Vows and Vistas

"The children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded… so they set forward" (Numbers 2:34).  "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I… that I may daily perform my vows" (Psalm 61:2,8).  "Live… to [do] the will of God… As good stewards of the manifold grace of God… that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:2,10,11). 

The Lord delivered Israel

And brought them forth by His command

With vows and vistas they knew well

To lead them to their promised land. 

The Lord gives vistas in our walk

By meditation in His Word

That leads us to the higher rock

To see His vows that are assured. 

The vows of God are evidence

That we shall never be forsaken. 

The vows of our obedience

To God should not be lightly taken. 

Your vows and vistas, Lord, You give,

Which mark the path of Your salvation,

Remind us that You ever live

To save our souls from condemnation!  

Marching Messengers

"Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth… Wilt not Thou, O God… go out with our armies?" (Psalm 60:4,10).  "As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger…  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country" (Proverbs 25:13,25).  "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you… Christ also hath once suffered for sins… that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:15,18). 

We have a banner to display,

While marching with the Spirit's sword,

Because the truth that we convey

Exalts our resurrected Lord. 

As messengers of Christ our King,

The truth we preach is critical: 

It is the good news that we bring

As waters to the thirsty soul. 

We're called to always be prepared

To answer those who ask the reason

That validates our hope declared

In every place and every season. 

O Lord, as messengers You send,

Like armies marching in formation,

We take the Gospel You extend

To show the way of Your salvation.  

Purpose of our Priesthood

"Unto thee, O my Strength, will I sing: for God is my Defense, and the God of my mercy" (Psalm 59:17).  "Deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain" (Proverbs 24:11).  "Ye also… are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ… But ye are… a royal priesthood… that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:5,9). 

The purpose of our priesthood now

Is first and foremost to give praise.

The Lord shall then instruct us how

To glorify Him in our ways. 

We live amid such strife and pain

Where we are called to rescue those

Who now are ready to be slain,

The souls for whom Christ died and rose. 

As holy priests to God we sing

And give to Him our adoration. 

As royal priests for God we bring

To souls His message of salvation. 

Lord, in our priesthood that You gave

We find our twofold purpose here: 

To reach the souls You died to save

And worship You as we draw near.   

Broken Bands

"I am the LORD your God... and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright" (Leviticus 26:13).  "The wicked are... like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear, which will not hearken" (Psalm 58:3-5).  "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26).  "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind... as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:13-16). 

The Lord our God has made it clear:  

The bands which held us now are broken. 

The wicked choose to stop their ear;

They will not heed what God has spoken. 

The Lord now bids His sons and daughters

To give to Him a heart of praise,  

Who lifted us from troubled waters

To follow and observe His ways. 

As children who obey His Word,

Abandoning our former lust,  

The Lord is calling us to gird

Our minds with holiness and trust.   

Lord, as we ponder bands You broke,

Which, by Your death, You tore apart,

We find our freedom from sin's yoke

As we surrender all our heart! 

Liberty of our Lord

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10).  "God that performeth all things for me... shall send forth His mercy and his truth" (Psalm 57:2,3).  "That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day... excellent things in counsels and knowledge... that thou mightest answer the words of truth" (Proverbs 22:19-21).   "Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:8). 

As we proclaim Christ's liberty

According to our Lord's command,

We show the truth that makes us free

To all the people of the land. 

Our Lord performed what He foretold:

He came with grace and truth to us. 

Now with His Word we may be bold

Because He rose victorious! 

With counsels that are excellent,

We bring the truth of liberation

That offers captives who repent

The freedom our Lord's salvation. 

Lord, as we contemplate the cost

To liberate the souls of men, 

We'll join the saints who once were lost

To praise You when You come again!