Read and RUN!

“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 22:20,21).  “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may RUN that READETH it… the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:2-4).  “The righteousness of God [is] revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith… being witnessed by the law and the prophets… To declare… His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 1:17, 3:26). 

So many things that people write

Are, in the end, a waste of time.
They do not shed a bit of light
On things eternally sublime. 

Instruction books are necessary

Which show us how to do a task,
But let the reader now be wary
In greater questions one may ask. 

The things of greater consequence

Affect our souls eternally.
We need God’s Word of excellence
To counsel us with certainty.

Now make the Gospel very plain;

And let the one who reads it run,
For every other hope is vain
Apart from Christ and what He’s done!

The Law and prophets made it known:

By faith in Christ we’re justified.  
Declare His righteousness alone
Who paid our ransom when He died! 

Behold the wonder of His plan  

Who weighed that cost and paid the price!
He tasted death for every man
When He became our Sacrifice. 

Our God, who justifies, is just

In saving those who trust the Savior,
Yet those who will not in Him trust,
Deny themselves His gracious favor. 

The just shall live by faith, we know,

For God provides no other way. 
By grace we’re saved and now we show
Our faith by what we do and say.

O Lord, we thank You for salvation

That we receive by faith in You. 
We run now with Your declaration
That every Word of God is true! 

Lord, thank You for Your wondrous grace

That saves us from eternal loss. 
With eyes on You, we run the race
And show the refuge of Your cross!