Justified in Jesus

"O send out Thy light and thy truth: let them lead me… unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy" (Psalm 43:3,4).  "The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2).  "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in His blood… To declare… at this time His righteousness: that He might be Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:23-26). 

The light and the truth of our Lord

Have led to the altar of God. 

The judgment of God by His sword

Was satisfied there by His rod. 

It is to the cross we are led  

Where holy demands of God's laws

Were borne by our Lord in our stead

To render our curse without cause!    

Praise God for His justification

That sinners may freely receive

Through Jesus who purchased salvation

For all who in Him will believe! 

Lord Jesus, it was Your desire  

That caused You to die in our place     

To be Just, and yet Justifier

Of those justified by Your grace!  

Soul's Satisfaction

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God… Why art thou cast down, O my soul?  And why art thou disquieted in me?  Hope thou in God… the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life" (Psalm 42:2,5,8).  "A faithful messenger… refresheth the soul… As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:25).  "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4).

The thirst of our soul is demanding

Refreshment that God alone gives.

When this is our clear understanding,

We go to our Savior who lives. 

In times when our soul is cast down

And water is nowhere in sight,

Though pastures once green have turned brown,

The Lord gives His song in the night. 

Let this bring refreshment of soul

And rid us of every distraction: 

Our Lord bids us drink to the full

And find in Him deep satisfaction. 

Our soul's satisfaction restored

With thirst-quenching waters now sent

Is found in Your goodness, O Lord,

That saves all of those who repent. 

Faithful Favor

"By this I know that Thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.  And as for me, Thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before Thy face forever" (Psalm 41:11,12).  "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 24:15,16).  "I am ready to preach the Gospel… For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:15,16).

There is no triumph for our foes,

Though Satan's hosts are great in number. 

The reason (God Almighty knows)

Is that our Savior does not slumber. 

The Lord upholds us with His arm

In every circumstance and place.

He shelters us from every harm

And counsels us before His face. 

We stumble, yet we rise again

Because our Savior lifts us up. 

Why should we fear or falter when

His faithful favor fills our cup?

O Lord, how faithful is Your favor,

Which in Your Gospel is proclaimed!  

O grant us ready, bold behavior

To preach Your Gospel unashamed.  

Horrible Pit vs. Heavenly Praise

"The LORD… brought me up also out of an horrible pit… and He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God" (Psalm 40:1-3).  "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways.  For… a strange woman is a narrow pit" (Proverbs 23:26,27).  "The heart of this people is waxed gross [rendered callous], and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart" (Acts 28:27).

How great is the contrast so stark  

Between where I was and I am! 

I'm brought from the pit that was dark

And into the light of the Lamb. 

The Lord gave a new song of praise

And opened my eyes to observe

The mercy and truth of His ways

From which I am taught to not swerve. 

The sinners in darkness who sit

And harden their hearts like a stranger,

Content with this horrible pit,

Have never considered the danger. 

The horrible pit You replace

With heavenly praise that You give

Amazes me, Lord, with Your grace

And teaches me how I should live.  

Sorrow of Silence

"I held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred.  My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psalm 39:2,3).  "Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:20-21).  "Be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Acts 27:25). 

May God forbid that I should cease

To show His only saving way!    

How can I ever hold my peace

When souls are perishing today?

In silence is my sorrow stirred

To share the Gospel of salvation. 

The fire burns to preach the Word

That saves a soul from condemnation.

In Christ alone, the King of kings,

The humble sinner finds a Savior. 

The Word of God has wondrous things

To answer those who seek His favor. 

O Lord, the fire burns within,

Since I believe what You have spoken. 

Let sorrow end and joy begin

As silence, by Your Word, is broken.