Love Unfeigned

 

                                              Luke 6:46

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
                                                                
                                                                    --The Words of Jesus Christ,
                                                                from the Gospel according to Luke
                                    
                                             
                                        Mathew 7: 22-23

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then I will profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

                                                                  --The Words of Jesus Christ,
                                                            from the Gospel according to Mathew 

The scriptures afore have warned us                                            
That the love of many would grow cold, and die   
For men would be lovers of themselves                                      
And cast the way of truth aside--                                


And for evil make explanation,                                
To make the Bible seem irrelevant and old;              
But God's word is life everlasting,                                
More precious than the rarest gold.                                                      


But strong delusion comes down to this-- it's simple:                      
Rebellious people have always contrived                                    
To carve cunning excuses for their sin--                                        
Thus falling to empty stones, and lies.                                            


But the sword of the Spirit-- it cuts both ways                                
God's word convicts, yet lends mercy and truth;                                      
Consider the day when Jesus bled--
Yet behold: he made all things new.                                        

                                             
Thus to love the Lord is to obey him;                                                
To follow Jesus is to overcome all, by faith--                                
Not rituals repeated, but love unfeigned;                
The Lord is risen: thus the meek find grace.

                                

Salvation is a gift, and cannot be bought or sold,                      
Nor does it any earthly wisdom claim--                      
For we do good even if men hate us:    
We abide in love, in Jesus' name.                  

                          

As children of the Righteous King

We pray for lost and heavy hearts--                
Ambassadors for the mercy of our God                                                    
Thus for heaven set apart.            

                    

But the Serpent likes to gnaw on human flesh,                          
Enticing men to hate and revile;                          
Still Jesus heals, with tenderness.                                                
He carries us, all the while.     

                             

O Jesus, Lord and Master of my life                                  
Pierce my heart with thy word, anew--                                            
That I might be found worthy, on that day              
To abide in your light, with you.
                   

                  

(~ sister Abby Elizabeth)


10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. 
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will be converted unto thee.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

                                 --Psalm 51, a Psalm of David