"Keep On"

Sometimes we just get weary,

With doing what is right,

It isn’t always easy,

This walking in the light.

And people who don’t know a thing,

Will gladly speak their mind,

About what all is wrong with you,

They do it all the time.

And if someone is looking,

For something wrong with me,

It will not take them very long,

To get the goods, you see.

‘Cause every single rule God gave,

I found a way to break,

Fallen and with feet of clay,

Up to my ears, can’t fake.

And if there’s any good in me,

It’s ‘cause God gave His grace,

And that’s the only hope I have,

To ever see His face.

And, yes, I do get tired,

Of drama and the rest,

Of all the things that people do,

I try to do my best,

To just take one day at a time,

Relying on God’s grace,

And with His help I’ll finish strong,

When I have run my race.

And then I’ll stand before Him,

And He’ll judge my behavior,

And, true, the only hope I have,

Is Jesus is my Savior.

So do your worst, you gossips,

Tell all you think you know,

But you might try some mercy,

With all you’ve got to show.

‘Cause one thing that is certain,

The mercy that you give,

Is what God says He’ll give you,

And the best way we can live.

Keep on, keep on, my brother,

Get those seeds in the ground,

Your harvest planted, sister,

Will one day come around.

Don’t give up, be encouraged,

Salvation soon is here,

When Jesus comes, His bell is rung,

It’s getting very near.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Eph. 4:32, NIV)

We’re running low on compassion these days. Of course human nature has always been selfish. I guess the difference nowadays is that the vitriol has gone public, and there’s more exposure to it on all sides. I sometimes find it difficult to even stomach the rhetoric of those I agree with, if you know what I mean. And it’s because of the contentious spirit behind it. We as followers of Jesus are called to show the mercy we’ve received rather than to find fault. Speaking words of “edification” does not come easy when we’d like to vent our anger. But venting seldom edifies, therefore thou shalt not vent…It’s really all about letting the Holy Spirit control our emotions and words. It’s not that we don’t have strong convictions or that we’re afraid to speak up. It’s that we’re trying to be led by the Spirit and respond, not react. Does that make sense to you? I hope so, because that’s what I think the Lord is saying to us.

Lord, help us speak only those Spirit-led words that will build people up, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Gary Byrd, garybyrdfineart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Gary, and God bless you.