Tag: K. W. Osbeck

  • SOLDIERS OF CHRIST, ARISE

    Amazing Grace Charles Wesley, 1707–1788 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:10, 11) Followers of Christ are also His soldiers—called to do battle with the forces of Satan and evil. Victories…

  • FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH WITH ALL THY MIGHT

    Amazing Grace John S. B. Monsell, 1811–1875 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12) As Christians, one of our chief characteristics should be courage, especially when it involves our…

  • THE SON OF GOD GOES FORTH TO WAR

    Amazing Grace Reginald Heber, 1783–1826 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13) This text was written in 1812 by Reginald Heber, an important 19th century Anglican church hymn writer. Heber wrote it especially for use on St. Stephen’s Day, which occurs the first day…

  • AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS?

    Amazing Grace Isaac Watts, 1674–1748 Endure hardship with us like a good solder of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. (2 Timothy 2:3, 4) The Church founded by Christ has been built on the blood of martyrs. It has been estimated that…

  • WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE?

    Amazing Grace Frances R. Havergal, 1836–1879 … offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13) As Christians, we are to take our places in God’s army and not be ashamed to be counted as…

  • MY SOUL, BE ON THY GUARD

    Amazing Grace George Heath, 1750–1822 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27)…

  • MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE?

    Amazing Grace Thomas Shepherd, 1665–1739 Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) The scriptural qualifications for discipleship are very clear: Self-denial and a resolve to bear a cross of…

  • STAND UP FOR JESUS

    Amazing Grace George Duffield, 1818–1888 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10) A great city-wide revival swept across Philadelphia in 1858. It was called “the work of God in Philadelphia.” Of the participating ministers none was more powerful that the 29-year-old Episcopalian, Dudley Tyng, who was known as a…

  • A CHARGE TO KEEP I HAVE

    Amazing Grace Charles Wesley, 1707–1788 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:1) All of us as Christians have been given a general charge—a God to glorify. We have also been given a particular charge or calling that is unique.…

  • ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

    Amazing Grace Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834–1924 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3 KJV) The Christian life is often compared in Scripture to a warfare—the struggle of sin against righteousness and of the flesh versus the spirit. Each follower of Christ is called to be a “good” soldier. This…