Category: Uncategorized

Inspiration

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

The believer is not called upon to define inspiration. How the Scriptures were inspired has not been revealed. It is enough to know that by them God is made known, that holy men of God testified by “the Spirit of Christ which was in them” (1 Peter 1:11), and that they minister Christ to our soul. Our Lord, too, when speaking of us to the Father said, “I have given them Thy Word” (John 17:14). After that, we read that the apostles and brethren prayed that “with all boldness they may speak Thy Word” (Acts 4:29). The result was that “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). Believers knew that ministry in old times, and also by our Lord and His apostles, was the ministry of “the Word of God,” and that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Suffering for Christ

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

“Unto you it is given, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29)

Most of us don’t know much about physically suffering for Christ. However, in the measure in which we reflect Christ in our lives there will be reproach connected with it. It is not that we go out and look for opportunities to suffer, but if we are true to Him, we will have plenty of opportunities. The young man Timothy was told, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Or as another translation puts it, “Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

The real secret to suffering for Christ is to have the heart’s affections centered in Him.

• The more I love Jesus, the closer I shall walk with Him.

• The closer I walk with Him, the more faithfully I shall imitate Him.

• The more faithfully I imitate Him, the more I shall suffer with Him.

As you can see, it all flows from love to Christ.

Just for Show

“Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6).

I am not really into antiques, but I am told that an increasing number of old, leather-bound books are being purchased for their covers and not so much for their content. Interior designers buy them by the linear yard and use them to create atmosphere in the homes of affluent clients. Of prime importance is whether they match the room’s decor. I read of one wealthy businessman who purchased 13,000 antique books he will never read just to create a library look in his newly renovated home. These books are just for show.

Focusing on outward appearances can be a pleasing way to decorate a house, but it is a dangerous way to live. The Lord reprimanded many when He was here on earth because they did not practice what they preached. He said, “All their works they do for to be seen of men” (Matthew 23:5). Let’s be sure that we are real on the inside. When living for Jesus, our content is far more important than our cover. We are here for more than show. Remember, if the Lord controls you on the inside, you’ll be genuine on the outside. As our verse indicates, He wants “truth in the inward parts.”

Jesus My Lord

Jesus, my Lord, I need Thy grace today,
Trials and problems seem to flood my way;
Give me the strength to trust Thee for each hour,
This is my one and only source of power.
I know Thy love has planned each moment here,
I need not worry, fret, complain, or fear;
All will be well, My Lord is in control,
Preserving my whole spirit, body, soul.

Jesus, my Lord, give what I need today,
Help me to cope amidst life’s busy fray;
Give me to lean on Thee…Thy mighty arm,
Wisdom I need or else I’ll come to harm.
Resting, relying, counting Thy love,
Until I hear the “shout” and soar above;
Then I shall see Thee in that glorious land,
And know how perfectly my life was planned.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Dear Young Christian:

The question is often raised, How can we tell if we are going the right direction? In the desert or at sea the stars are a reliable guide. In more populated areas, landscapes can be a help — such as rivers, mountains, and other landmarks — as long as we have a good map or GPS.

In the absence of those things, with the stars overclouded, no map, or no reliable GPS, we need a good guide, and preferably one who has been that way before.

Thankfully, for the journey of life, we have a sure guide in the Lord Jesus. As we move along life’s road, we need to listen for His instruction. To the listening ear He says, “This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). The promise is, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). We need to pay strict attention to His instructions. This is essential to a happy, fruitful life. I trust you will have an ear tuned to His voice this week and follow in the way He has planned for your good and blessing.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

His Life

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost” (Mark 15:37).

“When Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).

He gave up His life of His own free will. This could not be said of anyone else. The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, was the only person who could, by an act of His own will, separate His spirit from His body. This He did in love and obedience to God His Father. Earlier in John’s gospel we read, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18).

Now we can say, “He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). What a precious truth for us to consider today.

Decision

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14).

Decisions! Decisions! We make them every day. Some of the decisions we make have little or no long-term consequence. Still others may affect us for the rest of our lives. But there is one decision that will affect us, not just for this life, but for eternity. That all-important decision involves Christ and salvation.

Perhaps one of my readers has not yet made that decision to accept Christ as Savior. Consider this question raised by Elijah long ago: “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21). If this describes your indecision, I beg of you not to put it off any longer. One of my favorite hymns to give out at the end of a gospel meeting is this:

Decide for Christ today,
And God’s salvation see;
Yield soul and body, heart and will
To Him, who died for thee!

Some of the last words of Moses were, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Make that momentous decision right now!

What Shall I Render?

“What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12).

This is a good question for every believer, young and old, to ask ourselves.

Here are some of the things that we can render to the Lord as we consider all His love, mercy, blessings, and benefits:

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come into His courts” (Psalm 96:8).

“I will render praises unto Thee” (Psalm 56:12).

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which He hath given thee” (Deuteronomy 16:17).

How much of ourselves, our time, energy, and resources are we giving to the Lord to use for His glory and the blessing of others?

Thy Voice

“Let Me hear thy voice” (Song of Solomon 2:14).

The Lord Jesus wants to hear our voice. Here are just a few of the ways that we can speak and bring joy to His heart.

In praise: “I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth” (Psalm 109:30).

In prayer: “Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth” (Psalm 54:2).

In song: “Sing unto the Lord” (Jeremiah 20:13).

In testimony: “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:8).

In confession: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Will the Lord have the joy of hearing your voice today?

Prayer — Part 2

I am always noticing billboards along the highway, and the other day while driving through Eldora, Iowa, I saw this thought-provoking sign:

PRAYER IS THE BEST

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION!

Communication is so prevalent and accessible in this age of technology that it is a rare day, or even a rare moment that we can’t make a cell-phone call, text a friend, iMessage someone, and find out information or directions on the internet. We all seem to have access to data and, at the push of a button or touch of an icon, we are connected to the world. I have called friends and family from as far away as the jungle of South America or the Sinai Peninsula.

However, it doesn’t always work, does it? I am sure, like me, you have often been frustrated to find you are in an area where there is no cell service or Internet. But there is always an open line to Heaven, and to the ear of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What a wonderful line of wireless communication we have anytime and anywhere! We are invited, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).