These posts focus our hearts and minds on the One who is worthy

I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by. [Chorus]

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown. [Chorus]

Hattie Buell, 1877
Read Romans 8:14-16

A Child of the King reminds us of who we are and what we have waiting for us. Those are glorious realities easily lost in the hassles and mundane routines of life. But through Christ we have an inheritance that is beyond our imagination. Despite what unfolds around you, you are a son or daughter of the King of Glory. Bless His name!

Chorus:
Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light;
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright?

I am dwelling on a mountain,
Where the golden sunlight gleams
O’er a land whose wondrous beauty
Far exceeds my fondest dreams;
Where the air is pure, ethereal,
Laden with the breath of flowers,
That are blooming by the fountain,
’Neath the amaranthine bowers.

I can see far down the mountain,
Where I wandered weary years,
Often hindered in my journey,
By the ghosts of doubt and fears;
Broken vows and disappointments
Thickly scattered all the way;
But the spirit led unerring
to the land I hold today. [Chorus]

I am drinking at the fountain,
Where I ever would abide,
For I’ve tasted life’s pure river,
And my soul is satisfied;
There’s no thirst for earthly pleasures,
Nor adorning rich and gay,
For I’ve found a richer treasure,
One that fadeth not away. [Chorus]

Tell me not of heavy crosses,
Nor the burdens hard to bear,
For I’ve found this great salvation
Makes each burden light appear;
And I love to follow Jesus,
Gladly counting all but dross,
Worldly honors all forsaking
For the glory of the cross. [Chorus]

Oh! the cross has wondrous glory!
Oft I’ve proved this to be true,
When I’m in the way so narrow,
I can see a pathway through;
And how sweetly Jesus whispers,
“Take the cross, thou need’st not fear,
For I’ve trod the way before thee,
And the glory lingers near.” [Chorus]

William Hunt, before 1884
Read Isaiah 62:1-4

Beulah is found in one verse in Isaiah. It means married. (Depending on your translation, they may have translated it for you.) It’s not a popular name now, but it appears in more than a handful of old songs and hymns. They all look forward to a day when God’s promises are realized, when He takes His people as His own. This hymn not only echoes that, but recalls the sacrifice of Jesus that allows us entrance into that land.

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth
Which in my Savior shine,
I’d soar and touch the heav’nly strings,
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine,
In notes almost divine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt
Of sin and wrath divine!
I’d sing His glorious righteousness,
In which all-perfect heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine,
My soul shall ever shine.

I’d sing the characters He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears,
Exalted on His throne:
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known,
Make all His glories known.

Soon the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see His face;
Then with my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
A blest eternity I’ll spend,
Triumphant in His grace,
Triumphant in His grace.

Samuel Medley, 1789
Read Psalm 89:1-18

Do the things you know about Christ prompt you to speak (or sing) about them? I mean, if you got a deal on a new car, you’d tell people, right? If you had a fantastic vacation, you’d tell people. If someone in your family did something noteworthy, you’d tell people. I’d guess if we found gasoline a nickel cheaper, we’d tell somebody. But when it comes to Christ, to the Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us, who raised us up, called us His own, we are surprisingly reticent. Why is that? God give us words. Give us a voice. Give us a restlessness until we testify to Your great salvation!

Refrain
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day. [Refrain]

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart. [Refrain]

Septimus Winner, 1868
Read Ephesians 1:15-21

A believer’s hope is not an empty wish, like, “I hope it doesn’t rain,” or ” I hope I get that job.” It is an assurance that our sins have been erased and we have eternity with Christ awaiting us. When we lose perspective and get weighed down by everything going on around us, it is important to hear that whispering hope. It reminds us of who we are and what we have in Christ.

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing, this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Chorus]

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Chorus]

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Chorus]

 Now by this I’ll overcome:
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
now by this I’ll reach my home:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Chorus]

 Glory! glory! this I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Chorus]

Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Robert Lowry, 1876
Read Colossians 1:13-20

We typically only sing the first four verses of Lowry’s hymn, but he wrote six. Really, we need the last two to finish the redemption story. Jesus didn’t save us simply for this life. In fact, Paul said if in this life only we have hope, we are truly miserable. Redemption ends in His presence and it ends there not because of anything we have done, but solely through the blood of Christ.

Art thou weary, heavy-laden?
Art thou sore distressed?
“Come to Me,” saith One, “and coming,
Be at rest.”

Hath He marks to lead me to Him,
If He be my Guide?
“In His feet and hands are wound-prints,
And His side.”

Hath He diadem as Monarch,
That His brow adorns?
“Yea, a crown in very surety,
But of thorns!”

If I find Him, if I follow,
What His promise here?
“Many a sorrow, many a labor,
Many a tear.”

If I still hold closely to Him,
What has He at last?
“Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan passed.”

If I ask Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
“Not till earth and not till heaven
Pass away.”

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
Is He sure to bless?
“Prophets, saints, apostles, martyrs,
Answer, Yes.”

St. Stephen of Mar Sabas, 8th century, translated by John M. Neale, 1862
Read James 1:2-6

“Art Thou Weary?” presents a view of the Christian life that doesn’t pull any punches. It is often a hard life, but the resounding reassurance is that it is worth it. Paul concurs in Romans chapter 8.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18.

The challenge for us then, is to maintain that eternal focus so that we don’t grow weary. Again Paul says:

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9