-
MAJESTIC SWEETNESS SITS ENTHRONED
Amazing Grace Samuel Stennett, 1727–1795 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9) The dominant theme of the beautifully expressed text in this hymn, “Majestic…
-
Morning & Evening
Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that thy gladness has its spring in the Lord. Thou hast much cause for gladness in thy God, for thou canst sing with David, “God, my exceeding joy.” Be glad that the Lord reigneth, that Jehovah is King! Rejoice that he sits upon the throne, and…
-
MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
Amazing Grace Ray Palmer, 1808–1887 In whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:12 RSV) “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” was written in 1832 by Ray Palmer, a 22-year-old school teacher. Several months after his graduation from Yale University and while still living with the family of…
-
Morning & Evening
How heart-cheering to the believer is the delight which God has in his saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us; we cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness; and we fear that…
-
JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE
Amazing Grace Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091–1153English Translation—Edward Caswall, 1814–1876 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1, 2) This hymn text comes from the height of the Middle Ages, a period of history often…
-
Morning and Evening
Gideon ordered his men to do two things: covering up a torch in an earthen pitcher, he bade them, at an appointed signal, break the pitcher and let the light shine, and then sound with the trumpet, crying, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” This…
-
ASK YE WHAT GREAT THINGS I KNOW
Amazing Grace Johann C. Schwedler, 1672–1730 Translated by Benjamin H. Kennedy, 1804–1889 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) A question that many struggle with today is “What is the real purpose of living?” Or, “What is the ultimate reality or joy…
-
Morning & Evening
This “liberty” makes us free to heaven’s charter—the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer, “When thou passest through the rivers, I will be with thee.” You are free to that. Here is another: “The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee”; you are free to…
-
NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD
Amazing Grace Words and Music by Cleland B. McAfee, 1866–1944 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy. (Psalm 94:19) O Thou who dry’st the mourner’s tears! How dark this world would be,If, when deceived and wounded here, we could not fly to Thee.— Thomas Moore Life is often filled with unexpected problems…
-
Morning & Evening
The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the…