Salvation Seen

Read:  Psalm 68 / Proverbs 31 / Malachi 3 / Luke 2

 

Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Proverbs 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Luke 2:30-32 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

 

The Lord Himself gave us His Word

That we might publish Jesus’ fame,

Declaring all we’ve seen and heard

As we have thought upon His name.

 

Let us proclaim our Lord’s salvation,

As light in darkness which has shined,

To magnify His reputation

As Lord and Savior of mankind. 

 

Messengers of Mercy

Read:  Psalm 67 / Proverbs 30 / Malachi 2 / Luke 1

 

Psalm 67:1,2 God be merciful… bless us… that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Malachi 2:6,7 The law of truth was in his mouth… he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.  For the priest's lips should keep knowledge… for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Luke 1:76-79 Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation…  to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 

Our God is surely merciful,

As Jesus Christ our Lord has shown. 

His saving health has made us whole;

The Word of God has made this known. 

 

As messengers of mercy sent,

We bring the knowledge of salvation

To urge the sinner to repent

And heed the Savior’s invitation. 

Proclaim and Preach

Read:  Psalm 66 / Proverbs 29 / Malachi 1 / Mark 16

 

Psalm 66:2,5,16 Sing forth the honor of his name: make his praise glorious… Come and see… Come and hear.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Malachi 1:5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

The name of God is glorious;

Come, see and hear the reputation

Of Christ who gave His life for us

To thereby purchase our salvation! 

 

Our Savior is our Hiding Place,

So let His name be magnified

As we proclaim His saving grace

And preach His Gospel, far and wide! 

 

Selfless Savior!

Read:  Psalm 65 / Proverbs 28 / Zechariah 14 / Mark 15

 

Psalm 65:2,3 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Mark 15:31 The chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

 

To God, who heard my prayer, I came,

Though my iniquities prevailed. 

In fear, I called on Jesus’ name

Who on the cross (for me!) was nailed. 

 

He heard my prayer!  He saved my soul! 

In selfless love, His life He gave! 

He paid redemption’s price in full,

And thus, Himself He could not save. 

 

(Born Again on December 28, 1973.  Happy Day!) 

Memories on the Midway

Scattered Sheep

Read:  Psalm 64 / Proverbs 27 / Zechariah 13 / Mark 14 

 

Psalm 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD.

Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

Zechariah 13:6,7 What are these wounds in thine hands?...  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd… my fellow, saith the LORD… smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

Mark 14:27 For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

 

The righteous surely shall be glad,

Whose righteousness is not their own,

For all the goodness they have had

Has come from Jesus Christ alone. 

 

Behold the wounds in Jesus’ hands

That show how much to Him we mattered. 

Behold the sword our Lord commands:

Christ died for sheep who from Him scattered. 

 

Compared to Christ

Read:  Psalm 63 / Proverbs 26 / Zechariah 12 / Mark 13 

 

Psalm 63:1,3 In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is… thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Proverbs 26:11 A fool returneth to his folly.

Zechariah 12:10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son… as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Mark 13:2 Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

This is a dry and thirsty land,

A land wherein no water is. 

Compared to Christ, this life is bland; 

There is no other love like His.

 

The lights of earth are growing dim,

And every well is running dry.

Christ is our light.  We look to Him,

For He alone can satisfy.  

 

 

Trust at all Times - Merry Christmas!

Read:  Psalm 62 / Proverbs 25 / Zechariah 11 / Mark 12 

 

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Proverbs 25:14,25 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain… As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Zechariah 11:12 If ye think good, give me my price… So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

Mark 12:10,11 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

 

In God, at all times, we should trust. 

He’s not like clouds that promise rain

And disappoint the thirsty dust

When hope is placed in them in vain. 

 

For on this Christmas day, we think

Of Christ descending from above

To satisfy our souls that drink

From all the fullness of love!  

 

Goal of God

Read:  Psalm 61 / Proverbs 24 / Zechariah 10 / Mark 11

 

Psalm 61:5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Zechariah 10:12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

Mark 11:22 Jesus answering saith… Have faith in God.

 

The Lord has heard our heartfelt vows

According to His gracious calling. 

In spite of grace that He endows,

Alas, He knows we’re prone to falling. 

 

Yet God is faithful, just the same,

To strengthen and restore our soul

That we may glorify His name.

Have faith in God; this is His goal.  

 

Confident in Christ

Read:  Psalm 60 / Proverbs 23 / Zechariah 9 / Mark 10

 

Psalm 60:11 Give us help… for vain is the help of man.

Proverbs 23:17,18 Be thou in the fear of the LORD… for… there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Zechariah 9:9,17 Rejoice greatly… behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly… For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!

Mark 10:49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

 

The help of man is surely vain,

For in the end, what can he do? 

To live is Christ, to die is gain;

Be confident that this is true! 

 

Rejoice!  Our King has brought salvation!

How great His goodness is to all!

In Christ we have our expectation

As we arise to heed His call. 

 

Descending and Defending

Read:  Psalm 59 / Proverbs 22 / Zechariah 8 / Mark 9

 

Psalm 59:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.

Proverbs 22:19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Zechariah 8:9 Thus saith the LORD… Let your hands be strong, ye that hear… these words… of the prophets.

Mark 9:7 A cloud… overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 

I’ll sing to God, my Lord of love

Who solved my hopeless situation,

Descending from His throne above,

Defending me with His salvation.

 

I trust in God who strengthens me

And tells me to behold His Son.

I lift my eyes to Christ and see

The work that saves my soul is done! 

 

Rebels who Refuse

Read:  Psalm 58 / Proverbs 21 / Zechariah 7 / Mark 8 

 

Psalm 58:3-5 The wicked… go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies… like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken.

Proverbs 21:29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

Mark 8:36,37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

The rebels who refuse to hear

Have exercised their own volition.

Alas!  The day is drawing near

When they shall not escape perdition. 

 

All those who choose stop their ears

Shall reap the whirlwind at last,

When sinners weep for wasted years

And for salvation’s moment passed.  

 

 

Beholding His Behavior

Read:  Psalm 57 / Proverbs 20 / Zechariah 6 / Mark 7

 

Psalm 57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Zechariah 6:12 Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.

Mark 7:37 He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

 

My God performs all things for me

Which I myself could never do:  

His blood has cleansed me thoroughly;

His grace and truth made all things new. 

 

Behold the Man, the BRANCH, my Savior,

Who died to save my soul from hell.

As I’m beholding His behavior,

I see that He does all things well.