Sent To Tell for Such A Time

"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall…  deliverance arise… from another place; but… who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).  "Thou hast… girded me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent" (Psalm 30:11,12).  "Open thy mouth for the… cause of all such as are appointed to destruction" (Proverbs 31:8).  "Who then can be saved?... With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:25,26). 

For such a time as this we run

To tell the lost there is a Savior!  

The work that saves our souls is done

By Christ who saves us by His favor! 

For such a time as this we sing

The praise of Christ who died for us,

Who rose to take away death's sting  

And ever lives victorious!

For such a time as this we tell

The lost to flee from sin's seduction

And come to Christ who saves from hell

The souls approaching their destruction. 

O Lord, for such a time as this,

As we are sent to tell good news,

We pray that souls may not dismiss

Your grace that only fools refuse.    

Giving Him Glory

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness… in His temple doth every one speak of His glory" (Psalm 29:2,9).  "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?  Who hath gathered the wind in His fists?  Who hath bound the waters in a garment?  Who hath established all the ends of the earth?...  He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5).   "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost" (Matthew 18:11). 

We give to the Lord Jesus Christ

The glory that's due to His name:

Behold Him, the Lamb sacrificed,

Who bore all our sin and our shame! 

We speak of His glory foretold

In all of His temple portrayed.

His holiness there we behold

With mercy and judgment displayed. 

Behold Him ascended above,

Majestic as Lord of creation!  

Behold Him, our Shield of love,

Who died to procure our salvation! 

We love You, Lord, giving You glory,

As we have considered the cost,

Proclaiming the wonderful story

Of how You have ransomed the lost! 

Hastening to Hear

"O LORD my Rock; be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit… They regard not the works of the LORD" (Psalm 28:1,5).  "While he [Peter] yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him… And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only " (Matthew 17:5-8). 

I'd rather hear my Savior talk

Than so-called scholars of our day.    

He is my Fortress and my Rock;

I'll wait to hear what He will say. 

My Lord communicates to me

Throughout the pages of His Word. 

How tragic would His silence be

If His communion was not heard! 

At times, like Peter, if I'm speaking

When I should hear what He has said,   

It would be better to be seeking

Instruction from His Word instead. 

As Peter heard Your chastening,

O Lord, which made Your counsel known,

I likewise would be hastening

To hear and heed Your voice alone.  

Plain Path

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after… to behold the beauty of the LORD... Thy face, LORD, will I seek… Teach me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies" (Psalm 27:4,8,11).  "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things" (Proverbs 28:5).  "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me…  For the Son of man shall… reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:24,27). 

We find a joy that transcends duty

When we have sought our Savior's face,

As we behold His matchless beauty,

Astonished at His wondrous grace. 

We find a path the Lord makes plain

When He's the One we've sought to please,

That Christ within our hearts may reign  

As He subdues our enemies. 

God shows the way that He has planned;

He shines His Word upon our path, 

And gratefully we understand

That He delivered us from wrath. 

O Lord, the path is plain for us:

Take up the cross with self denial

And follow You.  How glorious!  

The prize before us is Your smile! 

Contending with Contamination

"Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken?" (Nehemiah 13:11).  "LORD, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth" (Psalm 26:8).  "Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks" (Proverbs 27:23).  "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me… They be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:8,14). 

The question Nehemiah asked,

"Why is the house of God forsaken?"

Was brought to leaders who were tasked

To honor God and not be shaken. 

That question should be asked as well

To those who lead His flocks these days,

So honor for our Lord may dwell

Where He inhabits grateful praise. 

Beware of the hypocrisy

Contaminating fellowships

That comes by insincerity

In praise that cloaks pretentious lips. 

O Lord, by Your examination,  

Please cleanse the temple of our mind,

Contending with contamination

That plagues the blind who lead the blind.  

Secret of our Savior

"What man is he that feareth the LORD?  Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose… The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant" (Psalm 25:12,14).  "Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid… But when he [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me… Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:27-31). 

The one who fears the Lord will find

The secret of our Lord and Savior

Through counsel that instructs our mind

With comfort that assures His favor. 

There is no cause for us to fear

The raging seas and storms of life,

For Jesus calms us by His cheer

With peace that stills our inward strife. 

At times our eyes may tend to wander

To circumstances round about,

But Christ then gently bids us ponder

The foolishness that caused our doubt. 

O Lord our Savior and our Friend,

The secret counsel You impart

Has taught us daily to depend

On You alone with all our heart.