June 13-17, 2013
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10
“You may be struggling with some terrible problem that is
almost crushing you at this moment; you may be in some situation that is almost
impossible for anyone to endure; or your difficulty may be concerned with your
health; it matters not what it may be, remember
that, whatever your position or problem, it belongs to the temporary order
only. It is passing, it is ‘according to the flesh’. It is not eternal.
Thank God for that! The realization of this truth has been the secret of the
saints in all centuries, the secret of the martyrs and the confessors, the men
who would not say ‘Caesar is Lord’, the men who smiled when they were thrown to
the lions in the arena, the men who thanked God that they had been ‘accounted
worthy to suffer shame for His name’.”
“The Christian is one who knows all that, and he knows that
we shall all stand before this blessed Lord and Master and ‘receive the things
done in the body, whether good or bad’.”
“Before we get there we receive a great deal in this life,
do we not? We serve a very generous as well as a very just Master. He does
reward, He does encourage. Is there
anything in life, in the whole world, comparable to His smile upon us, His
expression of His satisfaction in us?”
All of the above quotes are by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Life in the Spirit in Marriage, Home &
Work” (emphasis mine)
Having finished reading through the volume mentioned, which
is an exposition of Ephesians 5:18-6:9, my thoughts were elevated in worship to
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dianna was ready for bed and with our normal custom of
reading a little something and having a short word of prayer before retiring
for the evening; I finished reading the last page and a half to her. As I did,
the last paragraph mentioned above by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones stuck in my mind
and I found that I couldn’t lie down until I had written out the first stanza
of this song in the first person as a melody resembling a Country Music song
from my past which came to mind. Upon immediately recording it (to enable me to
remember the tune later) I went to bed. The next day I wrote two more verses
and with Dianna’s encouragement, a fourth verse was written the following day.
With a few adjustments, here is the result.
There is nothing that compares with Your smile,
And that is what we live for.
And in You we find strength for each trial,
Compelled by the cross You bore.
With love everlasting You drew us to know
Your excellent glory You hid there to show
The light of Your presence, as homeward we go,
And there’s nothing that compares with Your smile.
There is nothing that compares with Your smile,
Though our suffering here is real.
You came down to this earth for awhile
In the Son who knows what we feel.
To give us a hope far more precious than breath,
He offered Himself up atoning through death;
Eternity only will show forth the breadth
And there’s nothing that compares with Your smile.
There is nothing that compares with Your smile,
To hear from You, child “well done!”,
By the grace that You give for each mile
Through faith, in this race we run.
You open each door and You close some to stay
Close by You each moment, to walk in the way,
To make us like Jesus at the end of the day
And there’s nothing that compares with Your smile.
There is nothing that compares with Your smile,
Breathing life through the hearts made true,
Giving wisdom as a gift to each child,
As the light by which You shine through,
To mold us and make us, Your body complete,
Till all shall assemble and sit at Your feet.
Oh Jesus, to see in Your eyes as we meet,
That there’s nothing that compares with Your smile.
Oh, there’s nothing that compares with Your smile.
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