ORSBORNAGAIN (20)

A devotional series by Major Rob Birks

ORSBORNAGAIN is meant to introduce the poetry of the first Poet General, Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) to a new audience and to reintroduce his works to dyed-in-the-(tropical)-wool Salvationists.

These are not new songs.

However, the lyrics are jam-packed with new life, which may be missed during corporate worship. Re-examined through scripture and experience, Rob Birks intends through an examination of these scared songs to renew the spiritual fervor of believers, and point seekers to their Savior.

O, God, if still the holy place  
Is found of those in prayer,  
By all the promises of grace
I claim an entrance there.  

Give me a self-denying soul,  
Enlarged and unconfined;  
Abide within me, and control  
The wanderings of the mind.  

Give me the strength of faith that dares  
To die to self each day, 
That bravely takes the cross, nor cares  
To find an easier way. 

Help me to make more sacrifice,  
To walk where Christ would lead,  
That in my life he may arise 
To hallow every deed.  

Albert Orsborn 
778 Our Response to God – Holiness, Means of Grace, Prayer

There are so many lyrics that are hardwired into my brain. I know them so well, and have sung them so often: “Jesus loves me! This I know,” “What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding?,” “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,” “All you need is love.” The list is endless. Every once in a while, though, I come across a lyric that I’m sure I’ve seen (if not sung) before, but it hits me in a new way. I’m usually drawn to a lyric initially for its poetic value. Then there’s the piercing value. If it’s really good, it nails me.  

The third line of the first verse of this song did just that: “all the promises of grace.” Orsborn is gloriously aware that he needs grace in order to say grace (or any other kind of prayer). Don’t you and I as well?  

Of course there are at least two ways of understanding this lyric. Is the writer referring to all of the Scripture passages that promise us God’s grace? Or is he referring to all that we are promised because of the promises of God’s grace being fulfilled? I was struck by the possibilities of the latter. Grace is a gift that keeps on giving. Take some time (don’t rush) to contemplate just a few of the promises of grace found in Scripture:  

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).  

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders (Acts 14:3).  

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Rom. 5:15).  

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace (Rom 6:14).  

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9).  

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me (2 Cor. 12:9).  

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Eph. 1:7).  

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8).  

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2 Thess. 2:16-17).  

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Tim. 1:9).  

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people (Titus 2:11).  

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the an- gels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9).  

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).  

Now “claim an entrance” in “the holy place,” and make this prayer of Orsborn’s your own.