Needy Nation

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Welcome to the throne of grace;
Jesus bids us to this place.
Let us therefore come to find
His mercy, grace, and peace of mind.

Yes, boldly come in time of need.
For such a time as this? Indeed!
How great the need is for our nation!
We need revival and salvation!

Talking Today

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).

While it is still called today,
Let's talk of eternal things.
Exhort one another to pray,
Redeeming the time each day brings.

While it is still called today,
Let's care now for each other's state.
Deal with deceit right away!
Tomorrow it may be too late.

Catastrophic Carelessness

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1). "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

If we neglect so great salvation,
Shall we escape the condemnation?
No! Never in a thousand years
Of endless labor, flowing tears,
Could we thus cancel out our debt,
Nor pay our ransom even yet.

So if we've carelessly neglected
Or if we've spitefully rejected
This great salvation God provides,
God's wrath in either case abides.
For if God's grace has been refused,
Well how then shall we be excused?

Wondering Why

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me... and art acquainted with all my ways... and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Psalm 139:1-6).

Lord, You are acquainted
With the details of my ways.
You know when I have fainted,
And failed to give You praise.

You know when I have grumbled,
Instead of giving thanks.
You know when I have stumbled
In battle, breaking ranks.

In spite of all You understand
Of all my foolish ways,
You never let go of my hand,
Nor turn from me Your gaze.

Such love is too astounding,
Beyond my grasp, so high!
I know it is abounding—
But I still am wondering why.

Kind as our King

"Put them in mind... to be ready to every good work... showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves were also sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared... that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3,4,7).

What kindness God our King returned
To those who foolishly had spurned
The grace of God that saves the soul,
And Jesus Christ Who makes us whole!

Yet, we were also once deceived;
But now, by grace, we have believed.
So let us, like our King, be kind
And pray for those who yet are blind.

The Greatness of Grace

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

The grace of God that brings salvation
Has appeared to every nation;
And teaches us to look toward
The coming of our glorious Lord.

This grace revealing Christ our Savior
Also purifies behavior.
It changes how we think and live
With hope that God alone can give.

That blessed hope will soon appear!
The coming of our Lord draws near!
So let the world we live in see:
Grace that saves us makes us free.

Important Impossibilities

"He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). "In the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

There are some things God cannot do.
He cannot lie nor be untrue.
He can't deny those traits of His
Defining who He truly is.

It's these impossibilities
That give us joy and hope and peace!
And thus we rest upon this claim:
Forevermore He is the same!

Faced with Fables

"Preach the Word... for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:3-5).

The time has come to preach the Word
Though many hearts may not be stirred;
Though many turn from what is true,
To fables that their hearts pursue,
By itching ears enticed.

Yes, preach the Word in every season!
God still says, "Come, let us reason."
Though fables grow with itching ears,
The truth still frees the one who hears
And turns to Jesus Christ.

Eyes throughout the Earth

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

His eyes are running to and fro
The whole earth every hour
To find a trusting heart to show
His faithfulness and power.

Lord, when Your eyes examine me
(As constantly they do),
May You be pleased with what You see:
A heart that's trusting You.

Thus may the world see displayed
That You are strong toward
The one whose confidence is stayed
On Jesus Christ our Lord.

Vocational Victories

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.... Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:2-6,15).

Lord, as I soldier I would fight
To do what's pleasing in Your sight.
And as an athlete I would run
Until my course is fully done.

Lord, as a farmer I would sow
The Gospel that the world may know.
And as a workman unashamed,
I'd work that Christ may be proclaimed.

In each vocation I am found,
Lord, let the grace of God abound.
And let the crown of my reward
Be at the feet of Christ my Lord.

Searching and Saving

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?.... The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts" (Proverbs 20:9,27).

Who can say (and say it in truth):
I’ve made myself pure from my sin?
Surely our sins of adulthood and youth
Will condemn us before we begin!

Yet He who has searched our most inward part
Is able to cleanse to the full.
By His precious blood He cleanses our heart,
Eternally saving our soul!

The High Priority of Heart Preparation

"And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.... And he did this evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord" (2 Chronicles 12:1,14).

There is a way we may be spared from living life in vain:
Give to God a heart prepared to let Him fully reign.