Author: rhiannonshymns

The King of kings comes to …

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Imagine a most famous king,
rich royalty,
his people gladly serving him,
with loyalty

… would he his royal robes remove
for menial chores,
and, verbally abused, in love
clean prison floors?

To serve and save, Jesus was born:
he knew they’d kill.
The gift procured thus, will you scorn?
– he calls you still.

or

Imagine a most famous king,
rich royalty,
his people gladly serving him,
with loyalty –
imagine a most famous king,
with loyalty

… would he his royal robes remove
for menial chores,
and, verbally abused, in love
clean prison floors?
would he his royal robes remove
clean prison floors?

To serve and save, Jesus was born:
he knew they’d kill.
The gift procured thus, will you scorn?
– he calls you still.
To serve and save, Jesus was born:
– he calls you still.
Tune: 84 84 84 eg Wentworth (tune of ‘my God, I think Thee, Who has made the earth so bright)

Press On

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Nothing better, more important
than to know God more and more,
fellowship, obedience constant
– this is what he’s saved us for;
when discouraged in our seeking
(feel no progress, often stray)
testing sharpens thirst and longing,
spurs us earnestly to pray.

Read, remember Christ’s compassion
showing understanding full,
hears and answers supplication,
ear alert to serious call;
power to help, befriend, give wisdom,
don’t be satisfied with less,
true disciple of the kingdom,
seek him urgently to bless.

Why did he say … he is the true Vine? (6)

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Each branch
that’s linked and connected
– nourishment flows,
preserved and protected,
fruitfully grows
– pruned to get strong,
remain and live long,
eternally part of the Vine,
receiving divine
life from the Lord,
heeding his Word.

Though some may appear
a part of the Vine,
they show no divine
fruit, and don’t pray,
they are but dead wood,
receiving no food,
unattached, fall away,
no life from the Lord –
no love for his Word.
John 15:1-8

Why did he say … he is the Truth? (5)

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He didn’t mean:
“You have your truth, and I have mine”
“Whatever you want to call truth is fine.”
No, truth is facts and absolute,
it’s things that are beyond dispute,
for we don’t know the truth full well
but he who made it all can tell,
and is omniscient, himself he’s true
and can be Guide to me and you.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Joy in God’s grace

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Created to rejoice,
but not in trivial things,
in knowing God’s rich grace,
the comforts Jesus brings.

Joy – we’re loved, embraced by the Lord
wonderful gospel, exult in his Word.

Christ Jesus took delight
in viewing past the grave
joy after suffering’s night
with those his death would save.

Our joy as others grow
in love, humility –
increasingly they show
Christ’s grace and purity.

Paul’s joy in service hard,
for saints – we honour all
those suffering for God’s Word
in pain their joy yet full.

Tune: 66 66+ iambic eg ‘Mine’ by Frank Lehman

Why did he say … he is the Door? (3)

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The door to the fold, safety, security,
and to pasture, soul nourishment,
support and encouragement:
no life cramping, restricting,
damping, constricting.
‘I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’ John 10:9,10 (NKJV)

John 9

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The blind man could see: what amazed him the most –
the colours, the animals, plants, sky and host
of faces unknown (he had always been blind),
– or, who this man was, with such skill and so kind?

The leaders were angry and chose not to see,
they threatened, ridiculed, disowned him, but he
from heeding, obeying, increasingly saw
the truth about One who blind eyes could restore.

Thrown out of their midst, truth discarded for lies;
sought out by the Saviour who’d opened his eyes,
perceived Jesus now as Messiah and Lord;
the Pharisees’ pride made them shut out God’s Word.

Important to listen, consider and pray,
give thought to his words when he shows you his Way;
the threats and opinions of men do not fear:
more precious a Saviour who always stays near.

Tune: 11 11 11 11 St Luke

Why did he say … he is the Light? (1)

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Jesus said,
‘I am the Light of the world’ –
when the blinds on your vision are furled
that Light can enlighten perception and puzzles –
and points to its source in the glory that dazzles –
the glory of God in his power and his purity,
his wisdom and love that perceives all with clarity.

But some want to keep blinds opaque all unfurled –
mistakenly think that the Light of the world
will trick them, make miserable, jollity hurled
far away – but whoever lets in this true Light
progresses with joy through this troublesome night.

Why did he say … he is the Bread? (2)

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Our bodies need their fuel food
to grow and mend, survive, feel good,
but souls will not live well for ever
unless they too are fed with Bread
that gives eternal life, sustains,
and Jesus made momentous claims:
divine, he’d take the weight of sin,
and rise to give us life in Him
– he is himself this Living Bread,
but scorners, to this life are dead.