Category: Uncategorized

Dear Young Christian:

When I was young, I felt indestructible and as if nothing could stop me or get in my way. I could keep going and going. I could take risks, push myself to the limit. I felt like a steel beam, solid, powerful, strong! But as I have gotten older, I realize more and more how dependent I am on the Lord. Sometimes the Lord has to allow certain things in our lives to bring us to the realization of what He said to His disciples: “Without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

In recent times I have thought more about verses like this: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word … . It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:67, 71). From these verses we learn that trials and sickness are often allowed to keep us walking in the path of obedience and faith and so we would learn more of what the Lord has for us. Even in our youth the Lord allows things to train us and draw our hearts out more to Himself. Don’t despise what He allows in your life. Learn and benefit from it.

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

The Blood of Jesus

“The blood of Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:7).

The blood of Jesus is a theme that runs throughout the Word of God. It is a theme we often speak about and preach on, yet it never grows old or out of date. It is a theme we often have at the remembrance meeting, and a theme we often take up in presenting the gospel to the lost. It is the ground and basis for all our blessing and will be the theme of worship and praise in the Father’s house when we are gathered around the “Lamb as it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6).

Today we have the privilege of remembering the Lord Jesus and coming into His presence because of His blood shed at Calvary. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

May we never tire of this precious theme! The blood of Jesus will thrill our hearts for all eternity.

Come to Jesus

Jesus invites us to come to Him, not just for initial salvation, but for every need in our Christian life. Here are three great reasons to come to Him today:

1. Are you burdened and weary with the trials and difficulties you are facing today?

Jesus invites you:

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

2. Are you feeling a spiritual thirst or drought?

Jesus can satisfy that need:

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink” (John 7:37).

3. Are you spiritually hungry?

Only Jesus can satisfy:

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

What a full and endless supply and recourse we have in the Lord Jesus! Come to Him again and again. He loves you and says, “Come unto Me.”

Monthly Question Page

Q. I know I am going to Heaven when I die, and yet I still seem to have a fear of death and what is beyond that I can’t seem to shake. Can you give me some verses and thoughts from the Bible to help in this matter?

A. The more we know about what is beyond this life for the believer the less fear we will have of death, and the more we will anticipate and look forward to Heaven and being with the Lord. The Apostle Paul had no fear of death because he knew what was ahead. He had been “caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). He says as a result, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). God hasn’t left us in the dark as to what comes after death.

Remember too, death is not the end of the story. It is only a means of bringing us into the unhindered presence of the Lord. Again, Paul says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Don’t forget too, that we may never have to face death. We are “looking for that blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). That hope is the Lord’s coming at any moment.

Changed Bodies

In Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, I saw the following sign outside a physical fitness/wellness facility:

New Body Resurrection

Training Center

I couldn’t help but think of several Scriptures, including the following:

“We shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

“For our conversation is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

Yes, we are looking forward to that time when a wonderful change will take place. “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Monthly Scripture Reading
Matthew 4

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee;

13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.

His Voice

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God (Genesis 3:8).

“The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Psalm 29:4).

“Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 27:10).

Listen!

There are many voices all around us, some good, some bad, some helpful, some harmful. But above all we need to attune ourselves to the voice of the Lord. In many ways, He speaks to us from day to day. Kings, dignitaries, presidents, and prime ministers tend to make themselves inaccessible. Even the rich, famous, and powerful must plow through red tape and protocol to gain an audience and hear their wisdom and advice.

However, the King of kings and Lord of lords makes Himself available and delights to speak to us. The question is, are we listening to and heeding His voice? Many in Scripture and history have ignored His voice to their detriment. Let’s tune in to His voice today, follow His words, and have a happy, fruitful Christian experience.

Dear Young Christian:

Here is a powerful verse to consider this week:

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).

Wow! Do you refuse to change your ways in spite of repeated warnings? Look out! The Lord may have to speak very strongly. Are you unsaved? Then accept Jesus right now! As a believer, is your life and walk displeasing to Him? Turn around — before He speaks loudly and allows something very serious in your life — maybe even taking you home to Heaven so that you don’t dishonor Him further. The Lord prefers to speak softly, but when we don’t listen, He has to speak louder and with more serious consequences. Just like parents with a stubborn and wayward child, so the Lord loves us too much to let us go our own way.

This is the beginning of a new week — if you have been stubborn and rebellious, confess and forsake it, and make today a new beginning in your life.

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

His Joy

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

What joy did the Lord have as the hour of Calvary approached and He was bowed in sorrow in the garden of Gethsemane? What joy was set before Him as He was nailed to the cross, and as He became the sin bearer in those three hours of darkness? It was the joy of returning to Heaven to sit down at the right hand of God His Father, knowing that all had been accomplished on earth to the glory and satisfaction of the One who had sent Him. With confidence the Lord Jesus had said, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4).

Think of the mutual feeling of joy and satisfaction that must have passed between the Father and the Son when the Father, “raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20).

Now we worship a risen, glorified Savior, remembering that great work that will never have to be repeated.

Going to Heaven

Some people think that as long as they do not hurt anyone or commit gross sins they will go to Heaven. But let’s examine this subject more carefully in the Bible.

The first sin to enter the world was the sin of disobedience. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).

The first recorded sin after the formation of the church is a lie, in connection with Ananias, and Sapphira. “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:4). The Bible says, “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 12:22).

Then what about covetousness? The Lord warned, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness” (Luke 12:15).

We need to also consider the fact that we are born sinners. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

The bottom line is just this: It is rejection of God’s offer of salvation through Christ and the work of Calvary that keeps a person out of Heaven. The promise is, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The great question is, Have you come?