Ground of Grace

"And he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said... in thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 28:12-14).  "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD"  (Psalm 120:1,2).  "The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2). "I thank my God... for the grace of God" (1 Corinthians 1:4). 

Behold this ladder on the ground,

Of which the patriarch has dreamed,

Portrays the grace from heaven found

In Christ for those He has redeemed. 

We see it reaches heaven's place

Where God has answered our distress  

By sending Christ with saving grace

For sinners cursed whom He would bless. 

How wonderful this ladder is

Depicting Jesus Christ our Savior

As angels bear those who are His

To heaven's open door of favor! 

Lord, thank You for so great salvation 

That blesses sinners who were cursed. 

The ground of grace has its foundation

In You because You loved us first. 

How Good is His Gospel

"He [Isaac] blessed him [Jacob]...  yea, and he shall be blessed" (Genesis 27:23,33).  "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant" (Psalm 119:176).  "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:25).  "Now to Him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel... which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest...  be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen" (Romans 16:25-27).  

Can God bless Jacob, a deceiver?

Can God bless sheep, all gone astray? 

The good news comes to each believer: 

The love of God has found a way! 

As waters to a thirsty soul

We hear the good news from afar: 

Our ransom has been paid in full

By Christ, in spite of who we are! 

Our Savior came to Bethlehem

For sinners, as He said He would,

Then lived, and died, and rose for them;

Is not His Gospel to us good? 

O Christ, our gracious God and Savior,

Your goodness now is manifest: 

How full Your Gospel is with favor

Whereby the sinner may be blest!  

Wells of the Word

"Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father" (Genesis 26:18).  "I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil" (Psalm 119:162).  "So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 24:14).  "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). 

When Isaac dug the wells again

Which Abraham had dug before,

He found the springs of water then

Were like the spoils gained in war. 

The Lord rewards the diligence

Of those who search His precious Word

With comfort and with confidence

In blessings which He has assured. 

Whatever things have been recorded 

By prophets in the days of old,

Like hidden treasures, have rewarded

Our hearts with truths which they foretold. 

O Lord, we thank You for the wells

That spring forth from Your Word today

With truth that frees us and dispels

The darkness by the things You say.  

Separation of the Saved

"Two nations... and two manner of people shall be separated... thus Esau despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:23,34).  "Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes" (Psalm 119:155).  "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26).  "We are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living" (Romans 14:8). 

How far the separation is

And distant from the Lord that nation

With all of those who are not His

Because they have refused salvation! 

Yet instantly the Lord will lift

All those who from their sin depart

To give to Him that precious gift: 

A humble and surrendered heart. 

For to this end Christ died and rose

When He descended to the earth.

How costly is His gift to those

To whom He gives a second birth! 

O Lord, the gift that we have craved

You purchased at so great a cost;  

The separation of the saved

Is infinite between the lost! 

Midnight Meditation

"Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide" (Genesis 24:63).  "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy Word" (Psalm 119:148).  "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).  "The night is far spent, the day is at hand... let us put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:12). 

The midnight watches I recall

Before I found in Christ salvation

Had no attraction then at all,

But rather, fearful meditation! 

But after I met Christ my Lord,

Those watches I'd anticipate

Because those hours would afford

A quiet time to meditate. 

Those watches then became a pleasure

To ponder Scriptures I had read,

As I reflected on the treasure

Of wondrous things my Lord had said. 

O Lord, how much You taught me when

Those midnight watches were in sight! 

My meditation now, as then,

Still floods the darkness with Your light.  

Set in Safety

"Now… saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.  The words of the LORD are pure words… Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever" (Psalm 12:5-8).  "Safety is of the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31).  "The LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man… But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:3,8 ).  "Jesus answered… Let these go their way: that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, Of them which Thou gavest Me have I lost none" (John 18:9).   

There is a place of safety found

Amid the puffing mockery: 

The words of God (how sweet their sound!)

Give evidence with certainty! 

How dangerous are words unchecked

From mockers who will publish lies! 

How many lives have thus been wrecked

By fools professing to be wise!

Our safety now is from the Lord;

His Word is light where it is dark.

It carries warning and reward,

As Noah found, who built the ark.

O Lord, we know You'll not lose one

Of all who place their trust in You. 

We're set in safety! It is done,

For every word of God is true!