Dear God, Forbid...

If these roses were nothing more than a

 two-to-three week-bloom's-worth

it would seem like a hefty price to pay for soon-fallen petals...

Every touchable and taste-able gift without love soon lies in waste! 

But with love, the knowledge and memory of The Gift

sustains a continuous joy! 

The humility of the cross, without love would be a mockery of God's goodness

but because He so loved us He saved us through The Gift of His Son to take our punishment

and pay sin's penalty once for all, 

purchasing the gift of salvation that we all may by faith receive! 

Dear God, forbid we strive to secure faith's worth through our works,

but oh, dear God, forbid we fail to shine Your worth through our works

 so all who see may glorify Thee!

In Matt.5:16 Jesus commands us to...

Let your light so shine before men,

 that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

Dear God, forbid that we should fail to praise You for Your faithfulness

As if Calvary’s sore travail was something trivial to ignore

And God forbid that we should cease to pray with great unworthiness

And gratitude to You, whose peace consoles and calms Fear’s lion-roar

Dear God, forbid that we invade Today equipped with nothing more

Than thirst for fortunes that will fade with final breath's solemn reveal

And God forbid we live enslaved to idol-worship You abhor

Heedless of holy scars engraved on hands that help and hold and heal

Dear God, forbid that we should count, rather than blessings, curse on curse

Dashing like beasts through mercy’s fount that each new morning manifests

And God forbid that we forget Who died for us, and thus we nurse

The injuries of wounded pride or disappointment's complex tests 

Dear God, forbid we never taste the bread and water of Enough

But lay life's precious lease to waste, like pigs, rolling in priceless pearls

And God forbid we never find Your wellspring of redeeming love

Wallowing in shackles and blind to Truth's lifeline, Your Word unfurls   

Dear God, forbid that we should wait until it is too late to call

On you, or humbly contemplate sin's pardon paid at Calvary

And God forbid man justifies, through sight and logic's wherewithal 

'a way that seems right' but denies Your Unrelenting Sovereignty 

Knowing, rather than sacrifice You desire obedience

Because of the unrivaled price You paid to achieve death’s defeat

Dear God, forbid we choose soul’s doom rather than its deliverance

Dear God, thank-you! Your empty tomb proclaims enough until we meet

Dear God, forbid we wave love's rose, but rue its thorn and curse its sting 

Unwilling to suffer love's blows or live beneath love's cross, content 

Not hungering and thirsting for your Word, nor crowning you as King

On our heart's throne because you bore sin's penalty and punishment 

Dear God, forbid we taste and see, but then let vanity take root

Forgetting how you set us free and the great things that you have done

Unlike the tree beside rife streams, through drought and heat, still bearing fruit 

Because the hope that faith esteems, is in You and in you alone

Janet Martin

This poem first began while pondering Samuel's warning to Israel

after he anointed their first king, Saul, after they pleaded with him

'for a king to judge them like other nations' 1 Sam.8:5

They wanted a king other than God! 

The conclusion of Samuel's warning in 1 Sam.12:20-25

struck a deeply convicting chord in my own heart (esp.v.24) 

20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; 

yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 

21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things 

which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 

22 For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake,

 because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me 

that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; 

but I will teach you the good and the right way. 

24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; 

for consider what great things He has done for you. 

25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

Take Time to be Holy