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Faith

Faith

A pleasant life, our village liv’d,
Yet faith untried.
Our fishnets full,
And each spring's harvest bountiful,
So far from all the furies of Rome.

And yet, it was not half enough.
Oh, not at first,
Our gentle life,
Quiet, happy, and free,
‘Until He challeng’d, ‘Now follow me!’

Each step we took, a step of faith
Where e'er He led.
Tested through trials,
By fire the dross of doubt removed,
Till faith shone from God's glorious grace.

Yet ever on he nudged our faith:
‘Step from the boat,’
‘Remove this mount,’
‘Carry your cross and follow me,’
‘Confess my name before all the world.’

At last was set faith's final test:
Gethsemane,
Golgotha's cross,
God's glory fastened to a tree.
He drank the dregs from His Father's cup.

Though faltered then our trembling faith,
For us He pray’d,
Till faith returned;
That we now firmly testify,
'Jesus Christ is risen from the grave!'

We followed to faith's lofty heights:
God crucified,
Sin Sacrifice,
Ourselves forgiven by His blood,
Reborn by faith through God's lavish love.

This foll'wer then did true faith find,
Unfaltering.
Our faithful Friend,
Who died for us, His life for ours!
And by His grace through faith I'll follow on.

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