8-16-15 Let the Dead Bury the Dead

²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

Matthew 8:21-22 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

When Jesus once to His disciple said

While thick within the Savior’s ministry,

“This way, and let the dead bury their dead,”

He wasn’t speaking disrespectfully.

When Jesus says “Come, follow Me,” you should,

For after all that’s what it’s all about.

A lion-caught gazelle can do no good

Requesting time to seek his family out.

The unregenerate are dead within;

There’s plenty of that kind to go around.

As God, the Savior knew His friend had kin,

Enough to put his father in the ground.

When Spirit tells you “Here,” don’t whine and curse;

Choose then the Living Christ and not a hearse.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sonnet #438

6-1-15 All For One – Part Two

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:8-12 KJV

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Spirit gifts one saint with wisdom deep,

And gives another knowledge straight and strong.

The Spirit grants another faith to keep;

He knows just where His attributes belong.

The Spirit gives one pow’rs to heal the sick,

Another miracles to show the way.

The truth through prophecy to one He picks;

These gifts the Holy Spirit does convey.

He gives to one discernment of the heart,

Reveals the gift of tongues another speaks.

He then lets one interpret tongues apart;

They all are of one Spirit, but unique.

So many diff’rent members, though as one,

We all are of one body of the Son.

~~~~~~~~~~~

sonnet #376

3-27-15 Increase and Abound

May Jesus cause your spirit to abound

As He becomes more present in your life,

To make the gospel message to be found

Among the mass of men who live in strife.

As Christ abides in you may love increase,

To be a servant of humanity,

Not thinking of yourself, providing peace,

To show that Jesus lives for all to see.

May God give grace on all you say and do,

And may you live in gratitude each day;

May your love grow like our love grows toward you

And Spirit to expand each time you pray.

When you give of yourself unselfishly

The light of Christ will spark a jubilee.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And the Lord make you to increase and abound

in love one toward another,

and toward all men,

even as we do toward you

1 Thessalonians 3:12 KJV

3-15-15 No Longer Two

No matter where you go upon this world,

The Christian that you meet is one with you;

The differences you have are soon unfurled

As children of the Lord no longer two.

Now one in mind and heart and spirit dwell,

The faith you have in Jesus is your bond;

Such unity in love you both can tell,

So manifested from our Father donned.

As Christ shows us compassion, we should, too,

And we with one another be as He;

Now strengthened for the task we’re called to do,

To share the gospel truth for all to see.

Show mercy, grace and love to all you meet;

A brother now, or later saved so sweet.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

1 Peter 3:8 KJV

12-26-14 Be First to Love

If God did love us so He sent His Son

To be a sacrifice for all our sins,

Then we should love each other barring none,

And those who understand it best begins,

For we should not just sit around and wait

Until the other fellow loves us first,

For that is just as bad as open hate.

All those who wait to drink will die of thirst.

God loves us so despite our wicked way;

Lord knows that we deserve eternal hell.

Begin to love your enemy today

If you should ever hope to Heaven dwell.

My friends, love one another without pause

By loving one another without cause.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Beloved, if God so loved us,

we ought also to love one another.

1 John 4:11 KJV