Yearning from my Youth

"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 shewed Thy strength unto this generation" (Psalm 71:17,18).  "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings" (Proverbs 5:21).  "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth… Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good" (3 John 1:4,11).

There was a yearning from my youth,

From which I never could depart:  

It was a hunger for the truth

That God had placed within my heart.  

The truth for which my heart had yearned

Was found in Christ and His salvation,

And like a fire it has burned

With longing for this generation. 

Yes, even as I'm growing old,

There is no quenching of this flame

That's fueled by truth that must be told

To show why Christ our Savior came.   

The yearning from my youth, O Savior,

Keeps right on burning, as it should,

To show the lost Your saving favor

And to proclaim that You are good.  

Look or Lose

"Is the LORD'S hand waxed short?  Thou shalt see now whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not" (Numbers 11:23).  "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).  "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).  "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward" (2 John 8). 

The time has come to look or lose: 

Believe the promise of the Lord,

For if we foolishly refuse,

We stand to lose a full reward. 

The hand of God shall not fall short

Of doing all He said He'll do,

So let us trust our Lord's report

With all His faithfulness in view. 

Now let our God be magnified:

He is our Refuge and Defense! 

We look to Christ who for us died

To keep our hearts with diligence.

O Lord, we look to You alone

To guard us lest we lose our grip

On Your eternal truths made known,

And so from our steadfastness slip.  

Promised Place

"We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us… And he [Hobab] said unto him [Moses], I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred" (Numbers 10:29,30).  "The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God" (Psalm 69:32).  "The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools" (Proverbs 3:35).  "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12). 

We're going to the promised place,

Which Christ has said that He will give,

Where we shall see Him face to face

And in His presence we shall live. 

Though some refuse the invitation

And to their own place will depart,

The humble will receive salvation

Who seek the Lord with all their heart. 

The wise inherit heaven's glory,

But shame shall be the fool's reward. 

There is no "happy ending" story

For those who will not trust the Lord. 

O Lord, the promised place ahead,

Beyond this land of sin and strife,

Is ours forever, as You said,  

Who have the Son, and so have life.  

Commanded Capability

"At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed" (Numbers 9:23).  "Thy God hath commanded thy strength… that giveth strength and power unto His people" (Psalm 68:28,35).  "He is a Buckler to them that walk uprightly… that thou mayest walk in the way of good men" (Proverbs 2:7,20).  "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). 

Endurance through our journey's length

And rest in times of restoration

Shall come from God who gives us strength

Through every trial and temptation. 

Our God's command shall never fail

To give us strength to do His will. 

The gates of hell shall not prevail

Against the Lord's commandment still. 

The Lord is guarding all His own

Who walk according to His way. 

The strength that He commands is shown

To those who hear Him and obey. 

O Lord our Savior and Creator,

Command our capability.

We overcome, for You are greater

Than our accusing enemy. 

Fall of the Fool

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us… that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:1,2).  "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).  "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you" (1 John 2:26). 

There is a choice we all must make

Between salvation and seduction. 

The latter is the great mistake

That brings the fool to his destruction.

The fool may trust in fleeting wealth

And be seduced by sinful pleasure,

Yet we may show the saving health

Of God's salvation that we treasure.   

Prosperity may bring the fall

Of fools who turn away from God. 

God's Spirit is reproving all,

But fools prefer what men applaud. 

Lord, in our hearts now come and rule

And cleanse us from seduction's lust,

Lest we should fall as does the fool

Who never placed in You his trust.