I love putting Scripture to music. Over the years I have put different passages of the Bible to music (you can hear some of my songs here and here). I find that putting Scripture to music is very edifying and encouraging to my own soul.
A couple years back I spent a summer studying Titus and decided to put a few of my favorite passages from the book to music. At the time, I was learning how to do some of the finger style patterns used by Elliott Smith, who is one of my favorite songwriters. I thought it was time to record the song and put it on youtube:
[youtube height=”HEIGHT” width=”WIDTH”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drqDGKM4DDM[/youtube]
The Grace of God Has Appeared (book of Titus)
Music by Tom Schmidt
Hope of eternal life, knowledge of the truth,
From God Who never lies, He spoke to us, came down to us.
Help us to hold firm to your trustworthy Word.
Many come and deceive: Empty talkers, shameful teachers;
Following their own beliefs:
Defiled their minds, defiled their conscience;
They profess to know God, But deny Him by their works.
But the Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation,
Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
To live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in the present age,
Waiting for our blessed hope:
The appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for us to redeem from all lawlessness,
To purify for himself a people for his own possession zealous for good works.
God came and saved us, not because of works we did,
But according to His mercy, He brought us to life through Jesus Christ
Our Savior, Mediator.
We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient and led astray,
Slaves to our own pleasures:
Passing our days in envy, malice, and hatred of each other and of God.
But the Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation,
Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
To live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in the present age,
Waiting for our blessed hope:
The appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for us to redeem from all lawlessness,
To purify for himself a people for his own possession zealous for good works.