Apprehending His Approval

"I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14).

There's one thing that I surely need,
And this is what my Lord intended:
That I may apprehend indeed
The purpose I was apprehended.

Forgetting things that are behind
To reach for things before me still,
I'm pressing on that I may find
The center of my Savior's will.

The finish is not far ahead,
So this is where I'll fix my eyes:
To go where Jesus Christ has led
With His approval as my prize.

Lord, thank You for simplicity
That calls me now to do one thing:
To reach for the priority
Of pleasing You, my God and King.

Wonderful to Wake

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.... I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.... How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me.... when I awake, I am still with Thee" (Psalm 139:6-18). "Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).

How wonderful it is to wake
And know the truth is still secure,
Assured that there is no mistake,
For every word of God is pure!

How wonderful it is indeed,
That it has pleased the Lord to show
The way that He has met our need
In things too high for us to know!

How wonderful it is each day
To wake to read our Savior's Word,
To hear and heed what He will say,
And by His precious thoughts be stirred!

How wonderful it is to find
That when we wake our Lord is there
To give His counsel to our mind
And bid us cast on Him our care!

O Lord, Your precious thoughts to us
Are more that we can comprehend,
Yet by them we have learned to trust
Your wondrous love that has no end!

Faithful to Finish

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands" (Psalm 138:8). "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

The mercy of God shall endure,
Perfecting His work in our hearts.
Of this we may always be sure:
He'll finish the work that He starts.

We know He will never forsake
The work of His very own hands.
The Lord never makes a mistake;
Our needs He alone understands.

Lord, thank You for what You've begun,
Performing in us everyday
Your good work persistently done
Until You shall call us away.

What are these Wounds?

"They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced.... And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends. Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones" (Zechariah 12:10, 13:6,7).

What are these wounds which appear
Beheld in our Savior and Lord?
Why was He pierced with a spear,
And who raised against Him the sword?

What are these wounds in His hands
Received in the house of His friends?
Why does the sword hear commands
From God with the judgment He sends?

What is the answer we've heard
Declaring the truth of the matter?
God gives His unerring Word
To those whom His own hand would scatter.

Those God has scattered He draws
Assembling His own now to see
The grace He displays on the cross
Where Christ died for you and for me!

Lord, we are surely astounded
And speechless in our adoration
For love in our Savior unbounded,
Afflicted to bring us salvation!

Keep us, O Lord, through this vision
Of wounds still unveiled above,
Drawing us closer to listen
To hear as You speak of Your love.

Tomorrow's Time

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:14-16).

We boast not ourselves of tomorrow,
For we cannot know what it brings,
Nor are we permitted to borrow,
While it is today, of its things.

Today holds the time we call now,
And now is the time to awaken!
The grace that our Lord will endow
Is forfeited if it's not taken.

O Lord, while it's yet called today,
And days are infected with crime,
We'd walk, not as fools who delay,
But wisely, redeeming the time.

Lord, teach us to number our days
And treasure each moment we live,
That we may reveal Your praise
And shine with the light that You give.

Measure of Messiah

"Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ" (Ephesians 4:7-32). "And their soul also abhorred Me.... So the poor of the flock that waited upon Me knew that it was the Word of the LORD.... So they weighed for My price thirty pieces of silver.... a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD" (Zechariah 11:8-13).

Salvation in its fullest measure
Was given through God's Son,
And with Him, grace, His precious treasure,
Enough for everyone!

This grace that God so richly gave
Was by the world priced
At just the value of a slave,
Despising Jesus Christ.

Those thirty silver pieces paid
To Judas in conclusion,
For which our Savior was betrayed,
Displayed such great confusion!

And should we also be confused,
As many in the earth,
Esteeming Christ, whom they abused,
To be of little worth?

O Lord, we have not comprehended
How infinitely then
Your holiness was thus offended
When mocked by sinful men.

Nor can we fully now esteem
The value of the cross
That heaven weighed to thus redeem
Our souls from endless loss.

But through the mercy You afford
And by Your passion driven,
We'd live to glorify You, Lord,
With grace that You have given.

Revering His Rule

"Put not forth thyself in the presence of the King.... He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" (Proverbs 25:6,28). "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love... might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19).

How kind is God's Spirit who calls,
That we might be ruled by His pity,
Who strengthens our hearts as with walls
Surrounding a fortified city.

The glorious presence He brings,
Along with the strength He imparts,
Is Christ, who is King of all kings,
Who deigns now to reign in our hearts.

But why would God seek now to rule
In thrones so unlike His above,
In hearts still inclined, like the mule,
To slowly respond to His love?

How hesitantly we surrender
The place He deserves as our Lord!
Yet still He's our loving Defender,
And by Him our souls are restored.

Lord, come with Your fullness of grace,
And rule in the spirits You own.
Now take in our hearts the first place,
Which we now revere as Your throne.

Peace in the Person

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation.... How great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!" (Zechariah 9:9,17). "For He is our Peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us" (Ephesians 2:14).

How good and pleasant is the sight
Of unity which will exist
For brethren as they take delight
In Jesus Christ within their midst!

The world surely cannot give
The peace that Christ alone imparts.
Our Savior died that we might live,
And love for Him unites our hearts.

Behold our King who brought salvation:
His goodness is revealed thus!
His beauty fills our meditation
As we recall His love for us.

There was a time when we were all
United by our lost condition,
But Christ broke down the middle wall
Of sin, removing its partition.

O Lord, Your love for us constrains
And unifies our hearts together
Because You are the King who reigns
In hearts that You redeemed forever!

Desired Dwelling

"For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest forever: here will I dwell, for I have desired it" (Psalm 132:13,14). "He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4).

The Lord has chosen Zion's land,
For this is where He longs to dwell.
No foes on earth shall stay His hand,
Though they align themselves with hell.

The Lord has also chosen all
Whom He foreknew would trust in Christ.
Before creation and the fall,
He saw our Savior sacrificed.

O Lord, we marvel at Your choice
Which made us objects of Your love!
How great our cause is to rejoice
And set our hope on things above!

Lord, even from the earth's foundation,
You chose us as Your rest forever!
We thank You for so great salvation
Which You bestowed, and none can sever!

Sowing Something

"He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity" (Proverbs 22:8). "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7,8).

We're sowing something everyday,
And we shall reap what we have sown.
The deeds we do, the words we say,
And every motive shall be shown.

If with iniquity one sows,
He'll reap in vanity and strife.
If we are humble, God bestows
A harvest in eternal life.

Then let us choose humility
And fear the Lord that He may keep
And guard our souls from vanity,
That we in righteousness may reap.

Lord, help us take this moment now
With every minute that we live
That You may show us daily how
To reap the blessings You would give.

Brought by the Branch

"With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption" (Psalm 130:7). "I will bring forth My Servant The BRANCH.... saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.... Behold the Man whose name is The BRANCH, and He shall grow up out of His place.... and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne, and He shall be a Priest upon His throne" (Zechariah 3:8,9, 6:12,13).

Behold God's Servant! Praise His name!
The BRANCH removed iniquity
When on the cross He bore our shame
To save our souls eternally!

Behold that Man in Bethlehem,
The BRANCH who grew up from His place!
For He shall wear the diadem
As Priest and King of saving grace!

O Lord, we thank You for the BRANCH,
Who came to earth bring redemption
For souls who wouldn't have chance,
Condemned by Law without exemption!

We praise Your name, Lord Jesus Christ,
For peace which You alone could bring!
The BRANCH who paid redemption's price
Shall bear the glory as our King!

Inheritance of Integrity

"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him" (Proverbs 20:7). "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law" (Galatians 4:4,5).

There is a great inheritance
Which children may receive
When we support with evidence
The things that we believe.

It's not enough to just insist
Our children should agree
With our opinions that exist
Without integrity.

We do not serve our children well
If they have not been seasoned
To face this world in which they dwell
With words that are well reasoned.

How obvious the reasons are
Which validate the truth!
We do not need to travel far
To show them to our youth.

In all creation we can see
What HAD to be designed.
Our children just need honesty
To satisfy their mind.

The Scripture also clearly shows
By prophecies of old
That God, who authored them, foreknows
The future He foretold.

The height of prophecy fulfilled
Was when God sent His Son,
Foretelling that He would be killed,
Redeeming souls He won.

Integrity! That's all we need
To guide our children right
And show them they are rich indeed
If they will walk in light.

O Lord, we thank You that You gave
Inheritance that's true
With all of those whom You will save
When they have trusted You.

Minuscule Mountain

"The counsel of the LORD, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21). "This is the Word of the LORD... saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain?... Thou shalt become a plain: and he [the temple finisher] shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.... For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:6-10). "Are ye so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3).

A problem now may seem to tower,
As does a mountain when we're near it.
But God says neither might nor power
Can overcome His Holy Spirit!

The counsel of the Lord shall stand:
No mountain ever shall diminish
His work in us which He began
Which by His Spirit He will finish.

O mountain, you are minuscule,
Compared to God's almighty reign!
For He shall overthrow your rule,
And you shall then become a plain.

And who will yet despise the day
Of things that now appear so small?
A Seed, the Christ, once looked that way,
Yet now extends His grace to all!

Lord, thank You for Your saving grace,
Your Spirit, and Your Word so true.
Though there are mountains yet to face,
They're minuscule compared to You!

As Arrows

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate" (Psalm 127:4,5). "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).

The children God has given us,
The fruit of His reward,
Should very early learn to trust
In Jesus Christ our Lord.

Happy is the man who brings
His children in their youth
To rest beneath the Savior's wings
And rise up in His truth.

As arrows of a mighty man
With true and strengthened aim,
They find the center of God's plan
To glorify His name.

As arrows on the battlefield
Where Christ shall lead the way,
Their faith in God shall be their shield
And teach them what to say.

As arrows, children have a charge
And promise to prevail:
The enemy is still at large,
But Christ shall never fail!

O Lord, as arrows born to be released,
Our children find their place
As soldiers in Your ranks increased
By Your prevailing grace.

Lord, teach us how to aim them straight
(And let them go as well!),
To preach the Gospel in the gate
That rescues souls from hell.

Perverting the Precious

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing PRECIOUS seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:6). "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-8).

Beware of what is preached today:
It may not help, but rather hurt!
If preachers from the Gospel stray,
Their words, like poison, will pervert!

We sow the precious Gospel seed
And dare not from its truth depart,
Declaring all that sinners need
Is Jesus Christ within their heart.

It matters not how smooth the speech
If Gospel truths are not rehearsed;
If we, or even angels, preach
Another gospel: it is cursed!

O Lord, we thank You for the Word
That settles us in saving grace!
Preserve in us the truth we've heard
That nothing false may take its place.

Lord, grant that we may never swerve
From precious words You said are true,
Which You have promised to preserve
That we may place our trust in You.

Turning, Trusting, Testing

"They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but adideth forever" (Psalm 125:1). "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil" (Proverbs 16:6). "Turn ye unto Me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you" (Zechariah 1:3). "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The Lord has called us each to turn
And trust Him for His saving grace.
The moment that we do, we learn:
A miracle has taken place!

Emotions surely come and go,
But after these evaporate,
A change in character should show
That transforms what we love and hate.

Our faith and fear in God are twins
That dwell united in our hearts:
Yes, grace by faith has purged our sins,
Yet godly fear from sin departs.

O Lord, in this examination
In which You call us to partake,
We find the proofs of our salvation
Are like a mountain none can shake.

Yet in these proofs we find, O Lord,
A longing to be more like You.
This is the mark we'll press toward;
This is the calling we'll pursue!

Feasting on the Favor

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side... then the waters had overwhelmed us.... Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124: 2-8). "He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast" (Proverbs 15:15). "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

If ever there was gracious favor
In which a heart should celebrate,
We find it in our mighty Savior
Whose lovingkindness is so great!

If not for Jesus Christ our Lord,
God's judgment, like a mighty wave,
Upon our souls then would have poured
And swept us to a hopeless grave!

His lovingkindness met us there
As birds caught in the fowler's gin.
But Christ in pity broke our snare,
Then bore our penalty for sin!

Our cause is great for celebration!
Why shouldn't we have merry hearts
Since we've received so great salvation
That God so freely now imparts?

O Lord, we love redemption's story!
It's like a grand, delicious feast,
As we are tasting now the glory
Of captive souls by grace released!

O Lord, we thank You for Your grace
Which always for us has sufficed.
A merry heart in every case
Has cause for joy in Jesus Christ!

Refuge of the Righteous

"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.... The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death" (Proverbs 14:26,32). "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, The people say, the time is not come that the LORD'S house should be built.... Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider your ways" (Haggai 1:2,7).

Sometimes, in the business of everyday living,
We tend to forget the sublime.
The righteous have hope from the Lord who is giving
His grace to those trusting in time.

The righteous have hope since the Lord has declared
Their justification is found
Now not in themselves, but in Christ who prepared
A refuge where grace will abound.

That refuge is Christ, in His holy fear,
Which draws us to His Hiding Place.
There's no one found righteous, the Scriptures are clear,
Unless they are saved by His grace.

Yet people still say that the time is not come
To think about such things as death.
How tragic is this, that the mind set of some
Forgets God who grants their next breath!

And should we now say, with the Gospel revealed,
The time is not come yet to build
His church by our labor in His harvest field,
That His house may thereby be filled?

O Lord, we give thanks for our refuge in You,
And we would consider as well
Your charge to go forth and persuade others too,
That they might be rescued from hell.

Jerusalem's Joy

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee" (Psalm 122:6). "Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart.... The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, he will joy over thee with singing" (Zephaniah 3:14-17).

The day is fast approaching when
Jerusalem shall be restored,
For Christ is coming back again,
To reign and rest there as her Lord.

Jerusalem shall soon increase
With peace which only can exist
When Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace,
Shall rule at last within her midst.

The Child born in Bethlehem
Who purchased peace with His own life,
Shall rule within Jerusalem
With peace that puts away all strife.

Jerusalem shall see the joy
That prompts the Prince of Peace to sing,
And all the earth shall then employ
Their hymns of praise to Christ our King.

O Lord, with eyes of faith we see
The blessing of that coming day
Wherein Jerusalem shall be
Your throne of peace for which we pray.

Moment for Meekness

"Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come.... seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth... seek righteousness, seek meekness" (Zephaniah 2:2,3). "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully; every man as he purposeth in his heart" (2 Corinthians 9:6,7).

Before the great King shall bring forth His decree,
Before the day pass as the chaff in the wind,
Before every rebel on earth bow the knee,
There's bountiful mercy for all who have sinned!

The moment for meekness has long since arrived;
The day of salvation shall soon pass away.
Should not our submission to Christ be revived,
In view of His coming now closer each day?

The time to go forth with the Gospel and weep
With bountiful sowing for reaching the lost
Should not be delayed, lest we fail to reap
Because we debated the time and the cost!

Lord, may we be counted with all who are meek,
Revived in the hope that Your coming draws near.
Before the day the passes as chaff, we would seek
To serve You each moment until You appear.

Greatness of Grace

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death" (Proverbs 11:4). "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

How great is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
Which we who are ransomed know well,
For He left His glory to be sacrificed
To rescue His people from hell.

Yes, this is the grace we are partakers of,
And yet we have barely explored!
How vast is the ocean of infinite love
Expressed in the grace of our Lord!

If we look to heaven, exploring the treasure
That He set aside with His throne,
We surely will find that we never could measure
The height of His love for His own.

If we look to hell, and the depths of the sorrows
From which we were rescued by grace,
With minds overwhelmed by the endless tomorrows,
What boundless compassion we trace!

O Lord, as we ponder the greatness, so vast,
Of grace so expensive, yet free,
Exhausting our senses, we fall down at last
To worship You, Lord, gratefully!

Proper Prosperity

"The labor of the righteous tendeth to life.... The hope of the righteous shall be gladness" (Proverbs 10:16,28). Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall be fruit in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet will I rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength" (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Prosperity that men applaud
Is not the proper measure;
Our greatest wealth is found in God
By living for His pleasure.

Though every labor we employ
In temporal things may fail,
In Christ we find eternal joy
And strength which shall prevail.

The God of our salvation gives
Prosperity that's full,
Because our Savior ever lives
To save each trusting soul.

The labor of the righteous tends
To win those yet astray,
And thereby reap the dividends
That never pass away.

Our Lord provides us daily bread;
With such things He will bless,
But seek His kingdom first instead,
And thirst for righteousness.

O Lord, we find in You the key
To know the things that matter:
In Christ is true prosperity;
Like chaff, the rest will scatter.

Read and Run

"Wisdom.... crieth upon the highest places of the city.... Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:1-6). "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time.... the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:2-4). "As workers together with Him... receive not the grace of God in vain.... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1,2).

There is a message God will give
That we should preach without delay:
It is by faith the just shall live,
By trusting Jesus Christ today!

We ought to make the Gospel clear,
And send it forth with those who run,
That all who yet have ears to hear
May put their trust in God the Son.

Now write it down and make it plain,
That those who read may run with speed,
For they shall never run in vain,
Who sow with tears the Gospel seed.

Lord, thank You for your Word sublime
That's settled for eternity;
We know that the accepted time
Is NOW to preach with urgency!

Linked to His Love

"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14,15).

The love of Jesus Christ constrains
Each life that He has saved by grace.
It is His love that yet sustains
And holds us in His strong embrace.

There is a link that just makes sense
That calls us now to live for Christ:
Should not we seek to recompense
Our Lord for us once sacrificed?

O Lord, we thank You for the love
That prompted You to die for all
And made You leave Your throne above
To lift us from our sinful fall.

Heaven is Hidden

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.... For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.... while we look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:3-18).

Heaven is hidden to those who are lost,
Though God would instruct and enlighten their mind.
But now they are driven like ships that are tossed
By waves of deception that render them blind.

But God, who commanded the light of creation
To shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts
To give us the light of the great revelation
Of Christ and the wonderful grace He imparts!

How bright are the heavenly vistas thus shown,
And great is the glory of Jesus our Lord
Exalted above every name that is known,
As we behold things that by faith are explored!

O Lord, we give thanks for the vision to see
Beyond things that surely must soon pass away!
May we be the light that You've called us to be,
So those lost in darkness may find You today.

Source of Sufficiency

"I am small and despised: yet I do not forget Thy precepts.... Thy law is the truth" (Psalm 119:141,142). "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5).

I look up to the stars above,
And I'm convinced that I am small,
Yet I'm the object of God's love,
Though I may be despised by all.

The truth of God does not depend
On whether I am small or great,
Nor on how well I may defend
The precepts that His foes may hate.

For God is God, and there I rest,
For He is my Sufficiency.
He is the Source from which I'm blest,
And my eternal Surety.

Lord, thank You for the peace You give
That comes by knowing You are true.
Because You live, I know I'll live,
And dwell eternally with You.

Nahum on Nineveh

"The burden of Nineveh.... The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.... Who can stand before His indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him. But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies. What do ye imagine against the LORD?" (Nahum 1:1-9).

The Nineveh of Jonah's day
Responded with repentance,
And thus they chose God's gracious way
To flee from judgment's sentence.

One hundred fifty years went by,
And Nineveh returned
To sin that sentenced them to die
With judgment they had earned.

The Lord is good, and He is strong
To save those who are His,
But all who count Him slack are wrong;
They know not who He is!

America, will you not hear
The prophet Nahum's warning?
The Lord's return is drawing near;
Your mockers go on scorning!

The blessing that we once derived
From trusting in the LORD
Shall fade away if not revived
By godliness restored.

It seems that many now suppose
That our economy
Is ranking first among our woes,
And not morality.

We dare not rest as Nineveh
On former saving grace;
It's time now for America
To seek the Savior's face!

O Lord, we thank You for the choice
Your Gospel will provide:
O may we hear and heed Your voice
And in Your goodness hide!

Pondering our Pardoner

"Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?..... He delighteth in mercy.... He will subdue our iniquities, and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:18-19). "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Who can we find, Lord, that comforts like You?
You pardon our sins, and You cast them away
Down to the depths where they're hidden from view
And never brought up to be put on display.

Great are the comforts that flow from Your love,
O Father of mercies, through Jesus our Lord!
Endless Compassion came down from above
To suffer our judgment from Your righteous sword.

God of all comfort, we ponder in part
Your mercy too boundless to now comprehend!
Time is too short to unveil Your heart,
Which we shall delight to explore without end!

Hating the Hollow

"I hate vain thoughts: but Thy law do I love" (Psalm 119:113). "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.... all the things that thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:13-15). "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Thy God?" (Micah 6:8).

We ought to hate the thoughts so hollow
That fill us with this world's cares,
Distracting us when we would follow
Our Lord, with whom no one compares.

The Lord has shown us what is good;
So shouldn't we be more concerned
With truth that we have understood,
Which by His Spirit is discerned?

We ought to give more earnest heed
To wisdom God will now commend,
Than hollow thoughts that we don't need,
Which have no profit in the end.

So teach us, Lord, to justly hate
The hollow things we should despise,
That we may more appreciate
And love the truth that makes us wise.

Steadfast Statutes

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.... I have inclined mine heart to perform Thy statutes always, even unto the end" (Psalm 119:105,112). "My son... receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee.... that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous" (Proverbs 2:1,20). "But thou, Bethlehem.... out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting.... He shall be great unto the ends of the earth. And this Man shall be the Peace" (Micah 5:2-5). "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).

How brightly shines the Word of God
Upon the path on which we tread.
There's not one statute that is flawed
In anything that God has said.

We are not left here without light
Like those who in the darkness grope.
We're walking in the way that's right
With all who in our Savior hope.

As Micah told the line and place
That prophesied our Savior's birth,
The future likewise we can trace,
When He shall reign in all the earth.

So may our faithfulness in increase
As we delight to meditate
Upon the Lord who is our Peace
Whose name, above all names, is great!

O Lord, we would be steadfast too,
Assured of the eternal gain,
In all the labor which we do
For Christ, which shall not be in vain!

Edification, Exhortation, Encouragement

"He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort" (1 Corinthians 14:3).

In every Christian congregation
The Word of God should edify,
Revive with earnest exhortation,
And comfort heavy hearts that sigh.

The Lord has given to His church
The gifts He knew that we would need:
Evangelists for souls who search
And pastors who will rightly lead.

He gave us teachers to expound
The treasures of God's precious Word,
He gave us preachers who abound
With power by His Spirit stirred.

Lord, thank You for Your gifts so full
Imparted to Your fellowship
To edify, exhort, console,
And thereby with Your grace equip.