I Would Be Whole

"... But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance..." Matt 9:12-13.

"...And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter..." Mark 1:39-45.

"... And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him..." John 9:1-3.

"...And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee..." Mark 5:13-19.

Oh, That I Could Be Whole

By O. Allen Bailey

LM

I rest in thankfulness some days
And catch a glimpse of heav'nly rays;
But this which so much tries my soul:
- Why can't I feel completely whole?

Sometimes my heart will rise in joy,
And find Christ's praise my sweet employ;
But, O! that I could wholly feel
He once for all, my soul did heal.

I read Thy word and it does shed
Thy light on me when I am led
By Thy Spirit's heav'nly Hand,
And there I rest in the New Land.

But doubts and fears return again;
With present cares and all their pain;
For my complaints I am ashamed;
- None of Thy Grace I could have claimed;

For in my flesh there nothing is
To merit ought for that Christ gives;
And so I stand until this day,
With not a farthing, Grace to pay.

My name eternal, did enroll,
In Time then worked within my soul;
Thou gave me faith in Grace to see,
That all of this was wholly free.

One blessing I could not partake;
One sin, I never could forsake;
But what was based on choice of me
Thou made in vast eternity!

Thou made me poor, that rich might be
In Christ, and all He's done for me;
Thou left me sick, that He should heal,
And all God's praise in Him fulfill.

Oh, Good Physician! here I wait,
From birth, or forty years - not late -
To find Thy Love displayed in me
When Jesus' Pow'r then sets me free.

A Gaderene, demons cast out,
Still, heart and mind will sometimes doubt;
Till I go home and tell my friends,
And this message, My Savior sends:

Though I am yet a patient here,
How great is God in Christ so Dear;
He found me wandering with the dead,
And with my lusts, the swine has fed.

He drowned them deeply in the sea,
From their possession, set me free;
My wildness clothed, in a right mind,
My brethren, there with Him did find;

With His disciples I would go
In all their journeys here below;
Because he made me love Him so,
His Presence I would ever know;

But this, His Purpose won't allow,
And to His Will, I therefore bow;
So, friends of His, I tell at home
That Jesus saved me all alone.

And more, He went , prepared a place,
That I His Presence ever taste;
When I, in Heaven, always to know
His Love, first showed me here below.

*Copyright June, 2002

O. Allen Bailey

*This material may be freely copied and distributed, but shall not be altered or sold.