But for the Grace of God

 

There go I but for the grace of God

‘Tis but grace betwixt me and thee,

There go I but for the grace of God

Mere grace betwixt me and misery.

The difference between the lost and me

Is grace, simply God’s amazing grace

Hammered upon a wooden cross

With lines of anguish on his face.

Darkness shrouded the saddened earth

As in the beginning was formed

Grace shone through its horrid deep

Hence every man could be reborn.

Why me and not another man

Since nothing neither could give?

Grace is my answer to your question friend,

Accept God’s grace and live.

No merit in you and neither in me

‘Tis only God’s grace that counts,

Accept by faith the blood that flowed

And still flows from Calvary’s fount.

Even the faith by which one believes

Is imparted by God’s wonderful grace,

Thus grace is God’s hand that reaches out

That saves the penitent from sin’s disgrace.

Even the repentance that issues within

Comes with the blessing of God’s grace,

For were it not amazing grace

No such virtue could fill our heart’s space.

An absolute mess were you and me

Decrepit, depraved and deprived,

Devoid of anything good at the very least

But grace came with hope to survive.

You frown on one in the garbage can

As though that could never be you

But there go I but for the grace of God

And without grace there you would be too.

  

The drunk in the street O how you muse

As you stumble and mock his gait

But that could be you were it not for grace

You too could be in that state.

That guy on the block with gun in hand

The one that you so despise,

There go I but for the grace of God

Hoodwinked by Satan’s disguise.

You can’t understand how she could do drugs

And ruin her entire life

But outside of the marvelous grace of God

This could be your daughter or your wife.

‘Tis grace that opened up our heart,

‘Tis grace that gave us that brand new start,

‘Tis grace that bid us from sin depart

When we once travelled on the devil’s cart.

Even the opportunity just to respond

And the ears to hear a saving word

‘Twas grace that brought us to that point

‘Twas grace our hearts disturbed.

‘Twas grace that troubled us through the night

That caused us hours of unrest,

‘Twas grace that pointed us to the cross

Where God had given us His best.

For all that God did His grace allowed

And that sum total was His all

Right now His grace extends to you

Inviting you to answer His call.

Each nail and each thorn were symbols of grace

Imputing what Christ did not deserve

Crucified by the hands of them he created

O what delusion and what nerve!

Grace was Jesus taking all my sin

And in exchange offering to me his life

So Get Right, Accept Christ’s Efficacy

And let his grace free you from sin’s strife.

Stewart Russell © July 2017