Sonnets for my Savior 7

The New Commandment

The Son tells us to love one another

as He has loved us.

It is not enough to simply love your brother;

we should love all because God’s rain falls on the just and the unjust.

Our love should show itself in action,

Just as Jesus showed his love with his death.

We should not resort to revenge for satisfaction,

but pay evil back with a blessing in each breath.

We show this by being humble, gentle and patient;

we show this through our tolerance.

Those who love will show themselves obedient

to the God who loves us with abundance.

To love is our only obligation,

so let us love in every situation.

 

The Greatest Way to Be Called

Look at those who were called by the Lord;

they were, each one, ordinary.

They were not famous with acclaim or any award;

They never did anything remarkable or legendary.

They were fishers and tax collectors;

indeed, many of their occupations are unknown.

They weren’t decedents of famous ancestors

or rulers chosen for the greatness of a throne.

Money is lost, and titles fade;

beauty ages, and fame is fleeting.

How much better it is to trade

the things of this world for a life more completing?

Mortals my wish to be called great,

but those called by Him have a much more glorious fate.

 

One

Male and female He made them;

It was not good for the man to be alone.

So He made a partner to work with man in tandem,

equal under God, the flesh of his flesh and of the same bone.

When he finds her, he shall leave his parents and hold fast to his wife,

and they shall become one flesh.

Together, they shall live one life,

and when they come together, they shall not part until death.

Let husbands love their wives,

and let wives respect their husbands.

Blessed is the couple who strives,

to do as God commands.

Praise be to the God who created the two,

please bless those who are married, and let their love remain ever true.

 

As He Forgave

We owe Him our lives plus ten 10,000 talents,

but He forgave us our debts.

Behold the mercy the master has for His servants.

Let us be like him and give him no reason for regrets.

What is our due in comparison to what we owe?

Who has wronged us more than we have wronged God?

The depths of our hearts he will always know.

We can’t praise Him for his mercy and then offer our brother the rod.

Follow His example, and forgive those who’ve done you wrong,

for He could have demanded we pay our price.

Instead he passed over those who to Him belong

through the blessing of His son’s sacrifice.

So let your heart be full of forgiveness

just as God has accepted us despite our own weakness.

 

A Happy Servant

Let me be busy;

Let me never be useless.

You have generously blessed me,

and my joy is ceaseless.

You have my love;

I hope to serve you more each day.

Oh, glorious God above,

please keep my temptation at bay.

I remember the great things He has done,

and my heart is filled with glee.

Grant me the grace to follow your Son,

so that wherever I go, he is with me.

Let my heart seek to glorify you, who I serve,

for you have already given me far more than I deserve.

 

 

Let Them Be Saved

Woe to the lost sheep,

for they have wandered away.

For them, Lord, our hearts weep;

please find them before they’ve gone too far astray.

Let those in the flock speak of your gospel,

and let us tell of the way and the truth and the life.

Shake the obstacles on the path to you and make them topple,

Embrace those who’ve gone astray and deliver them from strife.

Seek out the lost sheep, oh Shepherd;

find them and rejoice. 

Call to them, Father, until You are heard,

and let them follow the call of your voice.

For it is your will that not one should perish,

so let them find you, God, and be the one who they cherish.

 

Unworthy

I have broken Your commands;

I acknowledge my transgressions.

Indeed, I have failed to uphold your demands,

but please listen to my confessions.

I have harbored angry thoughts about my brother,

I have lusted after women.

I have dishonored both my father and mother,

I have stolen from other men.

I have been judgmental and not loving of my neighbor.

I am guilty, and I have nothing to offer in atonement.

There is nothing I can do, oh God, to earn your favor.

Even if I were to give all I have, it would not change my banishment.

Only through Your Son, can I live eternally.

Only through Him can I be made free.