CHRISTIAN POEMS ABOUT OVERCOMING SIN

By Maurice Dyson

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Confession of Sin
We love Him, because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

God is light His works declare,
That which darkness cannot share;
Light reveals the scourge of sin,
Where His truth must first begin.

If we say we walk in light,
Doing what we claim is right,
Yet in truth we do not live,
He will not our sins forgive.

If we say we have not erred,
Since our newborn faith occurred;
By so much we merely lie,
And His truth we plain deny.

If we would our sins confess,
Freely spelt or under stress,
Every sin He will release,
That we may enjoy His peace.

Little children, this I write,
That your sins be put to flight;
If by chance you err and fall,
There is set a Judgment Hall.

Jesus Christ our Advocate,
In His new exalted state,
Intercedes for us His own,
At the Father's gracious throne.

If we do as He commands,
As each circumstance demands,
Fellowship will be our part,
As the bulwark of our heart.

Worldly things that tempt and lure,
Cannot harm the meek and pure;
Lust and pride will pass away,
At the coming Judgment Day.

So then let us fight the war,
As our brethren did before;
And for Him who made us free,
Let us flee idolatry.

A Citizen of Zion
LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Psalm 15:1

Who may abide in Thy temple, O Lord?
Even in Thy holy mount?
He who walks uprightly, being no fraud;
Keeping a righteous account.

Truth is the maxim he openly speaks;
Spite he will ever refuse;
Goodness for others he constantly seeks;
Neighbourly love he pursues.

He does not take up with any reproach,
That would dishonour a friend;
Evil debate he will not even broach,
Knowing its ultimate end.

He honours those with respect for the Lord;
Faithful in all he would swear;
Unlawful dealings are strictly abhorred;
Bribing he never would wear.

He who is doing these laudable things;
Walking in manner approved;
Has a reward that integrity brings;
This one shall never be moved.

 

Beloved
Whom having not seen, you love.
1 Peter 1:8

Do not let your heart be troubled,
He is coming back one day.
As He prayed the heavenly Father,
We are safe while He’s away.

Though the way is straight and narrow,
He has taken all our care;
When this earthly fight is over,
We shall meet up in the air.

Should this body groan within us,
It is but a temporary home.
Once He breathes His Spirit in us,
We are never more alone.

By His grace we shall be strengthened,
If we stumble on the path;
Resting on His sure foundation,
No more destined for His wrath.

As a Father so He tends us;
Giving shelter, clothes and food.
There’s no need for gloom or worry,
Though the times be bad or good.

Young or old or adolescent,
There is ample scope for each,
In our corner of His vineyard,
Learning what He has to teach.

Healthy, sickly, weak or dying,
There is but one plan for all.
From the womb a soul immortal
Must before the Judgment fall.

For believers, judgment passes
Onto Him who bore their shame;
But for those who do not trust Him,
Torment in a lasting flame.

Oh the greatness of His mercy,
That He should descend so far;
Reaching out to every sinner,
Knowing just how weak we are;

How can we bypass His goodness,
When He hung upon the tree;
Saying with the thief beside Him:
Lord, wilt Thou remember me.

 

Blessedness
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
and whose hope is the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:7

O blessed are the destitute
In spirit and in soul,
Who know they need a Substitute
To make their spirit whole.

O blessed are the merciful
Who do not turn away,
From those who meet adversity
Upon a given day.

O blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see the Lord;
And hear His welcome accolade;
Their boundless rich reward.

 

Body, Soul and Spirit
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

Our body is an instrument,
Responding to its orders;
The one residing in the tent,
Has scope beyond its borders.

The soul must have a greater guide
Than human thought proposes;
Another Mentor must abide
Before its tenure closes.

We need another avenue
For true communication,
Our spirit must be born anew
With gospel information.

A body is on earth today,
With members that are able;
They each have got a role to play,
Within a world unstable.

They take their orders from a source,
Which never could be bettered;
It keeps them on a righteous course,
With feet that are unfettered.

Our body is an instrument,
Through which our faith is tested,
By godliness or good intent,
Eternally invested.

 

Cheer Up, Beloved!
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Now the providential hope,
With its promises and scope,
Brings assurance and the confidence that’s needed;
With the devastating throes
That the terrorists impose
There’s more reason that the truth be not impeded.

For a witness to be heard,
Which to some may be absurd,
It must rest upon the Holy Spirit’s leading;
For the populace is bound
By the propagated sound,
As we move toward the holocaust it’s breeding.

If the Word does not persuade,
And petitions start to fade,
There will not be any motive or incitement;
When the soldiers in the camp
Have their ammunition damp,
It will be a sad historical indictment.

 

Crowns
Do you not know that those who run in a race
all run, but one receives the prize?
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown;
but we for an imperishable crown.
1 Corinthians 9:24, 25

Now royalty with bearing,
Have crowns upon their head;
The symbol they are wearing,
Remains till they are dead.

Yet crowns will be awarded,
To common people too;
With gifts they have not hoarded,
But shared in all they do.

A crown of life is mentioned,
For doing as we’re told;
For we are never pensioned,
When in the Saviour’s fold.

A special crown is waiting
For shepherds of the flock;
As they are elevating,
The Saviour and the Rock.

The humble and the fearing,
Who serve with faithfulness,
Will at the Lord’s appearing,
Be crowned with righteousness.

A crown of joy abounding,
Is shared by everyone;
Who with their praise resounding,
Rejoice in God the Son.

 

Discipline
For whom the Lord loves He chastens.
Hebrews 12:6

Discipline that we receive,
When we have offended,
Is a matter we may grieve,
Till it has been ended.

It may come in many forms
In our daily ventures;
In conformance with the norms
Of rebukes or censures.

In the field of self-control
It is most essential;
If we are to reach the goal
With a sure credential.

Discipline must play a part
In our Christian dealings;
Just as in the field of art,
Skill is more than feelings.

There are times of solitude,
As when we awaken;
In a retrospective mood,
On the path we’ve taken.

Discipline regarding prayer
Carries much accounting;
For our brethren we should care,
With their pressures mounting.

In a time of discipline;
Always disconcerting;
We must take the lesson in,
Though it may be hurting.

Discipline however learned,
Aiming at reproval,
One day will be overturned
At the saints’ removal.

 

Exhortations
Now we exhort you brethren, warn those who are unruly,
comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Epistles such as Titus,
Can strengthen and unite us,
By following the teachings they uphold;
Our diligent behaviour
Will elevate the Saviour,
And advertise His name to young and old.

The spirit we are given,
Should not by fear be driven,
But by a love born of a godly mind;
Therefore as God enables,
We must refute the fables
Of humanistic people who are blind.

Concerning exhortations,
There should be supplications,
For governments and every head of state;
That we might live discreetly,
Well-organised and neatly,
For godliness and suchlike correlate.

All Scripture is intended
For hearts that are surrendered,
And profits those who live by what is taught;
So let us be united,
With lamps that have been lighted,
And spread the name of Christ by good report.

 

Grace
Therefore go into the highways,
and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.
Matthew 22:9

Oh, the wonderful provision,
That the Saviour died for me!
When my soul was loosed from prison
And the Son had set me free!
Now my guilt is gone and lifted;
Borne away as on the wind;
Sharing Christ with others gifted
In a life which has no end.

Was there any merit in it?
Is there any room to boast?
Had my searchings reached a limit
As I went from coast to coast?
No, it was the Holy Spirit
Who convicts of sin and hell;
In Christ Jesus is the merit,
For He has done all things well.

Oh, the grace that bought my pardon
When He hung upon the tree!
Though He travailed in the garden
Knowing that which was to be;
Who could wilfully ignore Him,
Having suffered such a price?
We shall evermore adore Him
With His saints in Paradise.

 

God’s Mercies
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that
is within me, bless His holy name.
Psalm 103:1

O bless the Lord, declares my soul,
And all who share His blessing;
Forget not all His benefits,
In faith and hope possessing.

Who pardons thine iniquities,
And healeth thy diseases;
Who purchased thee from slavery;
His mercy never ceases.

He satisfies thy hungry mouth,
And all thy soul is needing;
Thy youthfulness He does renew,
Though years may be receding.

He executes His righteousness
For all who are afflicted;
He showed His acts to Israel,
In ways that He predicted.

The Lord is kind and merciful;
He will not keep on chiding;
He does not store His anger up;
His love is still abiding.

He has not yet requited us
For sins we have committed;
Nor has He so rewarded us
For wrongs we have permitted.

For as the heavens are so high
Above the earth in measure,
So does His mercy yet abound
To those who seek His pleasure.

For as the east is from the west,
By infinite progressions,
So far has He removed from us
Our multiple transgressions.

Like as a father pitieth
The children who are near him,
So does the Lord have sympathy
On those who rightly fear Him.

For He remembers we are dust;
Our mortal frame He knoweth;
Our days are like the meadow grass,
Which for a season groweth.

It flourishes a little while,
Until the winds are blowing;
And very soon it is no more,
Its place no longer knowing.

The mercy of the Lord is sure,
Throughout all generations;
Upon the ones who fear His name
And love His visitations.

O bless the Lord, declares my soul;
He works in every quarter;
Imputing life and righteousness
To every son and daughter.

O bless the Lord ye heavenly host,
Who serve Him with endeavour;
His kingdom will be glorious,
And magnified forever.

 

Guidance
Trust in the LORD with all your heart;
and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Trust in Jehovah in all of your cares;
Lean not on wisdom your own;
Acknowledge Him in your daily affairs;
Make your discipleship known.

Honour Jehovah with all you possess;
Give Him your daily increase;
So will your barns be filled up with excess;
New wine will flow on your lease.

Withhold not good unto those it is due;
Give when you have it in hand;
Render no evil to neighbours with you;
Take a hospitable stand.

So will your life be a token of grace;
Others by this will be blest;
And when you stand before God face to face,
You will find mercy and rest.

 

Humility
Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time:
1 Peter 5:6

The subject of humility
Is always relevant;
When faced with rank hostility,
And reasoning is spent.

In Zephaniah’s bold address
We read about the meek,
That they should seek God’s righteousness,
As all of us should seek.

In any real predicament
That calls for due restraint,
It should be always our intent
To pray and not to faint.

Humility or humbleness
Prefers the lowly place,
In light of God’s true holiness
We bow before His grace.

 

Thankfulness
In His days Judah shall be saved,
and Israel shall dwell safely:
and this is His name whereby He shall be called,
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
 Jeremiah 23:6

Thanksgiving is always in view;
In Jesus to whom it is due;
God’s daily provision
In any collision
Is always sufficient and true.

Thanksgiving should not be a fake
To cover a fault or mistake;
The smallest temptations
Or big tribulations
Are with us while we are awake.

Thanksgiving for all we possess,
Are gifts from the Lord whom we bless;
Eternal salvation
For peoples and nation,
In Jesus our true righteousness.

 

Joy Amid Despair
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines…
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17, 18

Though the fig tree may not flourish,
And the ground is lacking dew;
Though the plants we tend and nourish
Are in number growing few…

Though there is no feed for cattle,
And the autumn harvest fails;
And survival is a battle,
As the countryside travails…

When the poor are needing water,
And there is no water there;
And for every son and daughter
There is sorrow and despair…

Yet our hearts will not be craven,
Though the news is full of woe,
For the Lord will be our haven,
And His love will overflow.

For the rivers He will summon,
And the fountains they will spring;
On the hillside and the common,
Exultation will be king.

Both the cypress and the pine tree
Will abound with shouts of glee,
In a newly fashioned country
Where the ransomed will be free.

 

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