The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Hymn

  • A Life to Live

    “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

    1 Thessalonians 2:12

    Often times when people begin a new year, they take evaluation of the previous year. Some people make what we call “New Year’s Resolutions”, hoping to improve their lives in the coming year. Instead of following a common tradition, consider the following thoughts.

    If you profess Jesus as Lord of your life, what does this mean to you? Have you truly made Him “Lord” of your life? The word Lord means “supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller”. Is Jesus the supreme authority in your life? Is Jesus the controller of your life (thoughts, activities, etc.)?

    Consider the following hymn written by Isaac Watts over 300 years ago. As you read, recognize that he understood the concept of living a life with Jesus as the Lord of his life.

    When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

    Author: Isaac Watts (1707)

    “1. When I survey the wondrous cross
    on which the Prince of glory died,
    my richest gain I count but loss,
    and pour contempt on all my pride.

    2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
    save in the death of Christ, my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them through his blood.

    3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
    sorrow and love flow mingled down.
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    or thorns compose so rich a crown?

    4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    that were a present far too small.
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    demands my soul, my life, my all.”

    Knowing that Jesus left His throne in glory to come to earth and take each one’s sin and punishment (upon that wondrous cross) should call all Christians to action. The final thought in this hymn should bring one to a time of reckoning within that heart: the least I can give to my Lord is my all – for I was bought with a great price.

    After reading this hymn, see if any verses come to mind to help you understand the importance of truly living a life as one who understands that Jesus is to be Lord (supreme in authority and controller) of that life. I will give you a few to help you begin to think of verses calling you to make Jesus the actual Lord of your life:

    “14. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-17). (It would also be good to read the short books of 2 John and 3 John four encouragement.)

    “19. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

    “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). Also check out Romans 8:5-8 to remember to be spiritually minded.

    The Bible is full of verses to encourage Christians to make Jesus the actual Lord of one’s life.

    Have you contemplated your live and found ways to genuinely make Jesus the rightful Lord of your life?

  • He Leadeth Me

    “4. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

    Psalm 25:4-5

    Have you taken time to consider the importance of the words in the following hymn?

    He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought!

    Author: J. H. Gilmore (1862)

    1. He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
    O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
    Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
    Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

    Refrain:
    He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
    By his own hand he leadeth me:
    His faithful follower I would be,
    For by his hand he leadeth me.

    2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
    Sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,
    By waters calm, o’er troubled sea,
    Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me. Refrain

    Refrain:
    He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
    By his own hand he leadeth me:
    His faithful follower I would be,
    For by his hand he leadeth me.

    This hymn reminds Christians of the importance of allowing God to lead their lives with “heavenly” encouragement as we traverse this world. Consider: the creator of the universe is interested in leading each of us as his dear children, expecting us to follow Him. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1).

    Remember one of the most famous Psalms that David wrote to help us. “1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:1-6). When one will follow the Lord, He will lead. The Lord will provide a place to reside while providing one’s needs. Sometimes the path may be in the “scenes of deepest gloom”. Yet even in those times, we are to remember “thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (see Psalm 23:4). The Lord will lead. However, one must choose to follow. Each individual must seek the path that the Lord has for them. “4. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:4-5). If we will ask, the Lord will lead. Not only will He lead, but He will teach as well. It is in those times that we become a faithful follower. Sometimes we must wait upon the Lord, and it is then we learn to be patient and trust in Him.

    If one will only entrust the path of his or her life to the Lord as The Shepherd, it would change the outcome of that earthly life. It would be a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

    Have you chosen to follow the Lord, seeking the path that He has for your life?

  • Man of Sorrows

    “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. ”

    1 Timothy 1:16

    This amazing hymn was written many years ago. However, the truths revealed were recorded much longer ago.

    “Man of Sorrows! What a Name”

    1. “Man of Sorrows!” what a name
      For the Son of God, who came
      Ruined sinners to reclaim.
      Hallelujah! What a Savior!
    2. Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
      In my place condemned He stood;
      Sealed my pardon with His blood.
      Hallelujah! What a Savior!
    3. Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
      Spotless Lamb of God was He;
      “Full atonement!” can it be?
      Hallelujah! What a Savior!
    4. Lifted up was He to die;
      “It is finished!” was His cry;
      Now in Heav’n exalted high.
      Hallelujah! What a Savior!
    5. When He comes, our glorious King,
      All His ransomed home to bring,
      Then anew His song we’ll sing:
      Hallelujah! What a Savior!

    ~ Words and tune by Philip P. Bliss, published 1875

    The following verses in Isaiah 53 were foretelling of Jesus, the Saviour, who was to come:

    “2. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

    Read how Paul declared what Jesus did for him; one who was a sinner saved by grace. “12. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:12-17).

    Have you recognized the Man of Sorrows who gave His life to save yours?

    Have you declared, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/