We as Well

"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.... Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.... Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:3,23-25).

What was it Abraham had found?
What is it Scripture says?
As David likewise did expound:
By faith, God's righteousness.

What Abraham and David found
Now we as well are shown.
This Scripture that was written down
Was not for them alone.

Hallelujah! We as well
By faith have found the place
Where righteousness that saves from hell
Is given by His grace!

That place where we are justified
Is sure and undisputed.
By faith in Christ, who for us died,
Is righteousness imputed.

Blessedness of Believing

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Romans 4:4-8).

How marvelous this blessedness
That God extends through grace,
Imparting thus His righteousness
To Adam's helpless race!

Not by works which we have done,
Not by our self denial,
Not by strength we have to run,
Could we be undefiled.

This blessedness is found in hearts
Where Christ has been received.
It is a gift that God imparts
To all who have believed.

Unchanged by Unbelief

"For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:3,4).

Shall unbelief be able to change the truth of God?
Shall atheistic fable? Shall views that men applaud?
No, my friend, be not deceived; He's true forevermore.
Two plus two, though not believed, will still add up to four!

Shall the popular opinion of infidelity
Nullify our Lord's dominion throughout eternity?
No, my friend, for God is higher than every faithless view.
Every man is made a liar who calls our God untrue.

Bliss of the Blessing

"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying... On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them" (Numbers 6:22-27).

What wonderful words of blessing we hear
Declared to the people that God would bring near.
The bliss of this blessing was not through the Law,
Which never could bless, but condemn every flaw.

The bliss of God's blessing belongs to the saved
By the mercy of God, from our nature depraved.
In Christ is our blessing, our keeping, and grace!
In Christ is our peace by the light of His face!

Countering the Curse

"In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.... I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy. Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness... make Thy way straight before my face" (Psalm 5:3,7,8). "The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2). "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4).

Surely the curse that is causeless won't come,
And yet we can see its effect everywhere.
Sin, death, and sickness touch all, not just some,
And so I will look up and lift up my prayer.

For the goodness of God has countered the curse,
And leads us aright to repent of our sin.
The Spirit of Christ calls the best to the worst,
In patience and mercy to let Him come in.

Trading the Truth

"O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah" (Psalm 4:2). "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.... who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen" (Romans 1:23-25).

Turning the glory of God into shame,
They're hating the good to love vanity.
Spurning the Savior, blaspheming His name,
They're trading the truth for insanity.

Professing themselves to be very wise,
They are demanding their view taught in schools.
They're guessing they're right while closing their eyes,
Not understanding they thus become fools.

Prophetic Prognosis

"Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, 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, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (Acts 28:25-27).

Well spoke Isaiah by God's Holy Spirit,
Hearing, you hear, but do not really hear it.
Seeing, you see, but you do not perceive;
Such is the case when you will not believe.

Go to this people now, nevertheless;
Tell them that Jesus is longing to bless.
Call them to weigh evidence that is real.
Plead with the souls God desires to heal.

Reason for Rage

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (Psalm 2:1-3). "The love of Christ constraineth us" (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Why do the nations rage, and the people conceive what is vain?
Why do the kings of this age refuse to believe what is plain?
Why do they cast away cords, that draw them to trust in the Savior?
The reason is that this affords no constraint on their sinful behavior.

Control us, O Lord, from above, in the midst of this people insane!
Constrain us with cords of Your love! Lord, keep us from living in vain!
Their reason for rage against You is that they have chosen a lie.
Lord, lead us to all that is true, by the love that compelled You to die.

College of Counsels

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.... But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:1,2). "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).

Excellent things in counsels and knowledge
Are written to us that the truth may be plain.
Thus we're enrolled to learn in God's college,
And pass on His truth to those whom we train.

The counsels of God have been proven, and thus
We have His assurance, and thereby may know
With certainty what has been written to us
To train up a child the way he should go.

Sailing to Safety

"The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31). "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Acts 27:22-25).

The horse may be prepared, but safety is not here.
The ship shall not be spared, but there is still good cheer.
For things so temporary that you hold dearly to
Are not what you can carry to eternity with you.

We're sailing on to safety, to land on heaven's shore.
We're sailing to eternity with souls and nothing more.
Let go of earthly treasures! They are not what they seem,
For God thus lightly measures the things that men esteem.

Song and a Sword

"Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand" (Psalm 149:5,6). "Take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:22,23).

Sing of the things that the prophets have said!
Sing that our Savior is raised from the dead!
Sing it all day and at night on your bed!
Sing in the joy of the Lord!

Wield the two-edged sword of God's Word!
Share now the powerful truth you have heard!
Witness to hearts that the Spirit has stirred!
Advance with a song and a sword!

Exhortation for Exaltation

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light.... Kings of the earth and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: both young men, and maiden; old men, and children.... He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalm 148:1-14). "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).

Praise to the Lord in the highest of heights!
Now Praise Him you angelic hosts!
Praise Him all stars with your brightest of lights,
In God alone creation boasts!

Praise your Creator, as well, sun and moon!
Join all creation and sing!
Jesus is coming to earth again soon;
And we shall behold the great King.

Now let us likewise exalt Him on high,
And praise Him with love and with fear,
Remembering Jesus descended to die,
That we by His blood might draw near.

O what a thrill to join in this chorus
To praise Him with all of creation!
Exalting the One Who gave His life for us
To purchase in full our salvation!

Trustworthy Traits!

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds... Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:2,4). "The fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself" (Proverbs 18:2).

The love, the power, and wisdom conveyed
In the Scriptures have clearly defined
The traits of our Lord manifestly displayed
In His dealings with all of mankind.

Our Lord is too loving to be found unkind.
Our Lord is too mighty to fail.
Our Lord is too wise in His infinite mind
To be wrong in the smallest detail.

What trustworthy traits! O how they impart
The peace of our Lord to the soul!
Be not as the fool who trusts his own heart,
Refusing to give God control.

Medicine of the Merry

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God" (Psalm 146:5). "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).

Marvelous medicine! Wonderful balm!
Hope of the happy and Help from above!
God is our Helper and Theme of our Psalm;
Fullness of joy of is ours in His love!

Memory of Majesty and Mercy

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.... They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness" (Psalm 145:3,4,7).

Great beyond our comprehension
Is our Lord in majesty.
More than we in time can mention:
It will take eternity!

Yes, in every generation
There is cause to give Him praise
For the acts of His creation
That God graciously displays.

Who can the praise of God exhaust
Remembering His salvation?
He came to seek and save the lost,
And bear our condemnation!

His greatness is unsearchable,
And remembering these facts
We see that God is merciful
As we explore His acts!

Happiest of Humanity

"Happy is that people whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:15).

How happy is that people whose God is Christ the Lord;
There ought to be none happier on the earth!
They may be counted feeble; their truth may be ignored,
But not when one has measured lasting worth.

Yes, happy is that part of the earth's humanity
Who have their reservation up above.
God's joy shall fill their heart for all eternity;
They'll sing of His salvation and His love!

Lead in the Land

"Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10). "And He [the Lord] said unto me [Paul], Depart: for I will sent thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21).

Teach me to do Your will,
And lead me, O Lord, by the hand.
Cause me to know and fulfill
The plan for me that You command.

Wherever You send I would go.
Whatever You say I would do.
I'll wait for Your Spirit to show
The way I may glorify You.

Remembering the Rescue

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path.... no man cared for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living" (Psalm 142:3-5). And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest" (Acts 22:6-8).

Lord, You knew the fearful path
I walked when no one cared.
The end in sight: eternal wrath,
And I was unprepared!

Time was like an hour glass;
The sands were almost gone!
My journey soon would come to pass
And time just pressed me on.

I remember very well
That overwhelming stress,
As death approached along with hell,
I froze in helplessness.

At last, O Lord, I cried to You,
And hoped that You would hear.
And there You were, my path You knew,
And You were always near.

Jesus, Lord, what shall I say,
Of love that rescued me?
I never will forget that day
For all eternity!

Lips and Life

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works" (Psalm 141:3,4).

Lord, set a watch at my lip's door
Lest I regret what I have said.
Guard my heart, Lord, furthermore,
Cleansing thus the fountainhead.

Lord, set a watch upon my life,
Lest I regret what I have done.
Guard me from the works of strife,
That I may live for God the Son.

Bible in the Battle

"O God, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle" (Psalm 140:7).

The battle rages on today,
I'm sure that you've discovered.
The Bible shows us God's true way,
And thus our head is covered.

So let God's helmet shield your head
With promises He keeps,
Remembering what our God has said,
And that He never sleeps.

Which Way?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23,24).

There is a way that's found in me;
But is it mine or God's in view?
Search my heart, O Lord, to see
If my way is at odds with You.

And if You find within my heart
Some hidden wickedness today,
Lord, let that way from me depart,
And lead me in Your perfect way.

Grace Granted

"In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul" (Psalm 138:3).

There was a day I cried for grace;
You answered my request.
I asked for strength to run the race;
You heard me, and You blessed.

So it is You've taught me, Lord,
And teach me still today,
That there is strength to be restored
If only I will pray.

Joy above Jerusalem

"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? .... Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy" (Psalm 137:6). "Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it... For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord" (Proverbs 8:11,35). "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Joy above Jerusalem, and every other joy,
Fairer than the sons of men, and all they can employ,
Is Christ our chief Desire, our Wisdom, Righteousness,
Our Savior, Sanctifier, Redeemer, and our Rest.

Even if we are removed from places that we love,
Even though we are reproved, in grace by God above,
Yet let us not forget to sing the glories of our Lord.
Let not our tongue to silence cling, forgetting His reward.

Liberty throughout the Land

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10). "So all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.... so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" (Acts 19:10,20).

Liberty throughout the land
Is still today proclaimed
When those who have God's Word will stand
And preach it unashamed.

So let the truth of freedom ring
As God grants liberty
Through Jesus who alone can bring
The truth that makes us free.

Leery Likeness

"For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that DID He in the heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.... The idols of the heathen... have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not.... They that make them are like unto them: so is everyone that trusteth in them" (Psalm 135:5,6,15-18).

Idols that can neither speak,
Nor see, nor hear, nor do,
Are trusted by the ones who seek
A god that is not true.

Does it not seem very odd
That people make this choice,
Who will not trust the one true God,
And will not hear His voice?

And so it is they come to be
Just like the gods they make:
They never speak of, neither see,
Nor hear their grave mistake!

Blaspheming the Blesser

"Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.... Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion" (Psalm 134:1-3). "And he [Paul] reasoned... and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads" (Acts 18:4-6).

They thought they were opposing Paul;
At least that's how it seemed.
But that was not the case at all
When they the Lord blasphemed.

It was themselves that they opposed
When they blasphemed the Lord!
God would bless them but they closed
Their hearts to His reward.

Behold, you servants, bless the Lord,
Surrendering control!
Lift your hands and heart toward
The Blesser of your soul!

Koinonia Key

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.... for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore" (Psalm 133:1-3). "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship (Greek, koinonia) with us: and truly our fellowship (koinonia) is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).


Good and pleasant fellowship:
How illusive it can be!
Hold it fast; don't let it slip,
Remembering the key.

The key to fellowship that's sweet
Is where we fix our eyes:
It's not the building where we meet.
It's not what money buys.

It's like the oil on the head
Of Aaron, once anointed.
But now we see our Lord instead,
And we're not disappointed!

Let us therefore summarize
This koinonia key:
The place where we must fix our eyes
Is NOT on you or me.

Let's keep our eyes on Jesus Christ,
Our mutual Reward,
Our Priest, our Lamb once sacrificed,
Our Savior, and our Lord.

Search and See

"They received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).

There are many who will say
The truth cannot be known.
Each culture has its way
So different than our own.

But truth does not conform
To cultural dominion.
It does not fit the norm
Of popular opinion.

Do you really want to know
The truth that makes you free?
Then search if it is so
As found in history!

Then search the Scriptures too
With a readiness of mind
And God will give to you
The truth you seek to find.

That truth is found in Christ!
Hear what the Scriptures said:
He would be sacrificed,
And rise up from the dead.

The truth is on display;
The Lamb of God was slain.
He is alive today,
To make the Scriptures plain.

Simplicity with Sincerity

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 17:30,31).

What shall be said to the anxious of soul
Who comes to the end of himself,
Who longs to be saved, and cries to be whole?
What books shall we draw from the shelf?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today!
Receive Him and you will be free!
As for those books, you can put them away:
Simplicity now is the key.

For diligent study there's surely a place;
There's so much to learn and explore!
But now is the time to speak of God's grace,
Believing in Christ, nothing more.

Harbor of our Hearkening

"Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour My Spirit unto you... Destruction cometh as a whirlwind... For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:23,32,33).

There is a harbor from the storm
Where waves and winds will cease;
Where all is quiet, safe, and warm,
And we enjoy God's peace.

It's the harbor of our hearkening
To reproof if we will hear it!
Now as the sky is darkening,
Will you heed God's Holy Spirit?

Turn you at the Lord's reproof,
O sinner, while you may!
Destruction comes to fools aloof;
You dare not turn away!