The Fundamental Spirit #2145

The Fundamental Spirit In a world that shifts and sways, Where values twist and bend, A call remains from ancient days, A truth that must transcend. "If anyone comes to Me," He said, "And does not hate his kin, His father, mother, wife, and child, The battle he won't win." Not hate in terms we understand, But placing God above, All earthly ties and treasured bonds, In favor of divine love. For Jesus and "Family Values" differ, From what we hold today, A disciple’s path is paved with sacrifice, A narrow, rugged way. To follow Christ means bearing cross, And letting go of all, To lose one's life to gain the crown, To heed the Master's call. The world may change and trends may come, Yet one thing must remain, The gospel's core, its beating heart, Through joy and through the pain. For in the gospel's sacred flame, God's will is clear and bright, A beacon in the darkest storm, A guide through endless night. No matter how the seasons turn, Or how our lives may sway, The fundamental spirit stands, Unchanged from day to day. To love the Lord with all our heart, And follow where He leads, To cherish not the fleeting things, But Christ and all His deeds. So let us keep this spirit pure, And walk the path He trod, Embracing all He taught and lived, In the holy will of God. -Steven G. Lee (July 3, 2024)