FASTING PRAYING STUDYING AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD MARCH 4, 2021

 

​​

From: paul gage

pauljg_64055@yahoo.com

FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD

MARCH 4, 2021

 

 Greetings to the Saints of God Around the World,

 This is a good month to focus on our "Marching To Zion." Keeping always in mind that our dedication to the spiritual disciplines along with obedience to God's commandments will hasten the going forth of the kingdom of God on earth so that the kingdom of heaven may come. DC 65:1 f. We have many hymns that encourage our diligent efforts toward becoming a righteous people, which righteousness will be the  "cause" Zion. "Come Unto Zion," "Come, All Ye Sons of Zion," "Prayer for Zion," "Zion's Victory Song," "Beautiful Zion, " "O Zion," "O Zion Haste," "A Call to Zion," "The Glory of Zion," "Glorious Things Are Sung of Zion," "Zion," "Onward, Forward, Saints to  Zion," "Triumphant Zion! Lift Thy Head," "Shall We Gather Home to Zion?"

 There are many others, but I would like to mention two more. One is a favorite, "We're Marching to Zion." We're marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We're marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God." This was one of the first hymns written by Isaac Watts who, from early childhood, had the gift of rhyming hymns. Prior to that, they mostly sang the Psalms. Isaac Watts most likely wrote more hymns than any other man, writing over 600, of which sixteen are in the "Hymns of the Restoration." Isaac Watts was not  Restorationist, but due to his dedication to God, he wrote such hymns as, "Great God Attend While Zion sings," "Joy to the World," ' O God Our Help in Ages Past," and  "Am I a Soldier of the Cross."

 The other hymn is a Restoration favorite because it was written by the third Prophet of the church, Frederick Madison Smith, entitled "Onward To Zion." From his earliest considerations of the position he held there had been with him the determination to work for the ideals of Zion. As his purpose strengthened, the words of "Onward to Zion" were given to him by inspiration, not alone for himself, but to  many who with him look for the fulfillment of the promises of God. Brother Smith has one other hymn in our hymnal, "Come, O Come Sweet Comforter", a more than fitting companion to "Onward To Zion." The hymn calls us, "Onward to Zion, faithful and strong ,Zion, the beautiful beckons us on.

To God be the glory, to Him lift the song,

ZION THE BEAUTIFUL BECKONS US ON!" 

The Lord be with you and bless you every day,

Paul Gage