7-6-15 On Obedience

⁵¹ And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

⁵² Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

⁵³ Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:51-53 KJV

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The sacrificial Lamb, obedient,

Stood ready to be given up for you,

Could call for legioned angels to be sent

To save Him from the death that would ensue.

But no, this was not time to wield a sword;

The days of ‘eye for eye’ had passed away.

Christ came to yield His life, our sovereign Lord;

The pure unspotted Lamb would have His day.

The sins of all the world would soon be borne

Upon the shoulders of the Lamb of God,

Then beaten, bloody, His whole body torn

Was bound for victory with love to laud.

The sword was put away as so much dross

And in its stead was glory on the cross.

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sonnet #407

2-2-15 Foolishness

There are some folks you preach the gospel to

That shake their heads and laugh about the cross;

No matter what you say or what you do

They’ll call you such a fool, no more than dross,

And you will have a friend that’s not been saved

Who spends less time with you if you are bold;

He may be more refined and well behaved,

Yet he’ll believe you’re gullible and sold.

Don’t be dismayed, but weep for them instead,

For they know not the joy that could be theirs.

The power that brought Christ back from the dead

Can through their faith make them celestial heirs.

You cannot save a drowning man at sea

If he would rather drown than be pulled free.

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For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV