Month: January 2017

Mornings – Part 2

The Lord Himself rose early to spend time in prayer and communion with His Father before a busy day of service. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). This is what every believer needs to do if they are going to have power and fruit in their service for Christ.

Bible verses often refer to the traits of diligence, willingness, readiness, and obedience, traits that our Lord desires to find in each of His own. Here is a nice exercise expressed on the part of David: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3). He also said in Psalm 143:8, “Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee” (Psalm 143:8). Someone else has said, “Morning prayer leads to evening praise.”

Don’t waste your mornings! Make them times of spiritual edification and blessing. Spend them in company with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mornings – Part 1

“Joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Mornings may not be your best time of the day! However, early morning is a good opportunity for a Christian to spend some time alone with the Lord before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. If you don’t do it in the morning you are not likely to have time later on. And furthermore, the enemy, Satan, will do everything in his power to keep you so busy and occupied that you will not enjoy a quiet time with your Savior. Night will be upon you, and you will find yourself too physically and mentally weary.

There are many examples in the Bible of those who got up early in the morning for one reason or another. Abraham is one of them. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning … and went unto the place of which God had told him” (Genesis 22:3). Abraham is an example of one who rose up early to obey the instructions that the Lord had given him concerning the offering of his son Isaac. How good it is to wake up each day with a desire to obey and please the Lord, and with a yearning to follow His leading no matter what, knowing that His ways are best.

Dear Young Christian:

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

This morning I was thinking of how the Lord Jesus desires our fellowship far more than we desire His. He died to win our hearts’ affections, and so that He could enjoy our company, not only in a future day in the Father’s house, but here and now as well. Let’s cultivate a relationship of real companionship with Himself. Learn to talk to the Lord as you go throughout the day. Maybe you have no real need or request. But talk to Him, tell Him what is in your heart, and learn what is in His.

Moses knew what it was to talk to the Lord in this way. “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11). If Moses could enjoy such a relationship in the Old Testament, how much more you and I.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Asleep

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt. And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour” (Matthew 26:36-40)?

The Lord Jesus was at the worst crisis of His life on earth, the forsaking of God while He was punished for sins that He did not commit — our sins. With the cross just hours away He asked His three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to watch with Him. Instead they fell asleep.

Let’s not be sleeping today as to the cross and the mighty work accomplished there by the Lord Jesus Christ. He says to us, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

It Is Time!

It was a cold January night in Flint, Michigan, and a young person by the name of Kim sat quietly waiting and praying for her mother to trust the Savior. The solemn preaching of the gospel had broken Kim’s mother down in genuine repentance. And then as the preacher explained the way of salvation, Kim’s mother put her trust in Christ. Both mother and daughter rejoiced together, as Kim exclaimed, “Mother, you are now saved like me!”

Eleven months later the hearts that rejoiced that evening were plunged into deep sorrow. As she was returning from Detroit, after being fitted for a dress to be worn as part of a wedding party, Kim was killed in a tragic automobile accident. Her parents were grief-stricken. However, in the strength of the Lord they were able to rise above the loss, comforted that their daughter was, “Absent from the body … present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Within a few weeks at least seven of her relatives were saved as a result of her testimony.

If you are not saved, perhaps reading this account will be used to convict you of your need and convince you of the fact that, “It is time to seek the Lord” (Hosea 10:12).

Temper

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

I read a statistic recently that I thought was very interesting and noteworthy:

“Ten minutes of unbridled temper can waste enough strength to do a complete day of wholesome work.”

Let’s remember that our physical energy is a gift from God, entrusted to us to be used in His service and for His glory. When preaching on Mars’ Hill, the Apostle Paul declared “He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25).Daniel had to remind King Belshazzar, “The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified” (Daniel 5:23).

It is a sin to take God’s gift and squander it through evil and unbridled emotions. When I was a young person we used to sing the song:

Angry word, Oh let them never,

From the tongue, unbridled slip.

May the love of Jesus ever

Fill the heart and keep the lip.

“ … Be Done … ”

“Let all things be done unto edifying”
(1 Corinthians 14:26).

“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

“Let all your things be done with charity (love)” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

The above are three very important principles to guide us in our relationships with other believers, who, as we learn from the epistles to the Corinthians, are fellow members of the body of Christ.

First, all is to be done in view of “edifying” or “building up.” Everything we do and say is to contribute to the life and growth of the body of Christ.

Second, all is to be done “decently and in order.” Everything is to be governed by the Word of God so that there is no confusion when we come together, for worship, ministry, prayer, etc.

Third, all is to be done in “love.” This the bond of perfectness, and every believer is to serve one another with no other motive than the motive of divine love.

Our Companions

“Evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Our companions will either be a help and encouragement for our blessing, or a hindrance and discouragement for our detriment, in our Christian life. Let us be very careful as to the company we keep! How sad to see young Christians, who once had a desire to please the Lord, led away into the world and seeking its pleasure, its achievements, etc., because of the company they chose.

Of course we must brush shoulders with the world at school, at work, and so on, and we must be kind and friendly if we are going to be a testimony for the Lord. We are exhorted in the Bible: “Do good unto all men” (Galatians 6:10). But I am speaking of those that we have as our closest companions. They will indeed have an influence on our life, whether for good or bad. Let’s be ever so sure that our most intimate friends have the same desire to please and follow the Lord. Let’s be like those in the early days of Christianity, of whom we read, “And being let go, they went to their own company” (Acts 4:23).

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Jonah

“Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9).

“Behold, now is the day of Salvation”
(2 Corinthians 6:2).

Jonah was in the fish, down in the sea;

He called upon the Lord to set him free.

His prayer in heaven was heard —

“Salvation’s of the Lord.”

To land he was restored,

By God’s own Word.

“Salvation’s of the Lord,” He is the Way!

“Salvation’s of the Lord,” be saved today!

Do not His love reject!

Do not His call neglect!

Salvation now accept,

Through Christ the Lord!

“Salvation’s of the Lord,” come and believe!

“Salvation’s of the Lord,” come and receive

Eternal life, so free —

His blood, sin’s remedy!

Heaven, your home will be,

With Christ the Lord!

Dear Young Christian:

Here we are starting out on another year, and there will be, no doubt, many new lessons to learn in the school of God. Some of them will not seem so pleasant, and there will probably be some tears as well as joys. Someone has said that there are two great lessons that God is seeking to teach us while here in this life:

The first lesson is, “The flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). We should never trust the sinful flesh, since it is corrupt and incurable. The Lord said to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6). Remember, “He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.”

The second lesson is, “God is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:9). Whatever He does with us, and whatever He allows in our lives this year, remember this great truth. “He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).

If we can learn, at least in part, our own nothingness and God’s faithfulness we have done well in God’s school.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca