Message for Monarchs

"I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Psalm 119:46).  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).  "King Agrippa… I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:  that Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:19,22,23). 

The Gospel message still applies

To kings and paupers, rich and poor;

A monarch like a poor man dies,

And then God's judgment is in store.   

We stand before the King of kings

Who keeps our mind in perfect peace. 

What confidence His Gospel brings

That bids our boldness to increase!

When Paul was in the royal court,

The Gospel message was not hid! 

Expounding prophecy's report,

He showed the things our Savior did. 

O Lord, we have this message too,

Which Paul to monarchs then proclaimed.   

The Gospel that we hold is true;

O may we preach it unashamed! 

Perfect Path

"Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight" (Psalm 119:35).  "I have led thee in right paths… the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:11,18).  "Thou hast been a Strength to the poor, a Strength to the needy in his distress, a Refuge from the storm, a Shadow from the heat… He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces… We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isaiah 25:4,8,9).    

The perfect path for us to walk

Is where God leads our souls aright. 

Along the way we hear Him talk;

His path is as the shining light. 

He is our Strength when we are weak,

He is our Peace when we're distressed,  

He is the Refuge that we seek,

And in His shadow, we can rest. 

Our path on earth leads to the grave,

But Christ has banished all its fears,

For every soul the Lord shall save 

At last shall see Him dry their tears. 

Lord, thank You for this perfect path

Where we rejoice in Your salvation!

Your love that rescued us from wrath

Now leads us forth with jubilation! 

Distracted by Dust

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust… I have stuck unto Thy testimonies… I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Psalm 119:25,31,32).  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart… Happy is the man that findeth wisdom… all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:5,13,15).  "The earth… fadeth away" (Isaiah 24:4).  "As [Paul] reasoned of… judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered… When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25).

There is a deadly downward pull

Today that rages in the heart,

As dust distracts and claims the soul

And thus corrupts the inward part. 

We dare not cleave to carnal dust

That draws the soul with vain attractions,

For all our heart in God should trust,

Who sets us free from such distractions.

The earth shall surely fade away,

Though now distractions may increase,

For dust is destined for decay,

And all its glory then shall cease. 

O Lord, like Felix who reacted

And called for "a convenient season,"

How many like him are distracted

By dust that clouds their sense of reason! 

Open Eyes and Obedient Ears

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me" (Psalm 119:18,19).  "My son… hide My commandments with thee… Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1,5).  "The LORD of hosts hath purposed it" (Isaiah 23:9).  "The Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (Acts 23:11). 

We need, along with open eyes,

Obedient ears to hear God's Word. 

The Lord will thereby make us wise

To understand what we have heard. 

We need to hide the Lord's command

Within our heart to hear His voice,

For we are strangers in this land,

Yet in His presence we rejoice. 

We do not trust in circumstance;

We trust the Lord who orders all. 

He does not govern us by chance,

But by His purpose and His call. 

O Lord, with open eyes we see,

And with obedient ears we hear:   

You've purposed all things perfectly,  

And so, like Paul, we have good cheer.  

Valley of our Vision

"With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander" (Psalm 119:10).  "Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23).  "The Lord GOD of hosts [is] in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls" (Isaiah 22:5).  "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will… and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth...  For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard" (Acts 22:14,15). 

Does God disclose His words today

To those who truly seek His face?   

Though we like sheep have gone astray,

He will make known His words of grace! 

The Lord pours out His Holy Spirit

To those who search for what is true. 

He says (to those who yet will hear it),

"I will make known My words to you."

The Lord has called for a decision,

And He is breaking down the walls,

Removing all that blocks the vision

Of everyone who on Him calls. 

The valley of our vision, Lord,

Is where You showed us we were blind,

And there, like Paul, we first explored

The riches of Your grace we find.