Come, O Sinner, Draw Near

In Isaiah 65:13-14 the Lord tells of all the good things that will come to His servants and all the evils that will befall those who reject Him: "Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty...Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and wail for grief of spirit."

This hymn invites every sinner to come to the Savior in repentance and faith and holds forth the wonderful blessings that will come to all who are God's servants through faith in Christ.

The second verse refers to God's Word as "bread for the soul."  Just as the manna sustained the children of Israel during their journey through the wilderness, God's Word sustains us, His servants, as we journey through this life.

The thought of the third verse is drawn from Jesus' answer to Pilate's question: "Are you a king then?" to which Jesus replied: "You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth," Jn. 18:37.  Jesus' kingdom is centered in the proclamation of the truth.  As we today bear witness to the truth that we have learned from God's Word, we reign with Christ and share in His ultimate victory.

To hear the melody of Come, O Sinner, Draw Near, click here. Verses one and two use the first ending, which is at the end of the first verse of the sample.  Verse three uses the second ending, which can be heard at the end of the second verse of the sample.

1. Come, O sinner, draw near,

Serve your God without fear;

Sight for blindness and healing kindness

The Savior gives to you here.

My servants shall see,

My servants shall know

My servants shall sing with my grace in their hearts.

My servants shall praise the blood of the Lamb,

Whose righteousness never departs.

2. Here is bread for the soul,

Here, the food that makes whole;

Joy and strength to endure at length

And attain the heavenly goal.

My servants shall eat;

My servants shall drink;

My servants shall sing for the joy in their hearts;

My servants shall sit and feast with the Lamb,

Whose fellowship never departs.

3. Here is wisdom and pow’r,

Light for life’s darkest hour,

Truth revealed, an enduring shield

And an everlasting tower.

My servants shall live;

My servants shall reign;

My servants shall speak with the truth in their hearts,

My servants shall share the throne of the Lamb,

Whose victory never departs.

Dear Lord, in This, Your Wondrous World

This hymn summarizes a number of the Bible's teachings about our bodies.  Our bodies were created and formed by God.  Even in their condition after the Fall into sin, our bodies are an impressive display of God's wisdom and power.  Our Savior's work of redemption was aimed at redeeming our bodies as well as our souls from the ravages of sin.  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and are to be His instruments for righteousness.  Finally, though our bodies are headed toward death and decay, the returning Lord will raise them up and glorify them on the last day.

To listen to the melody of Dear Lord, in Your Creation, click here.  To view the musical score, click here.

Dear Lord, in this, Your wondrous world,
  You made a place for me.

You clothed me with my flesh and blood,
  This earthly tent I see. (2 Peter 1:13-14).

You formed me in my mother’s womb;
  Your hands composed my frame;

How wonderful, that hidden work --
  A tribute to Your name!  (Ps. 139:13-16)

How good and strong was flesh and blood
  When Eden first began!

How pale the shadow with us now,
  How weak and full of pain!

This body, once a slave of sin,
  Corrupt in many ways,

My Savior for himself redeemed
  To serve him all my days.

Within this ransomed body now
  His Holy Spirit dwells;

The glory of his truth and grace
  This sacred temple fills. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

To righteousness I now present
  My head and heart and hands,

My every member now is his,
  To follow his commands. (Rom. 6:12-13)

Soon, soon, I must put off this tent
  And leave it in its grave,

And yet my flesh will rest in hope
  Of Jesus’ power to save.

Though sin’s corruption creeps upon
  This fragile lump of clay,

A sure redemption waits my flesh
  On that triumphant day!

How lowly is this body now,
  How glorious it will be!

Conformed to Christ and free from sin
  For all eternity! (Phil. 3:20-21)

Song of Abraham

Abraham is the father of all who are being saved through faith in Christ.  His life consisted of hearing the promises of God, taking them to heart, and acting upon them.  His faith was counted to him as righteousness.

God spoke to Abraham at key points in his life's journey, and there is much that we can learn for our own journey by paying close attention to those words.

This hymn is sung to the melody of "Not Unto Us," hymn 392 in Christian Worship.

God spoke to me when in my father’s house I dwelt:

“Go forth,” said He, “Trust Me to guide you well.

Go to a land, a land that I will show to you,

And I will make a blessing of you.”  (Gen 12)

God spoke to me when in this world a stranger I roamed:

“Look round and see; for all is yours in Me –

Walk in this land, Walk here by faith and you will receive

The heritage that to you I leave.”  (Gen 13)

God spoke to me when deepest doubting filled my soul:

“Look toward the sky, its starry host behold;

I made them all – Trust Me and I will give to you

A countless host of children true.”  (Gen 15)

God spoke to me when in the hour of trial I stood

And raised my hand in highest love to Him:

“Harm not your son! See, I Myself have given

My own dear Lamb to die for you.”  (Gen 22)

God spoke to me – His word alone was courage and power

To bear me home in dark Machpelah’s hour:

“You are my friend; you trusted Me and counted Me true,

My righteousness I will count to you.”  (Gen 25; James 2:23; Is. 41:8)

God speaks to you – in messages most precious and sweet,

In Moses’ words and through the prophets’ speech;

Oh, hear His words, make them your life, and gathered you’ll be

To our dear Father’s bosom with me.  (Lk 16:29)

Little Child, Little Child

In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said: "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

With these words our Lord directs us to trust in Him and His Word as a child does.  "Little Child, Little Child" encourages adults to sit at the feet of the child and learn humble trust.

Thy lyrics to this hymn contain brief allusions to several well-known children's songs  ("This Little Light of Mine," "God Loves Me Dearly," "I Am Jesus' Little Lamb," "Jesus Loves the Little Children", "Jesus Love Me, This I Know").

Click here to listen to the melody of Little Child, Little Child.  To view the musical score, click here.

Little child, little child, make me as you;

Help me love Jesus as much as you do,

Singing his praises with voice clear and true,

Little child, little child, make me as you.

Little child, little child, why do I fear?

God loves me dearly, my Jesus is near;

His tender mercy will wipe every tear;

Little child, little child, why do I fear?

Little child, little child, why do I doubt?

Has not my Savior this world’s prince cast out?

Has he not robbed even death of its clout?

Little child, little child, why do I doubt?

Little child, little child, you are so sure

God’s Word is truth and His love will endure,

You are his lamb and can slumber secure –

Little child, little child, you are so sure.

Little child, little child, let your light shine,

Pierce worldly darkness with wisdom divine;

Your little light is much brighter than mine!

Little child, little child, let your light shine.

Little child, little child, make me as you;

Help me love Jesus as much as you do,

Singing his praises with voice clear and true,

Little child, little child, Jesus loves you.