Purifying Prospect

"I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only…  Thou…  shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth" (Psalm 71:16,20).  "Behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 21:7).  "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:2,3).    

There is a righteousness that saves

Through Jesus Christ, which God has shown. 

There is no hope beyond our graves

Apart from Christ, and Him alone. 

Yet we shall rise up from the earth

To meet our Savior in the air

With all who have a second birth,

And then His likeness we shall share. 

Behold, it shall be brought to pass

For all whom Christ redeems as His. 

Though now we wither like the grass,

We shall be fashioned as He is. 

Lord, with this prospect now in view,
We see a purifying action:  

As we have fixed our eyes on You,

Our hearts are purged from vain distraction.  

Magnify His Mercy

"Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified" (Psalm 70:4).  "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?... He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5).  "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: and He is the Propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1,2). 

Let everyone who seeks the Lord

Say, "Let our God be magnified!"

How rightly He should be adored,

Who for our sakes was crucified! 

Our Savior has ascended up

To heaven where He pleads for us. 

He drank the wrath that filled our cup;

Is not His mercy marvelous? 

His mercy bids us not to sin

And makes us sorry when we do. 

He sends us forth so we may win

The souls that He will lead us to. 

We magnify Your truth and grace,

O Lord, that brought You from above!

You have become our Hiding Place;

We've found our refuge in Your love.  

Light on the Lamentation

"The zeal of thine house hath eaten Me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me" (Psalm 69:9).  "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy… Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:1,18).  "Israel… was fruitful…  and now she is planted in… a dry and thirsty ground… This is a lamentation" (Ezekiel 19:1,10,13,14).  "God is light…  if we walk in the light… the blood of Jesus Christ… cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:5,7). 

It was the zeal of Jesus Christ

That made Him come to our defense. 

For us our Lord was sacrificed

In light of sin's grave consequence. 

How sadly, then, do some yet harden  

Their stubborn hearts that God would win. 

The people perish without pardon,

Who hate the light exposing sin. 

The lamentation of the plight

That has befallen Israel

Is sung in the prophetic light

Explaining why, at last, she fell. 

Lord, send the light of Your salvation

With Your magnificence in view

To spare us from the lamentation

Of those who go astray from You.  

Riches for Rebels

"Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation" (Psalm 68:18,19).  "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).  "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye" (Ezekiel 18:32).  "For this they willingly are ignorant of… The Lord is… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:5,9).

The Lord has purchased our redemption,

Though we were rebels, all undone! 

He tasted death, without exemption,

For every man; yes, every one! 

Blest be the God of our salvation,

Who daily loads us with His gifts

And takes away the condemnation

Of humble rebels whom He lifts!

The Lord has said He has no pleasure

When rebels perish in their sin.

He died to give salvation's treasure

To all who turn to let Him in.

  

How great Your riches are, O Lord,

For rebels turning to repent,  

But those who willfully ignored

Your grace shall evermore lament! 

Blessed to be Blessing

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us… that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations… God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (Psalm 67:1,2,7).  "My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me… Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks (Proverbs 27:11,23).  "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations… through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 2:9,20).   

The Lord has surely blessed His own,

And on them He has shined His face

That He might make salvation known

Through those who find His saving grace. 

We hear Him say, "My son be wise,"

That He may answer him that mocks

And halt the damage of the lies

That lead astray His precious flocks. 

The Lord knows how to shelter us

Beneath the shadow of His wings. 

His love for us is marvelous

With benefits He daily brings. 

O Lord, how greatly we are blest,

That we may be a blessing too.  

We worship You as we attest

That every blessing flows from You.