Generous to the Gentiles

"The LORD also will be a Refuge… and they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee" (Psalm 9:9,10).  "Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "The Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends of the earth" (Jeremiah 16:19).  "Ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given... that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel" (Ephesians 3:2,6).

We see the generosity

Of God to all who seek His face. 

Both Jew and Gentile now may flee

Into the refuge of His grace. 

For every word of God is pure,

And every promise is revealed

That we may trust forevermore

The Lord, who is to us a Shield. 

To all the people of the earth,

The promise of our Lord declares

That we may have a second birth

By grace which makes us fellow heirs. 

O Lord, You have been generous

To Gentiles and to Jews as well! 

You gave Your life to ransom us

And save us from eternal hell.  

Words and Workmanship

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts… Thus saith the LORD, If thou… take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth" (Jeremiah 15:16,19 ).  "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them… built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone" (Ephesians 2:10,20). 

The words of God impart His light

And stir with joy my heart and soul. 

They satisfy my appetite

With counsel that is wonderful!

How gracious is the Lord's correction

In His reproof that I have heard! 

The workmanship of His perfection

Is seen as I obey His Word. 

The good works that my Lord has planned,

Ordaining me to walk therein,

Assures me that His loving hand

Shall finish what He will begin.  

O Lord, Your words and workmanship

Have made Your truth's foundation known

On which You settle and equip

My faith in You, my Corner Stone.  

Defense against Deceit

"My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart" (Psalm 7:10).  "They that seek the LORD understand all things…  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (Proverbs 28:5,26).  "The prophets prophesy lies in My name: I sent them not" (Jeremiah 14:14).  "In the knowledge of Him [our Lord Jesus Christ]… ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe" (Ephesians 1:17-19). 

Deceit shall have its consequence

In those who choose to go astray. 

The Lord Himself is our Defense;

His Word instructs us in His way. 

All those who truly seek the Lord

Shall learn to trust in Him alone,

But fools abound who have ignored

Eternal truth that God has shown. 

The prophets God had never sent

Perpetuate deceitful lies

Embraced by those who shall lament

Their willful choice to close their eyes.

O Lord, Your counsel is complete

With Your inheritance You give,

With Your defense against deceit,

And with Your grace whereby we live.  

Give Glory to God

"O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies' sake… The LORD hath heard my supplication" (Psalm 6:4,9).  "My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me" (Proverbs 27:11).  "Give glory to the LORD your God, before He cause darkness, and… while ye look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death" (Jeremiah 13:16).  "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

Give glory to God who has heard

And answered our prayer's supplication,

Assuring our hearts by His Word

That He has secured our salvation. 

Give glory to God for His joy

Whenever His children are wise,

For thereby the Lord will destroy

The snares of the enemy's lies.

Give glory to God while you may,

As long as you have any breath. 

The Lord calls the sinner TODAY

Approaching the shadow of death. 

O Lord, we give glory to You,

Embracing the cross where You died,

Amazed at Your love which we view

That draws us and purges our pride.  

Run the Race

"Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face" (Psalm 5:8).  "The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets" (Proverbs 26:13).  "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?  And if in the land of peace… then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" (Proverbs 26:13).  "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 5:7). 

The race to which we are assigned

Requires us to find our strength

In Jesus Christ in whom we find

His grace to run throughout its length. 

A lion may be in the way,

And enemies abound therein,

Yet we are called to still obey

To rescue souls yet lost in sin.

The Lord is calling us to run

With strength much greater our own.

We find that strength within the One

Who makes His glory in us known. 

Lord, thank You for abundant grace

Sufficient for the task at hand

As we are called to run the race

With strength You give for each command.