ADOPTED

We are adopted into God's family by the resurrection of Christ from the death in which He paid all our obligations to sin, the law, and the devil, in whose family we once lived. Our old status lies in His tomb. A new status is ours through His resurrection (Sinclair Ferguson).

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs --- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:16-17).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: A Child of the King (Hattie E. Buell, 1877).

PURPOSE

God will never permit any trouble to come upon us unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty. ---- Peter Marshall

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: God Will Take Care of You (Civille D. Martin, 1905).  

EVANGELIZE

You cannot evangelize in a doctrinal vacuum (Anonymous).

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:13-17).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:  Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me (Augustus M. Toplady, 1776).

CHANGE

In leaning over to speak to the modern world, I fear we may have fallen in.

It is a strange assumption for Americans to feel they already have the equipment necessary to comprehend the gospel without any modification of lifestyle, without any struggle -- in short, without being born again. The point is not to speak to the culture. The point is to change it. God's appointed means of producing change is called "church"; and God's typical way of producing church is called "preaching."

-- William H. Willimon, in CHRISTIANITY TODAY, May 19, 1997.

And let us consider  how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some... (Hebrews 10:24).

"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are  they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? ...so faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:13-17).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Safely through Another Week (John Newton. 1774).

WICKED

The wickedest enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in His hands, and are ignorantly His instruments for doing His work in the world. -- J. C. Ryle

 

The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble (Proverbs 16:4).

 

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills, and hardens whomever He wills (Romans 9:17-18).

KINDNESS

Sow kindness; reap good memories. ---- pgs

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (Romans 15:6-7). 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends(I Corinthians 13:4-8a).

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you(Ephesians s4:32).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: O God of Mercy, God of Might (Robert Murray, 1898)

GOD'S

God's sovereign love. The whole world is ordered and arranged to match and meet the needs of the people of God. --- J. Alec Motyer

And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:22-23).

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:28 - 31a).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Though Troubles Assail Us (John Newton, 1779).

MEEK

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

Blessed are those who are consciously dependent upon and submissive to God's providence, for they shall reign with Christ in the new heavens and new earth (Romans 4:13). --- pgs

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way. (William T. Matson, 1866).  

CAUSE

God's cause is never in danger; what He has begun in the soul or in the world He will complete unto the end.--- B. B. Warfield.

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day (II Timothy 1:12).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to in inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:3-4).

And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son....in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).  

Q. What are the decrees of God? A. The decrees of God are, His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass (Westminster Shorter Catechism 7).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Amazing Grace (John Newton, 1779).

PRIDE

Pride is a sin the Lord hates, because it is a sin that sets itself most against him. Other sins are against God's laws, this is against his being and sovereignty --- Spiros Zodhiates.

 

I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits (Romans 12:3-16).

 

You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed, and who stray from your commands (Psalm 119:21).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, whistle, to the glory of God:

All For Jesus, (Mary D. James, 1889). 

LOVE

This is love: knowing and loving the triune God above all others and sharing that love and life in God with those you love the most.  ---- pgs

 

 

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31).

 

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Romans11:36).

 

My heart and my strength may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever(Psalm 73:25).

 

 Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39).

 

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also unto you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write unto you that our joy may be full (I John 1:3-4).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Blest Be the Tie That Binds (John Fawcett, 1782).

SEPARATE

There is no cross or misery that befalls the church of God or any of His children, but it is related to God. --- Samuel Rutherford

I am convinced that neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God:

Loved With Everlasting Love (George W. Robinson 1890).

CHIEF END

A current TV ad declares that "Life is knowing what you live for." I would add that this is true if you know that what you live for is to know God and make Him known. --- pgs

 

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever and ever(Romans 11:36).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (From Psalm 103. Joachim Neander, 1680.

MORALITY

In Christianity there can be no divorce of religion from morality ---- justification and sanctification are forever united. ---- The heathen notion of religion as something apart from moral life, is forever thrust out of our sight by the Gospel. ---- M. Valentine.

 

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men(Romans 14:17-18).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Love Divine, All Loves excelling (Charles Wesley, 1747).

INTEGRITY

Give us the man of integrity, on whom we know we can thoroughly depend; who will stand firm when others fail; the friend, faithful and true; the adviser, honest and fearless; the adversary, just and chivalrous; such an one is a fragment of the Rock of Ages. -----J. P. Stanley

 

I am speaking the truth in Christ ---- I am not lying, my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit....  (Romans 9:1).

 

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God (II Corinthians 4:1-2).

 

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way(William T. Matson, 1866).

BADNESS

No man knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good. ---- C. S. Lewis

 

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

 

For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:18, 22-25a).

KNOWING

God knows what He is doing and He is not under any obligation to make us any explanation. ---- Elisabeth Elliot

 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the goodness and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond our tracing out! (Romans 11:33).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: God Is Working His Purposes Out, Ray Palmer (1858).

FOR US

The fire of God's wrath must fall on the sinner or on the substitute. ---- pgs.

Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4).

 ....but God shows His love for us, in that while we were still  sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been  justified by His blood, much more we shall be saved by Him from  the wrath of God. For if, while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended, Johann Heermann (1630).

RESTING

No man can quench his thirst with sand, or with water from the Dead Sea; so no man can find rest from his own character, however good, or from his own acts, however religious. ---- Horatius Bonar Scottish pastor-theologian (1808-1889.

 

None is righteous no, not one...all have turned aside, together they have become worthless...no one does good, not even one...the way of peace they have not known (Romans 3:10, 12b, 17b, 18)

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: God, Be Merciful to Me (The Psalter, 1912).

WHOLLY

WHOLLY THE LORD'S

 

My whole though broken heart, O Lord

   From henceforth shall be Thine;

And here I do my vow record ---

   This hand, these words are mine;

All that I have, without reserve,

   I offer here to Thee;

Thy will and honor all shall serve

   That Thou bestow'st on me.

 

All that I save I lose;

   All that I lose I save;

The treasures of Thy love I choose,

   And Thou art all I crave.

My God, Thou hast my heart and hand;

   I all to Thee resign;

I'll ever to this covenant stand,

   Though flesh hereat repine.

 

I know that Thou wast willing first,

   And then drew my consent;

Having thus loved me at the worst

   Thou wilt not now repent.

Now I have quit all self-pretense,

   Take care of what's Thine own;

My life, my health, and my defense,

   Now lie on Thee alone. ---- Richard Baxter.

 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

 

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8). 

 

A Hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Christ of All My Hopes the Ground, Ralph Wardlaw, 1817.