Fearing our Forgetfulness

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits... Who redeemeth thy life from destruction " (Psalm 103:2,4).  "Open thy mouth... in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction" (Proverbs 31:8).  "My people have forgotten Me days without number" (Jeremiah 2:32).  "Timotheus... brought us good tidings... that ye have good remembrance" (1 Thessalonians 3:6). 

How rightly do we bless the Lord

For all His benefits He gave

Which are remembered and explored

By those whom Jesus died to save. 

There is a danger, nonetheless,

That we may carelessly forget

How much it cost the Lord to bless

Our souls by our redemption met. 

O may we not forgetful be,

Lest God declare to our dismay,

"My people have forgotten Me"

When our remembrance fades away.

O Lord, lest we forget Your love

(A very fearful inclination!),

Direct our hearts to You above

With good remembrance of salvation! 

Gospel Given

"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?... Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "The LORD said... Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth" (Jeremiah 1:9).  "As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4). 

Our Lord descended to this place

To die for those whom He would win. 

How wondrous is His saving grace

That ransoms sinners from their sin! 

He has ascended to His throne

And given us His Gospel's Word,

Entrusting us to make it known

With promises that are assured. 

How great the words are that He gave

To those of us whom He has sent

To preach the Gospel that will save

The lost who truly will repent! 

We thank You, Lord, that we're allowed

To preach the Gospel given here

To show that You resist the proud,

Yet save the humble who draw near.

Trembling at the Truth

"I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto Thee, O LORD, will I sing" (Psalm 101:1).  "Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).  "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word... The men that have transgressed against Me... their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched" (Isaiah 66:2,24).  "Jesus... delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10). 

We rightly tremble at the thought

Of judgment's fearful consequence

Without the mercy Jesus brought

Upon His cross in our defense! 

We sing with joy to know so well

That grace and truth through Jesus came

And that He rescues those from hell

Who find their refuge in His name! 

By grace there was a day we shook

When we had trembled at His Word.  

To those who fear, the Lord will look

When they obey the truth they've heard.

Lord, thank You for so great salvation

Which You have wrought by truth and grace!

We're trembling now with adoration

Since You became our Hiding Place!  

Seasoned Speech

"Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3).  "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things" (Proverbs 28:5).  "I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts" (Isaiah 65:2).  "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man " (Colossians 4:6). 

Should not we count it very odd

That there are schoolbooks on our shelves

Asserting that there is no God

And mindless matter made ourselves? 

We see this is the situation   

When God is willfully ignored

By men who scoff at condemnation

As they refuse to seek the Lord. 

The Lord is spreading out His hands

To those who mock Him every day. 

Each one who seeks Him understands,

And God will teach them what to say.

Lord, fill our speech with seasoned grace

As we are led forth by Your Spirit

To preach the Gospel in this place

While there are those who yet will hear it.  

Daily Diligence

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth... My son, be wise, and make My heart glad... Be thou diligent" (Proverbs 27:11,23).  "Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God... Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:1,17).

There is a boast that leads to sorrow

Because it blurs reality. 

The things we put off till tomorrow

May be too late eternally. 

We are instructed to be wise;

We only have a little while.

To Christ we daily lift our eyes

And live to see our Father's smile.

The rule that guides what we proclaim  

And what we do throughout the day

Is that we're called to praise the name

Of Christ in all we do and say. 

We thank You, Lord, for confidence

You grant in things we say and do

When we give daily diligence

To living gratefully for You.  

Almighty Arm

"O sing unto the LORD a new song... His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory... The LORD hath made known His salvation... All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:1-3).  "Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me" (Isaiah 63:5).  "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us... [He] took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross... having spoiled principalities and powers... triumphing over them" (Colossians 2:14,15). 

The mighty arm of God is shown,

Which prophets clearly had foretold;

In all the earth He has made known

His great salvation we behold. 

It was His own almighty arm

That brought salvation from above. 

He died to rescue us from harm,

Compelled by His unending love.

His law demanded condemnation;

How hopeless then we all would be

If Christ withheld from us salvation

Which by His arm has made us free! 

Lord, thank You for Your love unfailing

Upon Your cross so marvelous   

Where Your almighty arm was nailing

Our sins You blotted out for  us!