LM

The Sovereignty of Divine Grace
Displayed in Christ to me!
Caused me to see, and in Him trace,
To God, my pedigree.

-Could hardly believe, that to me,
This saving truth was known;
And still can't see, till I'm set free,
Why this to me, He's shown.

I thought that all, this truth did know,
Whom spoke of Jesus' name;
But soon I found, I could not show
To these, the very same.

At first, this greatly puzzled me.
Then made me doubt in mind;
For, in the Christian, could not see,
The peace which I did find.

One in a thousand, could I find,
Who loved to speak of Grace;
Unless their works, with it combined,
- Or could to Christ, all trace.

I did not learn this from the Book,
That sometimes joys my soul;
Nor find this grace, when there I look,
-In heav'n, my name t'enroll;

But, Jesus brought Himself, this truth,
And did to me reveal,
His Love and Power, while in my youth,
And there He did instill;

Like the blind man, I only knew
That light had shined in me;
But, soon I found that very few
Were able yet to see.

For to God's Grace, we all are blind,
Till Grace shines forth within;
Nor in the world, shall ever find
Relief from where we've been.

These thoughts caused my hope to sag;
Old sorrow entered in;
And worse, my joy began to flag,
Then faith gave way to sin.

For I, with Judas could not face,
God's mystery to men;
Why, God, out of the human race,
Was pleased to call me then.

Nor could I see, what was in me,
Of this old earth's nature,
That He could love me, here so free,
For I had no feature

Of Heaven's grace from my old race,
For sin is their teacher;
And can not look upon God's Face,
In Christ, all to venture;

But this led me - for I could see,
-Not what nature taught me,
That all of Grace was wholly free,
When faith there did carry -

My soul above man's things below,
To God's throne, so boldly;
Still overwhelmed with Grace to know
What men think so coldly;

O! may Thy Grace be all my hope,
The joy of all my soul;
In all things else, my soul must grope;
But never will console -

To give a sinner peace of mind,
While here on earth they stay;
Jesus, their all, in Grace must find,
When brought to His New Day.

I'm not ashamed of Jesus' Grace,
If it was placed on me;
With it, can look on my Lord's Face,
And there myself can see;

- Not in the bondage of this flesh,
For Grace has set me free;
'Twas first of Grace, still grace afresh,
This Grace in Jesus see;

Still, in our mind, a conflict goes,
To make our soul subject
To the vainness of our egos,
Till Christ makes us perfect.

When He is born within my soul,
Appears The Living Tree,
When from God's throne, these Rivers roll,
And sets my spirit free;

On these great themes, my soul would treat,
And constantly affirm;
And never from their power retreat,
Though placed on a vile worm.

This Grace is found in Christ the Lord,
And shall forever be;
There, everlasting, it was stored,
Who, all His Own did see;

They were in Grace, in Jesus there
Before the world began,
In Love for them, always did care,
Far as His Mind did scan.

But, now in time, to them's made known
The mys'try of His Will,
-In other ages, was not shown,
What now He does reveal;

That God Himself, should come to earth,
And for them, bled and die;
And thus, for them, prove His Love's worth,
- For those whom He did buy;

And prove that they were not their own,
But bought with a dear price;
They in Him, and bone of His bone
Delightful in His eyes.

*Copyright 2000

O. Allen Bailey