In Paradise, You Shared Your Best

This text by Lisa M. Clark is set to a memorable tune and two-part mixed setting by Jonathan Kohrs. The text highlights the story of salvation, while carrying themes of outreach, the new creation, and the end times. The choral texture builds from start to finish and blossoms with a descant in the final stanza.

In paradise, You shared Your best
With us, Your children dear.
Your bounty, presence, work, and rest:
Secure from guilt or fear.
But we brought shame upon the land
And disobeyed Your clear command.
Oh, we will never understand
The darkness we brought near.

In exile, driven from Your face,
We hid and worked in vain.
We lost the children’s honored place
And earned Your just disdain.
But Jesus came to take our blame
And took away our horrid shame
And gave to us His holy name,
That we may life regain.

In restoration, we are free
And welcomed home anew.
You smile on us abundantly
And bless us through and through.
But as we wait for that great day,
When all dishonor melts away,
Let us, Your own beloved, say:
“Our Lord, we honor You!”

Text copyright © 2020 Concordia Publishing House.