Searcher and Savior

"The ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings" (Proverbs 5:21).  " I know thy works... I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent... I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts" (Revelation 2:4,5,23). 

The ways of man, not just his deeds,

Are always pondered by the Lord. 

Though in our eyes our work succeeds,

Our ways by God may be abhorred. 

"I know thy works," the Savior said

To those who were at Ephesus,

Yet He addressed their ways instead,

And even so, He speaks to us. 

Though many deeds were on display,

Their works became religious duty. 

Their first love somehow slipped away;

They lost sight of their Savior's beauty.

Consider well this crucial charge

Which is recorded for our good. 

This is a problem that is large,

And thus it should be understood. 

The remedy to them was sent: 

Remember now from whence you fell,

Renew the first works, and repent. 

This counsel is for us as well! 

How clearly here our Lord explains

Our need to cultivate our love,

For He who searches hearts and reins

Beholds it from His throne above.

O Lord, our Searcher and our Savior,

You have exposed our inward part! 

You ponder more than our behavior;  

You search affections in our heart.

O Lord, because You loved us first,

You are the One our heart adores! 

For us You died and You were cursed;

There is no greater love than Yours!

Forever Favored

"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" (1 Chronicles 17:16).  "Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious... O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard:  which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved" (Psalm 66:8,9).  "Jesus Christ... loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen" (Revelation 1:5,6).

We ought to ponder well today

The reason Jesus came to die

Until we each are led are led to say

To God with wonder, "Who am I?" 

O bless the Lord our God forever,

And praise the Savior we adore! 

He saves us, not by our endeavor,

But by His grace forevermore! 

Sing forth the honor of the name

Of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

Who rescued us from endless shame

And holds our soul with saving favor! 

Come, make His praises glorious  

In view of endless love He proved

When Jesus gave Himself for us

And all our sins He thus removed! 

To Jesus Christ be endless praise

Who with His blood has cleansed our sins! 

As kings and priests, declare His ways: 

He beautifies each soul He wins! 

O Lord, we thank You for salvation

At such a cost unspeakable! 

Though we deserved Your condemnation,

With favor You have saved our soul!    

Forever favored, Lord, we are;    

Bought with a price, we are Your own!    

Now cleansed from  sin, no longer far,

We draw near to Your gracious throne. 

We take the message of Your grace,

O Lord, to those who need to hear

That there is rest in Your embrace;

Eternal favor draws them near. 

Perfectly Purges

"Come before Him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (1 Chronicles 16:29).  "O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.  Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away" (Psalm 65:2,3).  "He giveth grace unto the lowly" (Proverbs 3:34).  "Now unto Him that is able to keep You from falling and to present You faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 1:24,25). 

Consider the wonderful call

To come before God who is holy. 

Though stained by the curse of our fall,

The Lord extends grace to the lowly.

The Lord hears the desperate cries

Of those who are seeking His face. 

With holiness He beautifies

The sinner He saves by His grace. 

Iniquities surely prevail

Against every soul He will draw,

And yet He will purge without fail

Our transgressions breaking His Law. 

We stand in the presence of Christ

In His righteousness, not our own!   

His death on the cross has sufficed

To draw us so near to His throne. 

O Lord, now enlarge Your dominion

As self-centered rule thus departs,

And purge every other opinion

That limits Your sway in our hearts.

Now send us, O Lord, to Your field 

To labor for souls You will win

As Your saving grace is revealed

That perfectly purges our sin!  

Triumphant Trail

"The LORD giveth wisdom... that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous" (Proverbs 2:6,20).  "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 4). 

The Lord gives wisdom for our walk

That we may triumph in the truth,

That we may build upon the rock,

And teach His Gospel to our youth. 

Triumphant trail!  Path of grace! 

How joyfully we walk therein

As we are led to seek His face,

To do His will, and turn from sin! 

Triumphantly we walk this trail

With God in joyful celebration. 

The gates of hell shall not prevail

Against the truth of His salvation. 

We share the joy of God's own heart

As we observe the victory

Of grace and truth He will impart

That saves a soul eternally. 

Lord, thank You for the truth You give

That teaches us to trust in You

And thus triumphantly to live

In all that we are called to do. 

Lord, lead us forward on this path

Of Your triumphant trail shown,

That precious souls may turn from wrath

As we have made Your Gospel known.  

Two Turnings

"Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you... For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them" (Proverbs 1:23,32).

There are two turnings God presents;

There is no mention of a third:

The turning when a soul repents

Or when a soul rejects His Word.

How gracious is the invitation,

To everyone who yet will hear it,

Which freely offers His salvation

And the indwelling of His Spirit!  

How horrifying is the choice

Of those who turn away from Christ,

Who in prosperity rejoice

To their destruction, so enticed.

Prosperity is not a sin

Unless it turns the heart away

From Christ who knocks to enter in,

Preferring thus to go astray. 

How very strange this turning is

By those who turn away their ear

From Him who died to make us His

And to deliver us from fear. 

O Lord, our hearts to You have turned

As You have drawn us by Your grace

And by Your Spirit we have learned

To find in You our Hiding Place.

Lord, help us show the consequence

To those who foolishly are spurning

Your gracious offer of defense

To sinners who to You are turning.