11-23-15 The Mind of Christ

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Philippians 2:5 KJV

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Now, may you always have the mind of Christ,

Who showed us how to live in love’s embrace;

That love be willing to be sacrificed,

And then no matter what be full of grace.

He was the perfect pattern, free from sin,

A humble servant with a heart to give,

Obedient to God through thick and thin,

And even unto death chose to forgive.

The mind of Christ is constantly in prayer,

Submitting to the will of Abba God,

Unbroken intercession to repair

The brokenness of man which sin has flawed.

Think only of those things that love sufficed;

Yes, may you always have the mind of Christ.

10-28-15 Wise in Your Own Eyes

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Isaiah 5:21 KJV

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Whenever you should fancy you are wise,

That’s when you are the closest to a fool.

So shrewd and smart are you in your own eyes,

Like thinking you’re a steed when you’re a mule.

Such arrogance can only lead to woe,

So blind by self you step right off a cliff.

The only way to wisdom is to know

Compared to God your mind’s a hieroglyph.

How humble is a man upon his knees,

His head bowed to the One in tearful prayer.

Obedient and meek, he aims to please,

To do his Father’s will with every care.

The wisest man is one who listens well,

Subservient to God his mind does dwell.

10-19-15 Advice From the Shepherd

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16 KJV

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The wolves won’t hesitate to eat you up,

For you’re the Shepherd’s sheep sent forth to save.

They hate the One who drank the bitter cup

And now He lives within you strong and brave.

The children of the night now circle ’round

And wait for you to stumble in their midst.

Be wise, therefore, as serpents to confound,

And keep the mind of Christ when they persist.

You cannot last a moment on your own;

Depend upon the Savior all the time.

Be harmless, then, as doves – you’re not alone;

No matter what they do remain sublime.

With cunning Jesus rose above the hate.

In innocence He set the record straight.

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

12-14-14 The Servant

The Lord of Lords, God’s only Son came here,

Deserving all our pomp and circumstance,

But took upon Himself the life austere,

To give His all so we have half a chance.

This lowly man the heavens did create,

Deserving of a throne right next to God

And worship from us all both small and great,

Took on the servant’s role with no facade.

And Jesus made His life a sacrifice,

A meek and perfect Lamb, obedient.

The debt for all our sins He paid the price

With His own humble blood and His consent.

If we are here to serve our Lord and King,

We must be servant to just everything.

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Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,

but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:28 KJV

8-25-14 Jesus

He came to earth and took the form of man

To save humanity from sin and death.

So humbly His mortal life began,

Then meekly lived unto His final breath.

Obedient to all the holy laws,

He took the servant’s way for all to see,

And led a sinless life without one pause

To shed His perfect blood for you and me.

How horribly He suffered on the cross!

The weight of ev’ry sin His soul endured.

If we believe in this we’re borne across

To fall into His arms with love assured.

            He died for you, my friend, so you might be

            A child of God forever, always free.

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And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:8 KJV

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8-21-14 Approved

If you would be a worker for the Lord,

To spread the truth with confidence and joy,

You have to study with the word explored,

Prepared to face the world with faith deployed.

There is no shame to have the Holy Ghost,

To teach with Christ’s authority to all.

An able worker will not preen or boast,

But keep in mind the Grace of God installed.

Present yourself to God as one approved,

Dressed rightly for whatever job’s at hand.

Declare the gospel boldly and unmoved,

Obedient to all of God’s commands.

            Develop all the skills that you’ve been given

            And labour for the Lord as one who’s driven.

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,

a worker who has no need to be ashamed,

rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

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