His wisdom and His might;
By faith we own His majesty,
And seek Him, veiled beyond our sight.
3 “God is a Spirit:” worshippers
In truth and spirit now He seeks;
With image, shrine, and rite, man errs:
For by His Word alone God speaks.
4 That Word reveals that “God is light”
In Him no darkness is at all;
Our sin cannot endure His sight,
Whose light is unapproachable.
5 “Our God is a consuming fire”
The King of saints is just and true
In all His ways; in judgments dire
The wicked perish from His view.
6 Yet by the Gospel, “God is love”
Who saves the sinner, yet is just
He gave His Son from heaven above,
Upon the cross to die for us.
7 Eternal, infinite, unchanged,
In being, wisdom, and in power,
All-holy, just, most good and true,
We praise Thy glory in this hour!
8 One God, revealed in Persons Three:
The Father, Word and Holy Ghost:
Thy praise, Most Blessed Trinity,
Earth’s fullness gives with Heaven’s host!
L.M.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Genesis 13; New Testament: Matthew 2 Psalm: 2
1 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ: When he writes these lines, none can any longer challenge his title and claim. Timothy, and all the saints now know fully his “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity patience, persecutions” (2 Tim 3:11–12). He has seen the risen Lord (1 Cor 9:1); he has ministered with all the signs of an apostle (2 Cor 12:12); he has suffered the great things the Savior foretold Ananias, and testified before kings, Israel and the heathen as His chosen vessel (Acts 9:15–16). We cannot doubt that he writes the Lord’s commandments (1 Cor 14:37). Hearing him, I hear Christ (Luke 10:16); let me follow him as he follows Christ (1 Cor 11:1).
An apostle . . . by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ: God who separated Paul from his mother’s womb, and called him by His grace, has revealed His Son in him to preach to the Gentiles (Gal 1:15–16). A stewardship of the Gospel is committed to him, necessity is laid upon him—woe if he preach not the Gospel! (1 Cor 9:16–17); For no man takes this office to himself, but he that is called (Heb. 5:4), even as the risen Lord led him captive and gave him gifts (Eph 4:7–11).
So was Paul “made a minister” (Eph 3:7)—and so must I be “made a minister” by God’s Son. How can I preach, except I be sent (Rom 10:15)? Does the love of Christ constrain me? Do I persuade men knowing well the terrors of the Lord (2 Cor 5:11, 14)? To Timothy, and at last now to me, Paul says, “I give thee charge in the sight of God . . . and before Christ Jesus . . . that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable” (1 Tim. 6:13–16).
Let me not forget that I too am “under authority”—authority that brings confidence for my work, and demands obedience to fulfill it. Lord Jesus, when Thou sayest “Go,” let me go; “Come,” let me come; “Do this,” let me do (Matt 8:11)!
Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope: He is our Hope, which makes not ashamed—for God commends His love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us; and that love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost (Rom 5:5–10). We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus faith avails which works by love (Gal 5:5–6). The grace of God has appeared, teaching us that we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Tit. 2:11–14). A present security, a certain deliverance, and glorious future—this is my hope—Jesus Christ . . . our hope.
3. Jesus our Lord, Walk With Us in the Way
1 Jesus our Lord, walk with us in the way;
Slow are our hearts, our holden eyes are blind:
Draw near, go with us at the close of day,
Soothe all our sadness, still our foolish mind.
2 Jesus our Lord, talk with us in the way;
Speak we too much, and reason without faith:
Looking we see not, hearing we gainsay—
Open our eyes to what the Scripture saith.
3 Jesus our Lord, in Prophets, Law and Psalms,
Thyself reveal, and of Thee let us learn;
Upbraid our hardened hearts, our doubts and qualms—
Speak, till our hearts again within us burn!
4 O pass us not, Lord Jesus, by the way;
We would constrain Thee with us to abide:
Still with us tarry, far spent is the day;
We fain would know Thee now in breaking bread.
5 Jesus our Lord, who still amidst us stands,
Open the Scriptures, all Thy glory show;
Open our eyes, display Thy feet and hands:
Open our understanding, Thee to know!
6 Here do we tarry, witnesses to Thee:
Spirit-endued, with power from on high,
Preaching repentance, and redemption free—
We bless Thee, praise Thee, ever in Thee joy!
10.10.10.10.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Genesis 14; New Testament: Matthew 3 Psalm: 3
1 Timothy 1:1–2
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is
