Lessons in the Little

"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; the conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; the locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; the spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces" (Proverbs 30:24-28). "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

There are little creatures on the earth
That God in wisdom made,
To show His order and the worth
Of principles displayed.

Behold the ants, how they provide
In summer, winter stocks.
See the conies, how they hide
Their houses in the rocks.

The locusts always go in bands,
With no king among them shown,
The spider takes hold with her hands,
And climbs the palace throne.

How wisely God has thus displayed,
Foresight, refuge, harmony,
The throne of grace where we have prayed—
So many lessons here we see!

Sharing the Shown

"Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the Lord had showed me" (Ezekiel 11:25). "How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine... Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:26).

Whatever God has shown to you,
A psalm, a doctrine, precept true,
Share it when the time is right;
Encourage others with its light.

Let's do all things for edifying,
And not for our self-gratifying,
Sharing what is shown to us,
That we may comfort others thus.

The Length of Love

"Charity suffereth long... endureth all things. Charity never faileth" (1 Corinthians 13:4,7,8). "Many waters cannot quench love" (Song of Solomon 8:7).

Love continues through the night,
And love endures the pain.
Love exposes by its light
That lesser drives are vain.

Love shall never, never fail,
For none can quench its fire.
Through every storm it shall prevail,
And never, never tire.

Harmony of Hermon

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like... the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" (Psalm 133:1-3). "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

Behold, how good it is to see
Among God's people harmony.
It's like the blessing of God's dew
That beautified Mount Hermon's view.

Yes, this is where God's blessing came,
And thus it is in Jesus' name:
Where two or three in His name share,
God commands the blessing there.

For Worse or For Worship?

"Ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse.... For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.... But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread" (1 Corinthians 11:17-28).

Jesus said that we should gather,
Recalling that He bore our curse.
What a travesty, then, rather,
If we gather for the worse!

So let a man himself explore
The state his heart and mind are in,
Confess his faults, and then adore
Our Lord and Christ who bore our sin.

Thus let us gather in His name,
By this sober rule of thumb:
That we come together, not for shame,
But for worship— till He come.

Magnificent Matters

"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me" (Psalm 131:1).

Many matters are too high
For me to contemplate.
How many stars are in the sky?
Their number is too great!

Yet greater than God's vast creation
Are matters of the soul.
He weighed the cost of our salvation,
And paid the price in full.

Forgiveness for the Fallen

"If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared" (Psalm 130:3,4). "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 16:15,16).

Lay not wait, O wicked one
Against God's fallen child:
There is forgiveness in God's Son;
He shall be reconciled.

For though he fall yet seven times
In sorrow and disgrace,
There is forgiveness for his crimes,
In Christ, his resting place.

Sweet Buy and Buy

"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding" (Proverbs 23:23). "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:11).

Buy the truth and sell it not;
Add wisdom and instruction, too.
Hold on to all that you have bought,
And the understanding given you.

The currency with which one buys
The truth that never should be sold,
Is a heart for God that testifies,
His truth is sweeter than fine gold.

Truth for Training

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it... That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee to 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, 19-21).

Train up your children the way they should go;
Yet what is the standard for truth?
Where can we find the words that we know
Will guide them aright in their youth?

Eureka! The words that are better than gold
We may find in God's excellent Word!
These counsels of truth will remain when they're old;
They shall never forget what they heard.

Building and Battling

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1). "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31).

Build if you want, but your labor will fail,
Unless God is the One who erects.
Watch if you want, but you cannot prevail,
Unless God is the One who protects.

Willing to Weep

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5,6).

Those who sow the Gospel seed
Must also learn to weep.
Jesus wept to see the need
Of lost and straying sheep.

May we be willing, then, to weep,
With compassion that believes
That those who sow in tears shall reap,
Bringing with joy their sheaves.

Blame for Blood

"When I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand" (Ezekiel 3:18).

How sober the warning that God gives today,
Concerning the lost who will not change their way.
How serious, too, is God's righteous demand
To warn them, requiring their blood at our hand!

Passover Praise

"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Christ is our Passover, now sacrificed.
God sees the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
Praise God for His Lamb, who takes away sin!
The blood is applied, and we are shut in!

Steward Standard

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.... For Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:2,7). "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.... that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:10,11).

Who is the One who makes us to differ?
One may speak easily, others are stiffer.
One may lead well, another one sings,
One may give counsel on spiritual things.

Stewards of God, since we have believed,
God is the Giver of all we received.
And this is the standard that heaven has raised:
Let each be found faithful, that God may be praised.

Salvation and Sanctification

"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil" (Proverbs 16:6).

Salvation has come by our Lord Jesus Christ!
His mercy and truth have washed away sin.
His mercy compelled Him to be sacrificed,
His truth promised refuge, and ushered us in.

Sanctification now cleanses our heart!
The fear of the Lord will lead us aright
To follow our Lord and from evil depart,
Turning from darkness to walk in His light.

Omipresent Observation

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).

The Lord is beholding the evil and good
In each situation and place.
Nothing to God is misunderstood;
Nothing is hid from His face.

The things that have value in our estimation
May be worthless in God's holy sight.
Let's judge all things, then, by His observation,
And trust Him to show us what's right.

Crucial Credential

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.... For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.... that, according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:18,26,31).

The crucial credential that has always sufficed
Is to glory alone in our Lord Jesus Christ.
It isn't the wise, by this world's estimation,
Nor mighty, nor noble, that run to salvation.

For worldly wisdom counts foolish the cross;
The mighty see weakness; the noble see loss.
Yet those who are saved give God the glory,
And love that old cross and redemption's story!

Deemed as Dim

"How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed!" (Lamentations 4:1). "Riches profit not in the day of wrath.... The ransom of a man's life are his riches" (Proverbs 11:4,13:8). "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).

How dim is the gold that we highly esteemed!
How much it has changed in eternity's light!
For temporal riches are not what they seemed;
May God give us vision to see them aright!

For what shall it profit a man rich and full,
If even the world has been given to him,
Who forfeits the ransom God gave for His soul?
How has his gold, in this light, become dim!

Manifest Mystery

"The mystery, which was kept secret since the world began... now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:25,26).

The mystery of God's salvation plan,
Which wasn't unveiled since the world began,
Is now manifested in God who became Man,
And thus is made known to all nations.

Marvelous mystery, unveiled in our sight!
The prophets of Scripture were, after all, right!
Called out of darkness, we proclaim in the light:
In Jesus alone is salvation!

Morning Mercies

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him" (Lamentations 3:22-24). "And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:9).

I woke up this morning to find once again,
The mercies of God never come to an end.
His love never fails! His blessings are full!
"The Lord is my Portion and Hope!" says my soul.

My cup overflows. So what shall I do?
I will come in the fullness of blessing to you.
For the Gospel of Christ is filled to the brim
And over the top with new mercies from Him.

Needy Neighbors

"Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.... Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:2,3,5).

That Christ pleased not Himself is plain:
He bore our sorrows, sins, and pain.
And our reproaches on Him fell,
That He might save our souls from hell.

Now may the God of consolation,
Teach us by Christ's demonstration:
Not for Himself, He lived to please,
Nor did He come to take His ease.

No, Jesus came to satisfy
Our deepest need, though He must die.
May we likewise live for others:
Needy neighbors, sisters, brothers.

Accountable Accordingly

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). "According to the grace of God.... every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1 Corinthians 3:10,12).

I'll not give account at God's throne
For one thing pertaining to you.
I'll stand before God quite alone,
For all that I think, say, and do.

Since this is God's measuring rod
In the judgment to come for His own,
I'll live by this standard for God,
And accordingly stand at His throne.

No, not judgment for sin is in view:
Christ suffered for that on His cross.
But His fire will purge what is true,
And consume all that isn't as dross.

Answers and Armor

"The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalm 119:131). "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 13:12). "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).

The entrance of God's Word gives light;
To the simple it gives understanding.
It answers our questions aright,
With the evidence faith is demanding.

Far spent is the darkness of night;
The day of our Lord is at hand.
Let's put on the armor of light,
And shine as the stars while we can.

Season for Sacrifice

"It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law" (Psalm 119:126). "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1,2).

It's time, O Lord, this is the season
For You to show Your power.
The world abandons truth and reason,
To mock You every hour.

And I know it's time for me as well
To give myself to You
As a living sacrifice to tell
And prove the Gospel true.

To Hide and To Hold

"Thou art my Hiding Place and my Shield: I hope in Thy Word.... Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe" (Psalm 119:114,117).

Lord, You are my Hiding Place
In the storm and battlefield.
Hold me up in Your embrace.
I'll be safe; You are my Shield.

Lord, hide and hold me in Your grace;
I'm trusting in Your Word.
There is no safer Hiding Place
Where I may rest assured.

Heritage of my Heart

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.... Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart" (Psalm 119:105,111). "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life" (Proverbs 6:23).

A light upon my path ahead,
A lamp that guides my feet,
A law for life that's Spirit-led:
God's Word is so complete!

His testimonies I've believed
And taken, who can sever?
My heart rejoicing has received
This heritage forever!

Stumbling or Stability?

"The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Proverbs 4:19). "They stumbled at that stumbling Stone; as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling Stone and Rock of offense: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed" (Romans 9:32,33).

In this present darkness sinners walk
In their unenlightened night.
They stumble over Christ the Rock;
They refuse to see the light.

Yet Christ is our stability,
We trust in Him alone.
He is our Rock, our Surety,
And our Foundation Stone.

Prerogative to Procrastinate

"The wall of Babylon shall fall. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord" (Jeremiah 51:44,45). "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). "Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay?" (Romans 9:19-21).

God has surely made it known:
To see one lost is not His will.
Yet as long as we are on the throne,
We may resist Him still.

The vessel has no power to say,
"Why was I made thus?"
But we are not a lump of clay;
That's not how God made us.

For we may choose to love or hate;
We may turn away from God.
Yes, we may still procrastinate,
And scorn His judgment rod.

The choice is left to every man
To trust in Jesus' name.
And those spurn His perfect plan,
Have but themselves to blame.

Salvation without Separation

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?.... I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35,38,39).

Who is he that shall condemn
The soul for whom Christ died?
God dismisses all of them,
And we are justified!

And who can cause our separation
Between our Savior's love?
Not death, nor life, nor tribulation,
Nor depth, nor height above.

Sighing for the Simple

"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity, and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.... Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:22,23).

How long, you simple, will you love
Simplicity and scorn?
God sent His Spirit from above;
Will you not hear Him warn?

Beware, for your simplicity
Shall soon abruptly cease.
Destruction and calamity
Shall sweep away your peace.

Turn today at God's reproof!
Come now, while you may!
Yes, simple ones may stand aloof,
But you may still obey!