Monday, December 2, 2013

"YOU Are My LORD; Apart From YOU I Have No Good Thing."

Is CHRIST your LORD?
(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

"Keep me safe, O GOD, for in YOU 
I take refuge. YOU are my LORD
apart from YOU I have no good thing." 
    Psalm 16:1-2

"You are my LORD," that is, 
the ruler of my life.
YOUR will is my law. 
YOUR precepts are my directory.
YOUR commandments are my guide. 
I look to YOU alone for strength 
in every time of need. 
I walk by YOUR word, 
with a view to please YOU. 
I take YOU to be my Alpha 
and Omega, my first and last, 
my all in all!

I renounce all other objects of worship. 

"O LORD, our GOD, other lords besides 
YOU have ruled over us, but YOUR 
name alone do we honor!" Isaiah 26:13

"YOU are my LORD!" therefore 
I expect YOU to keep me, provide 
for me, shelter me, guard me, 
and defend me . . . 
   in every time of trouble, 
   in every season of affliction, 
   in every circumstances of danger,
   when in pain and suffering, 
   when in want and woe!

I have turned from others, 
and turned to YOU, crying, 
"YOU are my LORD!"

Is CHRIST your LORD? 
Then own HIM everywhere. 
In every place. In all companies. 
Go no where, join no society, 
where you cannot own, and 
acknowledge GOD to be your LORD.

Is CHRIST your LORD? Then obey 
all that HE commands you. Ask for no 
reason, listen to no excuse--
but whatever HE says to you, do it! 

HIS commands test the sincerity 
of your love. Will you live, denying 
the flesh, going contrary to general 
custom, simply because 
the LORD bids you? 

Is CHRIST your LORD? Then 
always live as in HIS presence. 
You are ever with HIM. 
HIS eye is always upon you. 
HE bids you walk before HIM. 
Think, knowing that HE reads 
all your thoughts. 

Speak, realizing that HE 
hears all your words.
Act, feeling that HE 
observes all that you do!

Is CHRIST your LORD? Then 
consecrate your person, time, 
and talents to HIS service. 
Do this practically
Do it constantly
Do it sincerely
Do it so that everyone who 
lives with you, or carefully 
observes you, can sincerely 
say,"HE is the LORD'S."

      ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

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