Surrender the Scepter

"Give not ... thy ways to that which destroyeth kings" (Proverbs 31:2,3).

Each of us rules in the realm
Of the kingdom within our own heart,
As a captain who stands at the helm
Of a ship that must daily depart.

Let's give back to God our thrones!
Let's give Him command of our ships!
He bought us and thus rightly owns
Our hearts and the fruit of our lips.

Senseless Science

"Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3). "Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if thou canst tell?" (Proverbs 30:4).

It's God who has made us; surely that's plain.
To think otherwise is absurd (or insane)!
Yet that is the notion promoted today:
We made ourselves, evolutionists say!

Thus in the name of science (so-called),
The lie is promoted, the truth is appalled.
Arm yourselves, therefore, and fight for the truth!
What is at stake? The minds of our youth!

Stirring Steadfastness

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Be steadfast now, my brethren,
In your labor for the Lord.
To hear "Well done!" in heaven
Shall be enough reward.

Be steadfast, though there's pain
In the fellowship of Christ.
No suffering is in vain
For our Lamb once sacrificed.

Be steadfast all the way,
For the Lord will give us grace.
Look to that approaching day:
We'll see Him face to face!

Resurrection Revelation

"The Lord hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen ... all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:2,3). "But now is Christ risen from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Now is Christ risen indeed from the dead.
Now has Christ conquered the grave and its dread.
Now has Christ done what He openly said.
Now to the world His salvation has spread.

Gratitude for Grace

"Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness" (Psalm 99:12). "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel ... wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved ... But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

By the grace of God I am what I am:
By His staff and rod, by the blood of the Lamb.
His love lifts me up and draws me to Him.
His grace fills my cup, overflowing the brim.

By the grace of God I know I can stand:
By His lovingkindness, by His gentle hand.
I stand on His merit, His blood shed for me;
I live by His grace, and His truth makes me free.

Song of Salvaton

"Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people...Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name...O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 96:1-9).

Sing to the Lord, declare His salvation;
Give to the Lord the glory that He's due.
Show forth His Gospel among every nation;
Worship the Lord in holiness that's true.

The Leader is Love

"And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Faith weighs the facts and surely believes.
Hope sees assurance and clearly perceives.
Love is the worship our Savior receives,
And the greatest of these is love.

Faith is the hand that holds on to His.
Hope is the eye that sees future bliss.
Love is the heart that draws near to kiss
The Savior who came from above.

Divine Design

"He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not He correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall He not know?" (Psalm 94:9,10).

The God who formed the eye can certainly inspect.
The God who made the ear thus logically can hear.
The God who judges nations can undoubtedly correct.
The God who teaches knowledge has no peer.

Guard, Guide, Give

"My son ... let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long ... Hear thou, My son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way ... My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:15-26).

Guard your heart in the fear of the Lord.
Guide your heart in His way.
Give Him your heart as an offering outpoured,
Fully and finally today.

Train with Truth

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it ... 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 22:6,20,21).

Train up a child in the way he should go.
Teach him with certainty truths he should know;
That when he is old the truth won't depart,
Lodged in his mind and hid in his heart.

Battle Basics

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31).

Not by preparation of the horse,
Nor by those who wield the sword;
Not by show of greater force,
But safety is of the Lord.

Olympic Observation

"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the Gospel's sake ... Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:22-25).

Everyone who runs a race
Is reaching for the prize.
With disciplined and measured pace,
They fix their earnest eyes.

Let us likewise run to win;
The Gospel is our goal.
Strive with no less discipline
For each eternal soul.

Sound of the Saved

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Psalm 89:14-16).

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound.
Themes of mercy and of truth in their songs abound.
All their hope for righteousness in Jesus Christ is found.
There is no other hope but Christ, nor is there middle ground.

Forever Friend

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

There is no closer friend
Than our Lord Jesus Christ.
He loved us to the end
When He was sacrificed.

And He shall love us still,
As long as time shall be.
And after this He will,
For all eternity!

Summoned to Servanthood

"For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men" (1 Corinthians 7:22,23).

Servants of Christ
Bought with a price,
Be not enticed
By applause on this earth.

But live by this measure:
God's glory and pleasure;
For herein is treasure
That alone has true worth.

Heart United for His Uniqueness

"Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works ... For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone. Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:8-11).

Unite my heart to fear Thy name.
Turn my heart away from shame.
Teach me, Lord, to boldly claim
That You are God alone.

There is no other God but You.
You demonstrate that this is true
By all the wondrous things You do
To make Your glory known.

Revisiting Revival

"Wilt Thou not revive us again that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Show us Thy mercy, Lord, and grant us Thy salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people ... Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land" (Psalm 85:6-9).

Let us hear what God will speak.
Let's draw near to God and seek
His strength, admitting we are weak,
Assured that He is near.

Let us now with one voice pray:
Revive us, Lord, again today!
Lead us in your perfect way,
And guide us in Your fear.

Stewards of His Strength

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee ... Who passing through the valley of Baca (lit. "weeping"), make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools; they go from strength to strength; everyone of them in Zion appeareth before God" (Psalm 84:4-7). "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1).

There is strength for today and tomorrow
When we stand in the presence of God.
There is hope in this world of sorrow
When our feet with the Gospel are shod.

Then turn to this world of weeping,
And fill its dry valley with pools.
The harvest is ready for reaping.
The Lord of the harvest still rules.

Stewards of strength that He gives:
Now faithfully rise to the task!
Carry the news that Christ lives,
And saves all who truthfully ask.

To Find His Favor

"Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Thy name, O Lord ... that men may know that Thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth" (Psalm 83:16-18). "Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of the transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 13:15).

That men may realize their shame,
That men may seek to know Your name,
That men may thus fulfill Your aim,
Lord, draw them through Your favor.

That men may call upon the Lord,
That men may find Your great reward,
And know why Jesus is adored,
Lord, draw them to the Savior.

Spiritual Spectacles

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit ... But the natural mind receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-14).

The natural eye cannot see,
The natural ear cannot hear,
The things which are going to be
In the times that are now drawing near.

But God gives a spiritual mind
To all who will trust in the Lord.
And all who will seek Him will find
The treasures in Christ He has stored.

Grief Reviewed for Grace Refused

"Oh, that My people had hearkened unto Me, and Israel had walked in My ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned My hand against their adversaries ... With honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee" (Psalm 81:13-16).

Oh! That My people had hearkened!
Oh! That they'd walked in My ways!
Their pathway would not have been darkened;
They'd walk in My light all their days.

Oh! How it grieves the Lord's heart
When sinners will not hear His voice!
When rebels refuse the grace He'd impart,
What a lamentable choice!

Where is the Wise?

"Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:20,21).

Where is the scribe? Where is the wise?
Where is the one who disputes?
Where is the one who opens his eyes,
Rather than blindly refutes?

Let these stand together and make their case plain;
Show their investigation.
The wise of this world still can't explain
The evident truth of salvation.

Wisdom's Welcome

"Wisdom hath ... furnished her table ... As for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come eat of My bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled. Forsake the foolish and live; and go in the way of understanding ... If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but it thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it" (Proverbs 9:1-12).

Wisdom has set the table,
And called us to come and dine:
Abandon your folly and fable;
Partake of My bread and My wine.

Come now and learn to be wise;
The call is to every nation:
Come now and open your eyes,
Behold Him, the God of salvation.

The wise will embrace Jesus Christ,
While mockers will blaspheme His name.
The saved trust the Lamb sacrificed;
The scorners will bear their own shame.

Divine Delight

"From everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was ... when there were no fountains abounding with water ... when He prepared the heavens ... when He gave to the sea His decree ... when He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him ... and My delights were with the sons of men" (Proverbs 8:23-31).

Before the foundation was laid
For the earth, which He hung in its place,
Before all the planets were made
And the stars which He flung into space—

Before He created the sea,
Before He had settled the land,
His delights were with you and with me;
Salvation was already planned!

The Remedy of Remembering

"I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night... I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings ... Who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders... Thou leddest Thy people like a flock" (Psalm 77:5-20).

When life brings its sorrows and tears are outpoured,
And there’s trouble I can't understand,
I will remember the years of the Lord,
And the doings of His righteous hand.

Yes, I will remember His works in my song,
And the things that He said He would do.
I will remember He's never been wrong;
His every last promise is true.

And I will remember His mercies of old.
For who is a God like our God?
Leading His people, He cares for His fold,
And comforts with His staff and rod.

Know when to Kneel

"Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain. Vow and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared" (Psalm 76:10,11). "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Romans 14:11).

The wrath of man shall praise the Lord;
The rest He shall restrain.
And Jesus Christ shall be adored;
He shall forever reign.

Let every knee, then, humbly bow
To Christ and praise His name.
For those who will not do so now
Shall be compelled in shame.

Waking, Waiting, Working

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:10-12).

Knowing the time, we ought to awake,
For the day of our Lord is at hand.
The night is far spent, the dawn will soon break,
So let us fulfill His command.

Let us love one another and shine through the night;
Let us labor till Jesus returns.
Let us put on the armor of God and His light,
And be done now with lesser concerns.

Debtors in Darkness

"The dark places of earth are full of the habitations of cruelty" (Psalm 75:20). "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:18,19).

Do you walk on path of light?
Thank God your salvation is sure!
Yet look to the poor sinners' plight,
And the cruel darkness that they endure.

Ahead is the sweet by and by
For all who partake of salvation.
But what of the lost when they die,
And the horrors of their condemnation?

Shine in this darkness so cruel!
Be grateful, but also be humble.
But for God's grace toward the fool,
We likewise in darkness would stumble.

Our Lone Lord

"Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee... God is the Strength of my heart and my Portion forever" (Psalm 73:24-26).

Whom have we Lord, but You
To rescue our souls from hell?
Whom have we here on earth so true,
And whom in the heavens as well?

Lord, it is You alone;
We'll trust You to guide us with love,
Until we are face to face at Your throne,
Until You receive us above.

The News of the Name

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:9-13).

Whoever will call upon Jesus' name
Shall surely be saved, and not be ashamed.
Believe in your heart, confess, and proclaim:
That Jesus is Lord of your all.

Satan may point to your sins and accuse.
The world may scorn and laugh at your views.
In spite of their taunting, proclaim the good news:
That Jesus will save those who call.

Taught to Tell

"Oh God, Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, Oh God, forsake me not; until I have showed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come" (Psalm 71:17,18).

You've taught me, Oh God, from my youth;
And so shall it be when I'm old.
Each day there is more of Your truth
To discover, and ought to be told.

So grant me the strength to declare
Your truth to this new generation.
There's so much to show and to share!
Oh God, how they need Your salvation!