Old Hymn

An old hymn came to my attention today that impressed me in a new way. Even though I have sung it occasionally in the past at church, I haven't let the words speak as clearly as they are doing right now.

"We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee.

"We have not feared Thee as we ought,
Nor bowed beneath Thine awful eye,
Nor guarded deed and word and thought,
Remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near,
And grant the grace of holy fear.

"We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by Thee;
Thy presence we have coldly sought,
And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
To feel and know the love Thou art.

"We have not served Thee as we ought,
Alas, the duties left undone,
The work with little fervor wrought,
The battles lost or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,
For Thee to toil, for Thee to fight.

"When shall we know Thee as we ought,
And fear and love and serve aright?
When shall we, out of trial brought,
Be perfect in the land of light?
Lord, may we day by day prepare
To see Thy face and serve Thee there."

- Thomas Pollock

Consider

“Consider what great things he has done for you.”

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”

"I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. . . . It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. . . . Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.—The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.—He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust."

1 Sam. 12:24; Deut. 8:2, 5; Ps. 119:75, 71, 67; Ps. 118:18; Ps. 103:10, 11, 14

"He who promised is faithful"

"The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.—David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.—“God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”—“‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them.’ This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.”—Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

"He who promised is faithful.—Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?—“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”—The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."

Gen. 21:1; Ps. 62:8; 1 Sam. 30:6; Gen. 50:24; Acts 7:34, 36; Josh. 21:45; Heb. 10:23; Num. 23:19; Matt. 24:35; Isa. 40:8

Pride

"It is a dreadful fact, whether we like to allow it or not, that pride is one of the common sins which beset human nature. We are all born Pharisees. We all naturally think far better of ourselves than we ought. We all naturally imagine that we deserve something better than we have. It is an old sin. It began in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve thought they had not got everything that their merits deserved. It is a subtle sin. It rules and reigns in many a heart without being detected, and can even wear the garb of humility. It is a most soul ruining sin. It prevents repentance, keeps men back from Christ – checks brotherly love, and nips in the bud spiritual desires. Let us watch against it, and be on our guard. Of all garments, none is so graceful, none wears so well, and none is so rare, as true humility."

~ J.C. Ryle

Satisfied!

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.—How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!—Your love is better than wine.

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.—You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

"As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste, he brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.—His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend."

Ps. 63:5, 6; Ps. 139:17, 18; Ps. 119:103; Song 1:2; Ps. 73:25; Ps. 45:2; Song 2:3, 4; Song 5:15, 16

The Love of God

"The Love that calls us into being, woos us to Himself, makes us His bride, lays down His life for us, daily crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercy, will never abandon us." Elisabeth Elliot

"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." I John 4:9

The Name of the Lord

"And those who know your name put their trust in you.

“And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”—With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

"His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.—I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.—Mighty God, Everlasting Father.—I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.—Prince of Peace.—For he himself is our peace.—Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.—Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help.—“Like birds hovering, so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it; he will spare and rescue it.”

Ps. 9:10; Jer. 23:6; Ps. 71:16; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 10:23; Isa. 9:6; 2 Tim. 1:12; Isa. 9:6; Eph. 2:14; Rom. 5:1; Prov. 18:10; Isa. 31:1; Isa. 31:5

Joy

"But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy.

"Joy in the Holy Spirit.—Joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.—In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.—We rejoice in our sufferings.

"Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith . . . for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.—“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”—For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.—Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.—“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

"In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Gal. 5:22; Rom. 14:17; 1 Pet. 1:8; 2 Cor. 6:10; 7:4; Rom. 5:3; Heb. 12:2; John 15:11; 2 Cor. 1:5; Phil. 4:4; Neh. 8:10; Ps. 16:11; Rev. 7:17