labor and greet

Romans 16

v12

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.

It's important to salute (greet) people, and we should labor much in the Lord.

From: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

By James Black, 1893

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

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make a contribution

Romans 15

v26

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

It's good to join with other people to send money to believers who are in need, even when they're in a different city.

From: Count Your Blessings

By Johnson Oatman, 1897 and Edwin Excell

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

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Holidays

Romans 14

v5

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

I don't celebrate Christmas or New Years, but if other people want to, I don't have to stop them.

don't talk too much

Job 35

v16

Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

One problem Job had was multiplying words without knowledge. If I don't know about something, I shouldn't talk about it too much. One saying is, "If you don't know, don't say." I'd like to add to that, "If you don't know too much, don't say too much."

From: Take My Life and Let It Be

By Frances Havergal, 1874 and Hen­ri Ma­lan, 1827

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Filled with messages from Thee.

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Job 34

v9

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

We shouldn't consider the things of the Lord, like praying and studying the Bible, to be a weariness.

When we pray, we should ask the Lord for what would delight us (within what is right). We should believe that our praying will make a difference, instead of thinking it will profit nothing.

From: Sweet Hour of Prayer

By William Walford, 1845 and William Bradbury, 1861

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

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not slothful in business

Romans 12

v11

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

I found this convicting because I've been slothful (lazy) with doing my work. The way I need to redeem the time is by serving the Lord with my work, instead of being lazy with it.

From: Rescue the Perishing

By Fanny Crosby, 1869 and Howard Doane, 1870

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

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God finishes His work

Romans 11

v29

For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

I have a friend, and the Lord has started a good work in him. I'm going to pray for that friend, because the Lord will finish what He has started in him.

From: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

By Isaac Watts, 1719 and William Croft, 1708

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

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