Publish the Peace

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6).  "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).  "I will surely gather the remnant of Israel" (Micah 2:12).  "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men… They [the shepherds] made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child" (Luke 2:10,11,14).

We know where true peace proceeds from,

The peace for which all the earth yearns.

Jerusalem's peace shall yet come

When Jesus our Savior returns. 

In that day shall every knee bow

To Christ, and His praise shall not cease,

But we are sent forth even now

To publish His Gospel of peace!

The messengers God will employ

Are sinners receiving salvation

Who publish Good Tidings of joy,

The blessing of justification! 

O Lord, as those shepherds of old,

Who made known the news of Your favor,

We publish the peace You foretold

To all who receive You as Savior.  

Magnify His Mercy

"My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2).  "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22).  "Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you" (Micah 1:2).  "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior… for He hath visited and redeemed His people, as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets… through the tender mercy of our God" (Luke 1:46,47,68,70,78). 

The Lord who put the stars in space

And made the earth and all therein,

Has blessed humanity with grace;

His truth and mercy purges sin. 

It is our sin that calls for wrath

And sorrow throughout God's creation,

But truth and mercy forged a path

Through Christ to grant us His salvation.   

The witness of God's holy law

Against us all has testified.

The remedy that God foresaw

Was brought by Christ, who for us died. 

We magnify Your mercy, Lord,

So tender and so marvelous! 

No other love could thus afford

The price You paid to rescue us!  

Preach to Passengers

"In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and He heard me.  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue" (Psalm 120:1,2).  "Passengers… go right on their ways… Whoso is simple… knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell" (Proverbs 9:15-18).  "Then said the LORD… Should not I spare… persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand?" (Jonah 4:4,11).  "He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). 

We all are passengers at last

Continuing relentlessly

Until our fleeting days have passed

And we have reached eternity. 

I cried to God in my distress,

For no one cared among my friends

That each day dawned as one day less  

To find the truth before life ends. 

I thank the Lord who heard my prayer

Amid those who could not discern

That Jesus died so He might spare

All those who humbly to Him turn. 

O Lord, to passengers we call

While You command us now to preach

The Gospel that You send to all,

Since You have paid the price for each.  

Options of Omnipotence

"Unto you, O men, I call… For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul" (Proverbs 8:4,35,36).  "Preach… the preaching that I bid thee" (Jonah 3:2).  "The Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And He was numbered with the transgressors.  And they that passed by railed on Him… saying… Save thyself, and come down from the cross.  Likewise also the chief priests mocking said… He saved others; Himself He cannot save" (Mark 15:28-31). 

The call of God to everyone

Extends the option of His favor,

But all those who reject God's Son

Deprive their souls of heaven's Savior. 

The preaching that our Lord has bidden

Of things foretold have been fulfilled.

Salvation's purpose was not hidden

When Christ, the Lamb of God, was killed. 

The options then for Christ were two: 

To save Himself or save the lost. 

Thank God for what He chose to do: 

He died to pay our ransom's cost! 

The options of omnipotence

O Lord, were subject to Your love:  

For us You bore sin's consequence

As our Defender from above! 

Word of Witness

"I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil… Great peace have they which love Thy law… LORD, I have hoped for Thy salvation" (Psalm 119:162,165,166).  "Hearken unto Me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of My mouth" (Proverbs 7:24).  "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy… Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:8,9).  "Jesus said… Ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven… What need we any further witnesses?" (Mark 14:62,63). 

How rightly now may we rejoice

Like those who find the victor's spoil

And shout with a triumphant voice

When peace is won on hard-fought soil.

Our hope is only in the Lord

Who has obtained for us salvation;

It surely wasn't by our sword

That we were saved from condemnation. 

The Lord has called us to be wise,

Attending to the words He gave,

Forsaking not the truth for lies

Of vanities that cannot save. 

O Lord, we have no further need

Beyond Your Word of witness heard.

Let sinners tremble and take heed:

You'll come as promised in Your Word.