us streams of love.

Jarring Jonah

"The Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.... But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not" (Jonah 1:4-6).

The downward slope we clearly see
When Jonah fled from God's command,
And then he slept in apathy,
Despite the fearful storm at hand.

If not the tempest, who could wake
This wayward prophet sleeping hard?
If not the storm, what would it take,
So that God's servant might be jarred?

At last the prophet would be wise,
By words that stirred within him shame:
What mean you, sleeper? Now arise!
Call on God! Invoke His name!

The lesson here to us applies
And bids us think upon this scene,
That we might hear those fearful cries:
O sleeper, rise! What do you mean?

For even now there is a storm,
That threatens souls with every wave.
Though apathy accepts this norm,
God does not, and longs to save.

So let us hear the Savior's voice,
And go wherever He has sent,
For heaven's angels still rejoice
When one lost sinner will repent.

Wellspring of Wisdom

"The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.... Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it.... The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips" (Proverbs 16:1,22,23).

The well of our wisdom will surely run dry
Unless there's a Spring that will give understanding.
God is the Wellspring, our Source of supply,
That fills us with truth that the need is demanding.

God gives the answer for which we are yearning.
God gives His wisdom to those who will ask.
God is the Teacher of lips that are learning,
Providing the word that is right for each task.

The heart may prepare, but God gives the word
That has understanding and wisdom He gives.
Let us then pray till this has occurred,
And thus by His wellspring declare that He lives.

Song of my Soul

"The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: Lord shall rejoice in His works.... I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord" (Psalm 104:31,33,34).

Sing, to the Lord with a sweet meditation.
Sing, to the Lord with all heaven above.
Sing, for His wonders displayed in creation.
Sing for the joy of His unceasing love.

Sing, O my soul, for as long as you live.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving and praise.
He gave Himself; how much more could He give?
Sing, O my soul, bless the Lord all your days.

Sing, O my soul, and forever rejoice.
Sing, for the Lord is rejoicing as well.
Sing to the Lord with your heart and your voice;
Sing of your Lord who redeemed you from hell.

Sing, O my soul, and be glad in the Lord.
Sing, for He gave you a new song to sing.
Sing, O my soul, now redeemed and restored.
Sing to your Savior, Creator, and King!

Famine of Forgetfulness

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:2). "A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not" (Proverbs 14:6). "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:11,12). "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another" (Galatians 1:6,7).

There is a famine in the land,
No, not for water or for bread,
But rather for the Lord's command,
To hear and do what He has said.

How odd it is that we should be
From Christ so easily removed,
Our Fountainhead of liberty,
Whose faithfulness is surely proved.

In view of all that God has done
To save us, keep us, and to bless,
How great our famine if we shun
Our God by our forgetfulness!

The scorners seek and cannot find
A puzzle piece of truth to fit,
And then lead others who are blind
To likewise fall into their pit.

Oh may our land again return
To seek her blessings known at first,
To feed the hungry hearts that yearn
And satisfy our nation's thirst.

Meeting Majesty

"Prepare to meet Thy God.... He that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts is His name.... Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is His name" (Amos 4:12,13, 5:8).

Prepare to meet with Majesty,
Far greater that we thought!
The day approaches when we'll see
And praise Him as we ought.

Yet even now we may prepare
To meet and praise Him here,
Who formed the mountains, wind, and air,
And shaped our atmosphere.

He made the sea and all therein;
He made the morning light.
He came to earth to bear our sin
And save us from our plight.

He declares each thought we hide;
He knows them one by one,
And yet He'll meet us and abide
When we receive His Son.

Seek the Lord who made the stars
And shows us what shall be.
What a privilege is ours
To meet with Majesty!

Agressive Agreement

"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come to me? I will walk in my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (Psalm 101:2,3). "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3).

Can two now walk together, except they be agreed?
Is God content to dwell with us without reproving sin?
The answer "NO!" is obvious. And thus I see my need
To purge my life aggressively; now where should I begin?

Perhaps I'd better start with what I put before my eyes:
Things not only wicked, but the things that waste my time.
Why should I give energy to things that are not wise,
Since God has offered me instead His Word that is sublime?

Do I have God's approving eye on every secret thought?
The Word of God is like a sword dividing wrong from right,
And God will thereby show me what is true and what is not,
As every thought in darkness is reproved within His light.

So let me work aggressively to purify my way
That I may walk in harmony with Jesus Christ my Savior.
Search me and create in me a clean heart, Lord, today,
That our agreement may be seen in all of my behavior.

Simplicity vs. Subtlety

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through His subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Remember Satan's subtlety,
That serpent in the garden,
Who turned Eve from simplicity,
So that her heart would harden.

Remembering the subtle ways
And words that Satan used
Will thus expose the snare he lays
For those whom he's confused.

Satan's question: "Hath God said?"
Was all that he would need
To take Eve down the path he led
And sow his doubtful seed.

Let us take this for instruction,
And hold fast to God's Word,
Lest doubting God be our destruction,
In spite of what we've heard.

Chastened and Challenged

"Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name; they called upon the Lord, and He answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept His testimonies, and the ordinance that He gave them. Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: Thou was a God that forgavest them, though Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions" (Psalm 99:5-8).

Flawless perfection shall never be found
When looking in people, whoever they be.
Even the prophets and priests so renowned,
All had sin natures, just like you and me.

Moses the prophet and Aaron the priest
Were chastened by God for sinful inventions.
Samuel's favor with God had increased,
Yet he also failed, despite good intentions.

We do not find comfort because they were flawed,
But rather because they were men God forgave.
And though we have sinned, there is pardon from God,
There is challenge to grow, and His power to save.

Openly Offered

"The Lord hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen" (Psalm 98:2). "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

You know of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who left heaven's riches to come to this place
To make Himself poor, to be sacrificed,
And openly offer His riches of grace.

We've seen the historical proof of His love.
We've heard of the grace that He graciously gives.
We know that our Savior ascended above,
And saves to the utmost, since He ever lives!

The grace of our Savior has never been hid;
All of these things have been openly shown.
Those who will choose to ignore what He did
Shall have no excuse when they stand at His throne.

Helping Holiness

"Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 97:10). "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13). "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1).

There is a help for holiness
In godly fear and love
That promises to cleanse and bless,
With help from God above.

Love the Lord with all your heart,
And then you will despise
The evil prompting to depart
From truth (exchanged for lies).

The fear of God, then, simply stated,
Is living for His smile
And hating all that He has hated
Because it will defile.

So let us cleanse ourselves from all
Our filth of flesh and spirit,
With fear that heeds our holy call
And love with ears to hear it.

Daily Declaration

"Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among the people" (Psalm 96:2,3). "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech (literally, implore) you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:2).

Among the reasons to declare
Salvation day by day,
Is so that souls may be aware
Before they're swept away.

Eternity is like a wave
That crashes on the shore,
A tide that sweeps us to the grave,
And then returns for more.

Thus we are ambassadors
Imploring in Christ's stead,
Though the mocker yet ignores
And scorns what God has said.

We use the time, we seize the day,
And boast not of tomorrow.
We point to Christ, the only Way
To flee from judgment's sorrow.

Day by day we now proclaim
The Good News of salvation:
To those who trust in Jesus' name,
There is no condemnation!

Redeemer's Remedy

"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in Me is thine help. I will be thy King: where is any other that may save thee?.... I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death" (Hosea 13:9,10,14).

The self-help books upon our shelves
Won't help us when we've stumbled,
If we who have destroyed ourselves
By pride will not be humbled.

These remedies cannot begin
To heal our condition
If we will not admit our sin
And turn with true contrition.

In spite of our rebellious pride
And foolishness employed,
The love of God calls us aside
When we are self-destroyed.

We hear the Lord in kindness say:
"Come, find your help in Me,
For I will be your King today,
And I will set you free.

Are there others who can save?
Their boasts are wasted breath!
I will ransom from the grave,
Redeeming you from death."

What redemption is extended
To the one who will take heed!
What a Savior has befriended
Sinners in their time of need!

Readiness for Righteousness

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you" (Hosea 10:12).

God shall send His righteousness
As rain to bless our thirsty land,
But till that time He comes to bless
There's surely labor now at hand.

Sow the land with Gospel seeds,
And reap where mercy may abound.
Cultivate your righteous deeds,
And thus break up your fallow ground.

For now it's time to seek the Lord,
Lest all our efforts be in vain.
Let prayerful hearts be thus outpoured,
Till righteousness come down like rain.

Floundering Floods

Election Day 2008

"Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.... The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty.... Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea" (Psalm 2:6, 93:1-4).

Within this season of election
We would do well to note
That God has made His own selection
With His deciding vote.

The floods have lifted up their voice;
God sees the vote their casting,
But God already made His choice,
In fact, from everlasting.

The floods of people vainly roared
Against our Lord and Savior,
But Jesus Christ is still the Lord,
No matter whom they favor.

What a privilege, by election,
We too may choose to own
And worship Christ in His perfection
As King of our heart's throne!

Give Thanks for God's Thoughts

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.... For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands. O Lord, how great are Thy works! And Thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this" (Psalm 92:1,4-6).

How good and wonderful it is
To thank the Lord for all He's done:
Wisdom, might, and love are His,
Displayed in Jesus Christ His Son.

Your thoughts, O Lord, are very deep!
How great the works are of Your hands!
Your promises You always keep;
Your counsel thus forever stands.

The fool by choice will know You not
And sets aside the evidence
Preserved in Your prophetic thought,
And thus remains without defense.

Receive our thanks, Lord, once again,
That You, in love, upon us thought.
How hopeless we all would have been
And helpless, Lord, if You had not!

Opened for Obedience

"Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.... For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 15:58, 16:9).

Behold a door is open wide
With opportunity today.
God now bids us step inside
And then with diligence obey.

This door of opportunity
Is opened for obedience.
The impact on eternity
Should summon all our diligence.

God includes this guarantee:
Our labor shall not be in vain.
To live through Christ is victory,
To die in Christ, eternal gain.

So how can we afford to wait
While God commands us enter in?
The opportunities are great;
To turn away is surely sin.

Beauty and the Believer

(Change We Can REALLY Believe In!)

"And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it" (Psalm 90:17). "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.... and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:49,52).

Let the beauty of the Lord
Be evident upon our lives.
This is what we look toward,
And that for which His Spirit strives.

Strengthen, Lord, our feeble hands
So that our work by grace may last,
And leave a monument the stands
To future generations passed.

This is now our Christian duty,
For such a time by God arranged.
Yet God shall grant eternal beauty
In that day we shall be changed!

How beautiful the victory
That we may see on history's pages!
Behold as well eternity:
We shall be changed for endless ages!