Publish Peace

"Open thy mouth… in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction" (Proverbs 31:8).  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace… all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God…  Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted… and be very high… His visage was so marred more than any man… So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see" (Isaiah 52:7,10,13-15). 

As we behold destruction's path,

The gate is wide, the way is broad.  

Yet there is one escape from wrath

Through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. 

We publish, therefore, with our voice

The Gospel of our Savior's peace

To show that captives have a choice

In Christ who purchased our release! 

For this our Savior came to die;

For this His visage was so marred! 

Our Lord is now exalted high,

Yet still His hands and feet are scarred. 

We publish peace, Lord, to the lost,

Which You extend to every nation,

As we declare the awful cost

You paid to offer Your salvation. 

Sureness of the Shortness

"Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in His ways… happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" (Psalm 128:1,2).  "Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment… but My salvation shall be forever… and I have put My words in thy mouth" (Isaiah 51:6,16).  "But this I say, brethren, the time is short… for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Corinthians 7:29,31). 

How swiftly flies another year

Containing few and precious days. 

But God will bless those who will fear

And trust Him, walking in His ways. 

Though time is fleeting, truth is sure.  

It is our wisdom, then, to trust

The Word of God which shall endure

When kings and kingdoms turn to dust. 

Because our time on earth is short

And God entrusts His Word to us,

We seize the day as we report

His Gospel truth so marvelous! 

May sureness of the shortness, Lord,

As times of earth and heaven pass

Like grains of sand before us poured,

Now urge us like the hourglass.  

Word to the Weary

"Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1,2).  "Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD" (Proverbs 29:26).  "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary" (Isaiah 50:4).  "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

We have a tendency to build

The things we then must daily guard. 

Unless God's calling is fulfilled,

Our work shall be in vain and hard. 

We tend to seek the ruler's favor,

Instead of looking to the Lord

To seek the pleasure of our Savior,

Which is our ultimate reward. 

We need this Word of God's correction

In season for the weary soul

To bring this purpose to perfection:   

God's glory as our highest goal. 

O Lord, You bought us with a price! 

Now let the weary hear this word

To thus recall Your  sacrifice

With love renewed and worship stirred.  

Tears in Time

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:5,6).  "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).  "Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee" (Isaiah 49:8).  "Purge out therefore the old leaven… for… Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us"  (1 Corinthians 5:7). 

Our Savior wept with great compassion

For sinners whom He came to save.   

May we be weeping in this fashion

As souls yet lost approach the grave. 

As we go forth with precious seed,

Let us be praying that the lost

Will seek the mercy that they need

From Christ who paid redemption's cost. 

This is the time acceptable

To plead with every ear that hears

To turn with all their heart and soul

To God with true and timely tears.

O Lord, our tears would not suffice

Unless in time You had been slain

As our Passover Sacrifice

To purge our sins till none remain!  

Accountable to the Almighty

"As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even forever" (Psalm 125:2).  "My son, be wise, and make My heart glad… Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks" (Proverbs 27:11,23).  "I have declared the former things from the beginning… and they came to pass… Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it?" (Isaiah 48:3,6).  "Stewards of the mysteries of God… it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:1,2). 

The Lord is round about His own

From henceforth and forevermore. 

We are accountable alone

To Christ our Lord, whom we adore. 

There is in life no higher goal

Than living for our Savior's pleasure. 

To Him we are accountable

As stewards of eternal treasure.

From the beginning, God declared

His prophecies that we have heard. 

As stewards, let us be prepared

To show how He fulfilled His Word.

We know, Almighty God, our Savior,

That we're accountable for grace

To manifest Your saving favor

As we declare Your Gospel's case.