Acquainted with the Almighty

"Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace… Lay up His words in thine heart… For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.  Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee " (Job 22:21,22,26,27).  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). 

How wondrous is the invitation

That calls us to become acquainted

With Christ, the Captain of salvation,

Whose love for sinners never fainted! 

How gracious are the words of love

Of God Almighty to our hearts! 

We lift our face to Him above

To hear the comfort He imparts. 

He calls us to His throne of grace

To cast on Him our every care. 

He has prepared for us a place,

That where He is, we may be there. 

O Lord Almighty, gracious Savior,

We are acquainted with Your ways: 

You died and rose to grant us favor,

And we would live to give You praise!  

Chaff by Choice

"The wicked… say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways… They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away" (Job 21:7,14,18).  "In the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge… I lie even among them that are set on fire" (Psalm 57:1,4).  "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Proverbs 27:12).  "He will… gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable" (Luke 3:17).    

Eternal souls shall make their choice

Regarding Jesus Christ our Savior:    

They either will obey His voice

Or willfully reject His favor. 

How worthy is our Lord of praise

Who satisfies our heart's desire,

But those who will despise His ways

Become like chaff consumed in fire. 

The Lord instructs us by His fear

To put away our evil pride

So that we humbly may draw near

And find in Him a place to hide. 

O Lord, we all would be as chaff,

But for the choice You died to give: 

You gave Yourself on our behalf,

So all who trust in You may live.  

The Thoughts

"Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste" (Job 20:2).  "This I know; for God is for me… for Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:9,13).  "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit" (Proverbs 26:5).  "Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel… that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34,35).  

My thoughts have caused me to make haste

To answer those who want to know

Why all my faith in Christ is placed,

Providing reasons I may show. 

As long as God shall give me breath,

I will proclaim His Gospel's calling

That saves me from the second death

And also keeps my feet from falling. 

A fool may think that he is wise;

The blind may lead the blind astray. 

God's answer opens blinded eyes

And warns the fool to turn today. 

The thoughts of many are revealed,

O Lord, in those who count the cost,

For all who trust in You are healed,

And all who turn away are lost.  

Reality of my Redeemer

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25,26).  "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:25).  "The Lord God… hath visited and redeemed His people… as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets… to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:68,70,79). 

I know that my Redeemer lives;

He rose just as He said He would.

What confidence to me this gives

To know He made His promise good! 

The good news is the proven fact

Of my Redeemer's visitation. 

The prophets spoke of this great act,

And Christ fulfilled it with salvation.

Praise God for this reality,   

That seems more like a wondrous dream,

For Jesus gave Himself for me

And for all those He would redeem!   

O Lord my God, I'm not a dreamer;    

Reality is found in You!

You came to be my soul's Redeemer. 

You'll come again; I know it's true!  

Driven into Darkness

"He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world… this is the place of him that knoweth not God" (Job 18:18,21).  "Behold, God is mine Helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul" (Psalm 54:4).  "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death… He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it?  And shall not He render to every man according to his works?" (Proverbs 24:11,12).  "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). 

How dreadful the future will be

For all who will not know the Lord

When light from their dwelling shall flee

And darkness shall be their reward!

How great is the grace that is given

To us who are helped by our Savior!   

If not for His love, we'd be driven

In darkness away from His favor. 

Our days on this earth are so few;

Occasions to speak are soon gone. 

Shall not we convey what is true

To those who in darkness are drawn? 

O Lord, we have heard Your command: 

Souls driven in darkness need light! 

We go with Your Gospel in hand

To rescue the lost from their plight!