Confident Commitment

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established… A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:3,9).  “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 3:13,14).

If we commit our works to God,

Our thoughts by Him shall be perfected,

For though our planning may be flawed,

Our way by Him shall be directed.

Our times are surely in God’s hand,

And He leaves nothing up to “chance.”

Our purposes by Him are planned,

And He controls our circumstance.

In Him we find our confidence,

And this is where our thoughts can rest,

Since God Himself is our Defense,

And by His sovereign will we’re blest.

Forgetting, then, those things behind

And reaching forth to this one thing,

We find our perfect peace of mind

In living for our God and King.

With confidence our heart obeys,

As we are led by Christ our Savior

To love Him and observe His ways,

As He extends to us His favor.

O Lord, we thank You that You give

This gracious calling to Your own

Who with this firm commitment live:  

To know You and to make You known.

Like our Lord

“He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ… For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain… Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6,21, 2:5). 

There is a work that God begins

When we receive Him as our Savior: 

He, first of all, will purge our sins, 

And then He works on our behavior. 

There is a mark we press toward;

There is a likeness we pursue:

To grow to be more like our Lord

In all we think, and say, and do.

There is a life above our norm,

Which is by Jesus Christ defined.

This is the work God will perform:

To mold in us His humble mind.

There is a standard very plain:

For me to live is Christ alone,

And then for me to die is gain.

O may this standard be our own!

Lord, all our purpose hence to live

Is focused now on things above,

As You transform our life to give

A truer likeness of Your love.

Lamentable Laughter

“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness” (Proverbs 14:13). 

Even in laughter the heart may have sorrow,

And heaviness comes at the end of that mirth,

But O, there’s unspeakable joy on the morrow

For all who have tasted the joy of new birth!

Even in laughter the sorrow abides,

For no earthly remedy heals the heart.

Only the Savior of sinners provides

The healing and joy He alone can impart.

There’s joy that replaces lamentable laughter; 

It comes with salvation that God freely gives.

There’s blessing extended in life ever after

Because our Lord Jesus eternally lives.

O Lord, we give thanks for the joy of salvation

That never will fade with the passing of time.

Lamentable laughter, so brief in duration,

Can never compete with Your joy so sublime.

Troubled Transgressors

“Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). 

How troubled indeed is the transgressor's way,

Refusing to come to the Savior,

Who will not give heed to what God has to say,

Rejecting His marvelous favor.

How good is the Lord who will give understanding

Regarding why Jesus Christ came,

That we may perceive what His law is demanding

And why we should trust in His name.

How kind is the Savior whose visage was marred

In order to bear our transgressions,

Whose hands, feet, and side for transgressors were scarred

For judgment that gave no concessions.

How hard is the transgressor’s heart that is hardened,

Refusing God's wonderful grace

By which our transgressions are thus fully pardoned

And hidden from God’s holy face!

O Lord, we’re astounded by what You have done

In order to grant us salvation!

You purged our transgressions; behold, there are none

Demanding our soul’s condemnation!

Cup of our Curse

“I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked… God is the Judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup… the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall… drink them” (Psalm 75:4-8). “Then said Jesus… the cup which my Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11).

Our God is the Judge who puts down and sets up;

He’s warning the fools to depart from their pride,

For in the Lord’s hand is a most dreadful cup:

His wrath for our sins is the mixture inside.

Our God is the Judge, and yet He’s the Savior

Who knew all the grief in that cup He was served.  

How great is His mercy extending His favor

By drinking the cup of our curse we deserved!

Our God is the Judge, yet He offers a choice: 

His cup of salvation replaces the cursed,

And all who respond to the call of His voice

Shall drink of His blessing that satisfies thirst.

O Lord, we are living in times that are strange,

For wide is the gate and the pathway is broad

Of those who insanely refuse to exchange

The cup of our curse for the blessing of God!

Battling the Blasphemy

“And David said… Is there not a cause?... Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts… The LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S” (1 Samuel 17:29-47).  “Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever?... Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily… the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually” (Psalm 74:10,22,23).  “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

Is there not a cause today

To battle against blasphemy?

Is there nothing we should say

As mockers mock increasingly?

Do not we have the Lord’s command

To study that we might reply

To help another understand

The truth that scorners will defy?

As David stood against the giant,

He knew that God was his Defense.

Prepare to battle the defiant!

Should not we have this confidence?

It’s not to win an argument

That we prepare a word in season,

But to deny perceived consent,

That we refute their scorn with reason.

O Lord, You see the tumult rise

Of those blaspheming without fear,

So for Your name’s sake make us wise

To answer those who yet will hear.

Almighty's Assessment

“The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).  “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot… The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:7,22).

Though man looks on the outward part  

To judge a person’s moral worth,

The Lord is looking on the heart;

His eye is searching all the earth.

The judgment of the Lord shall come,

And character shall be assessed:

He’ll curse the memory of some,

But those who trust Him shall be blest.

The blessing of the Lord depends  

On what we do with Christ or not: 

Without the blessing that He sends

The sinner’s name shall surely rot.  

Your case against us, Lord, is closed;

You’ve told us all what You have seen.

Our evil hearts have been exposed:

Alas!  Not even one is clean!

It’s by Your grace we are called just,

Since by Your grace we’re justified,

And by Your grace we’re led to trust

In You, O Lord, in whom we hide.

So may with live with this in view:

Our memories shall suffer loss

Unless we give our hearts to You

And glory only in Your cross.

Wisdom's Workmanship

“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding…  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).  “By grace are ye saved… For we are His workmanship” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Wisdom’s workmanship begins

By teaching us to fear the Lord,

For thereby we forsake our sins,

And thus we also are restored.

Wisdom taught us when we craved

A hiding place from condemnation.

Wisdom called us to be saved

And find in Christ alone salvation.

Wisdom gives us understanding

In what is holy and is not

As we follow God’s commanding

In every action, word, and thought.

Thank You, Lord, for wondrous grace

That molds us by Your workmanship.

Throughout our life we surely trace

Your hand that never let us slip.

Choosing our Changing

“I will hope continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more… O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come” (Psalm 71:14-18).  “We should be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:12).

Now let us face reality: 

We’re changing as we’re growing older,

So will the person we shall be

Thus grow in grace, or just grow colder?

Some changes we cannot escape:

Our strength declines; our eyes grow dim.

Yet there are changes we may shape

By loving God and serving Him.

The Lord has taught us from our youth,

Instructing us since our new birth,

But have we grown in grace and truth,

Or grown attached to things on earth?

It’s time for us to squarely face

The outlook of our future goals.

Now are we pressing on with grace

To praise the Savior of our souls?

O Lord, You know our days are few,

And that we’re prone to wander still,

Yet more and more we’d live for You,

Rejoicing in Your perfect will.

Seekers Sought

“The LORD hath sought Him a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).  “Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee:  and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified” (Psalm 70:4).  “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will” (Acts 13:22).  

The Lord sought for one who was after His heart;

In David He found one to do all His will.

Now this is the canvass of God’s work of art,

And this is the heart God is seeking for still. 

So let all who seek Him rejoice in the Lord,

And let such as love His salvation now say:

May God be exalted with praise and adored

And reign in the hearts that will gladly obey!

O Lord, in the Scripture we’re hearing Your voice,

Conveying Your own heart which we now pursue,

That calls us to seek You and greatly rejoice

As we are delighting our own hearts in You!

Prayerlessness Prohibited

“Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).

The Lord has said to watch and pray;

May God forbid that we should not!

The Lord is listening every day,

So will He hear what He has sought?

Now let us clearly understand

That we are called to intercession,

And since this is our Lord’s command,

The only option is transgression.

And shouldn’t we now think it strange

That we would choose to not take action

And cease to pray as we exchange

This honor for a vain distraction?

We hear our Savior’s prohibition

Against a prayerless attitude.

It is a sinful, sad condition,

For prayer should have no interlude.

O Lord, we thank You for Your peace

That passes all our understanding

When we have prayed and do not cease,

As on Your promise we are standing.

Beautiful Benefits

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death” (Psalm 68:19,20). 

How countless are the blessings poured

On those who trust in God our Savior.

Our benefits from Christ the Lord

Are daily loaded with His favor.

Behold the God of our salvation:

He came to take our sin away,

To bear our load of condemnation,

And load us with His grace each day.

What shall we say about these things

Bestowed so freely on our soul

That God in mercy daily brings?

His benefits are beautiful!

So as we yet have any breath,

Let us praise Him for His love

Who has delivered us from death

And made us fit to dwell above.

His benefits have met each need

In life and yet beyond the grave:

His truth has made us free indeed;

His grace eternally will save!

O Lord, Your benefits exhaust

The highest praise we may endeavor,

For we who once we cursed and lost

By grace are saved and blest forever!

Freedom's Fullness

“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us (selah); that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations” (Psalm 67:1,2). 

May God be merciful to us

And bless us also as a nation,

That we may daily publish thus

The Gospel of His great salvation.

Now this is freedom at its best,

When we’re a city on a hill

To show how nations may be blest:

O may this be our charter still!

Our freedom’s fullness thus is shown,

And nations show their truest worth

Who will endeavor to make known

The way of God upon the earth.

May God so cause His face to shine

That we may show His saving health.

This is our heritage Divine,

And this has been our nation’s wealth.

Lord, thank You for this torch You gave

And for its flame of liberty

To make it known how You will save

By Christ our Lord eternally!

Come and Comprehend

“Come and see the works of God… He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him… Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul” (Psalm 66:5,6,16).  “The Son of God… loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

Come and see the works of God:

Behold His mighty hand!

Consider where His people trod:

The sea became dry land!

Come and view in history

What God Almighty did.

He gave His people victory;

His power was not hid.

Come and comprehend as well

What prophets clearly said:

Christ would save our souls from hell,

And rise up from the dead.

Come and hear of matchless love,

By which we are made whole:

Christ descended from above

To save the sinner’s soul!

Come and read redemption’s story,

How Christ has made us free!

Praise the Lord, and give Him glory:

He died for You and me!

There is no story on a shelf

Comparing to this one:

The Son of God thus gave Himself

That sinners might be won!

We thank You, Lord, for love Divine

Which we can clearly see:

You came to ransom souls like mine;

You gave Yourself for me!

So Soon

“And the LORD said unto Samuel… they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them... which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods” (1 Samuel 8:7,8). “Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away. Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts” (Psalm 65:3,4). “I marvel that ye are SO SOON removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ” (Galatians 1:6). 

How soon is the wandering eye turned away

From trusting and serving the Lord God alone,   

For this was the case since the very first day

That God had delivered from Egypt His own.

The Lord led His people for forty long years

Through all of the desert with food and protection,

And He would have spared them from so many tears,

If only He hadn’t been met with rejection.

How great is the wall of those sins that divide

Our God from a people not cleansed from transgression!

How full is their purging which God has applied

To all who receive Him with humble confession!

Indeed, we should marvel when souls are SO SOON

Removed from the Lord who has called us by grace!

The work of His fingers, the stars, and the moon,

Should cause us ask why He died in our place!

O Lord, we give thanks that You’ve drawn us with love,

Removing the sins which had brought separation.

Until we arrive in Your presence above,

Lord, draw us still closer in true consecration.

Flawed Fear

“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 fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:29,33).  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). 

The fear of the LORD, or the fear that is flawed?

By forfeiting one, then the other we choose.

By heeding the warnings of Almighty God,

The fear of our judgment for sin we will lose.

The fear that is flawed has belittled the Lord,

And rather has chosen to fear other things.

How flawed is the thinking which thus has ignored

The day we encounter the great King of kings!

“Examine yourselves,” the apostle has said,

To see if “ye be in the faith” that will save.

The time to make sure is before one is dead.

It’s surely too late when we come to the grave.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your Spirit’s reproof

That taught us to fear You and call on Your name.

You called us apart from this world aloof,

So flawed in its thinking and callous to shame.

Lord, now that we’ve fled from the wrath yet to come,

We rest in Your refuge with no condemnation.

Your fear and Your mercy, belittled by some,

Now teach us to walk in the joy of salvation.