Bible Truth Publishers
EmailRSS
Blogs

Daily blogs from Bible Truth Publishers

Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

April 2014

All months

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Prayer Ever Answered
Lem Cheong, a Cambodian youth, questioned his family’s beliefs. He was taught that a person seeking guidance should go to a temple and shake a container of numbered bamboo slivers until one fell out. The priest then interpreted the meaning. But this practice didn’t satisfy his longing for clear answers, or fill the void in his heart that only God could fill.
Cheong asked his uncle, a priest, if he had ever had a prayer answered. Shocked by the brashness of his nephew he admitted that he couldn’t remember a single time one of his prayers had been answered.
Later Cheong asked a Christian if God had ever answered his prayers. The man recounted several instances. Cheong was so impressed that he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour that day. Since then, prayer has become a vital part of his life. The Lord Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7). Christian prayer is effective because God is the living and true God who hears and answers according to His will…and His will is always good. How wonderful to know the prayer-answering God! “I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me” (Psalm 86:7).

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Talkative
“Let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God” (1 Timothy 5:4).
If you have never read Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan, it is well worth taking the time to do so.
In Pilgrim’s Progress we are introduced to a character named “Talkative.” He is referred to as a “saint abroad and a devil at home.” Young people, and sometimes those who are not so young, are sometimes like that in their speech. They are courteous and kind with neighbors, friends, fellow-students, and coworkers, or even when meeting strangers. Yet they snap at, and fume impatiently with members of their own family and household.
This does not please the Lord Jesus! We should speak kindly and lovingly to those at home as well as those abroad.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Monday, April 28, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
How much do you think about heaven? Sometimes in the middle of a busy travel schedule I like to stop and think about how wonderful it will be to be home in the Father’s house. When we arrive there, we will be in happy, uninterrupted fellowship with the Lord Jesus. As a result of that we will be in happy, uninterrupted fellowship with one another. We can hardly imagine what it will be like….around the Lamb…singing His praise…seeing His glory…being with Him forever!
In the meantime we have the grace of God to keep us and teach us to live for Christ now, in view of His soon return.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Praise
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me” (Psalm 50:23).
Praise is not only pleasing to God our Father, but also brings glory to Him. Why? Because we are thanking the Lord for what He has done. And anything that exalts Jesus Christ glorifies God. Perhaps we don’t praise Him enough. (In fact, I know I don’t.) We become so occupied with ourselves, and our own troubles and cares that we stop thinking about the Lord and all that He has done for us.
Let’s start the week with praise — genuine praise from our hearts and on our lips. As we remember that He gave His life for our eternal blessing let’s praise Him — genuinely. It really does give glory to God.
Our verse today does not say “whoso offerethsilence…”
No, He wants to hear our voices. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). Open your mouth today, and let God hear “the fruit of your lips.”

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Man Cannot
“And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?” (Luke 12:25).
Man achieves great feats with the intelligence that God has given him. He prides himself in his astonishing achievements in science, technology, and culture.
However, as the above verse indicates there are some things that man cannot and will never be able to do, and they are matters of great significance. He cannot relive one of his past days; nor can he prevent wrinkles from appearing on his face. And when death approaches, he cannot keep it at bay indefinitely.
Yet there is an issue of greater importance, man cannot undo a single one of his sins. However good and upright he may be in the eyes of his fellow-man, there is no undoing of the past.
What can be done with such a burden? How can we meet God in holiness? One way — the cross! The death and blood of Christ is the only answer to the question, “How should man be just with God?” (Job 9:2).

Friday, April 25, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Question Page
Q. Is “going out” with people for a short time, and then “breaking up” with them the right thing to do?
A. We are never at liberty to play with another person’s emotions, and never do we have a precept in the Bible that would encourage us to fall into the habit of “short term” dating. This has often led to much sorrow, as the heart becomes involved even before we realize it.
The world takes these things so lightly, and marriage and “long term” relationships are not even considered. But the Christian is not to follow the trends and course of the world. “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). Dating is a serious thing, and marriage is for life. It is not something to be played at and entered into lightly. The Lord wants to show us the path of His choice, and He wants us to have a happy, fruitful life in every aspect of every relationship, including marriage.
“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10).
Do you have a question? Email us at jhyland@primus.ca

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Copy linkPrint
The Lord’s Will
“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).
There are many things we do that we have to say, “We hope we have the Lord’s mind.” Often we look back and it is confirmed, and maybe sometimes we look back and realize that perhaps we missed His mind. Then we need grace to correct it. How good it is, in every activity of life, to seek the will of the Lord, and then to act in faith and obedience when He shows us. Sometimes the next step may not seem all that clear, but He is with us every mile of the journey of life, and even when we get ahead of the Lord, “thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, 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).

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Monthly Scripture Reading
Genesis 1
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Debate or Obey?
The following statement on a church marquee caught my eye.
It is easier to debate the Bible, than obey the Bible!
I have pondered the statement ever since, and, sad to say, there seems to be a lot of truth in it. I have wondered why it is, and perhaps there are a number of reasons.
1. The natural man does not like to submit…it is contrary to human nature.
2. The path of obedience is not necessarily the easiest path, although in the end it is the happiest path.
3. Man likes to use his intellect to debate, but it takes faith to obey the Word of God.
4. Human nature is such that we like a good argument.
5. Debating exalts human ability, obedience takes humility of mind and spirit.
Let’s be like David who said: “Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10).

Monday, April 21, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
“Simon answering said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net”
(Luke 5:5).
I have been thinking a lot about this verse lately. To have labored all night without a single fish must have been very discouraging to say the least. Cold and weary they had toiled all night for fish to feed their hunger, to no avail. Trusting in their own efforts and expertise as fisherman they came up with nothing. What they needed, the Lord provided in the way He alone could. The Creator of the universe had the fish ready on the fire. He is still the same today and able to provide in unique ways to those who trust Him alone for their needs.
As you launch out on another week of activity, remember, nothing will be accomplished without Him. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:14).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Jesus Only
“When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only” (Matthew 17:8).
“Jesus only with themselves” (Mark 9:8).
What a sight! Three scared men looked up and saw only Jesus there on the top of the mountain with themselves. If you get a view of Jesus only, young person, life will take on a different perspective. As the song says,
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Jesus brightens the view of heaven and the things of this life seem less important. As you meet with others today in the worship of the Lord, let Him lift your eyes up so that you can see only Him. You’ll worship — you won’t be able to help it.
“Looking unto Jesus…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).

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Nothing To Do
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
People talk about the help of Christ in their salvation. In other words, if they do their part Christ will do His. They forget that the Lord Jesus Christ “by HIMSELF purged our sins” (Hebrews 1:3), and that their part is simply to accept what has been done.
Salvation by faith in Christ alone is repeatedly declared in the Bible to the present possession, not merely future, of every believer. The Lord Himself stressed this vital truth, as on one occasion He declared, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

Friday, April 18, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Sure Support
“I will uphold thee” (Isaiah 41:10).
I have seen both a sapling and its supporting stake blown over. Neither was strong enough to withstand a strong wind or heavy storm. How often the Christian feels the need of support when the winds of trouble blow, and how comforting it is to know that there is such a support.
Isaiah 31:1 says: “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help.” This is always a temptation to believers — to look to the world for help. That help is something that seems sufficient and able apart from God’s provision for His people whom He loves so much.
However, instead of turning to the world, we must turn rather to God’s Word in Isaiah 41:10 where we read, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”
It is in the God of Israel that the trembling soul finds a sure support today, as all God’s people have in every age.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Copy linkPrint
The Twelve Apostles – Part 4
Thaddaeus
He is referred to by different names.
In Matthew he is called, “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus” (Matthew 10:3).
Mark simply refers to him as, “Thaddaeus” (Mark 3:18).
Luke mentions him as, “Judas the brother of James” (Luke 6:16).
John calls Him, “Judas…not Iscariot” (John 14:22).
There is little known of him from Scripture. He is the one who asked the Lord, “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” (John 14:22).
Secular history tells us that he was a man of great national zeal, more interested in making Christ known to the world as a powerful King rather than a suffering Saviour. This seems to be confirmed by his question. However, secular history also records that after the ascension of Christ and the establishment of Christianity by the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached the gospel faithfully in many parts of the known world, and that he was killed by arrows at Ararat.
He is assumed to be the writer of the Epistle of Jude.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Crossroads
There are many crossroads in our life, and many ways the Lord directs us. We need much prayer but we need to couple it with consistent orderly reading of the Word of God. We read, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). According to this verse, this is the main way that God directs us. It is not just reading here and there, but in an orderly way. As we come to steps and decisions in our life, if we are prayerfully reading our Bibles, the Lord will speak to direct us, so that when we take the step we can do it with confidence because we have a scripture that we feel has directed us.
If we do not have what we feel is definite direction from the Lord then it is best to wait, and waiting is one of the hardest lessons that the Lord tries to teach us…and we probably never learn it fully this side of heaven. Over and over in the Psalms David talks about waiting on the Lord. For example: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way” (Psalm 37:34).

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Always
Christianity is a very practical thing. It takes daily exercise, spiritual energy, and diligence. Here are seven things that we should always be doing…
1. “Rejoice in the Lord alway” (Philippians 4:4).
2. “Giving thanks always” (Ephesians 5:20).
3. “Praying always” (Ephesians 1:18).
4. “Let you speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6)
5. “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
6. “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).
7. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
This is just a sample list of the many things that should occupy a Christian in the path of faith and service.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
Do you feel overwhelmed or overcome at the beginning of another week of school, work, or just the daily grind of life? King David had the answer for such a problem when he said, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).
We don’t have to feel overwhelmed when we have a Lord who is greater and higher than any problem or difficulty that we will face this week. That’s not to say there won’t be troubles and hard situations ahead, but we can commit each one to Him, knowing that He is able. The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Is the resource of power and strength any less for us today…not a bit! It is the same mighty strength and limitless supply that Paul and so many others have experienced over the centuries. Will you draw on this resource this week?
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Copy linkPrint
The Garden
“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher”
(John 20:1).
Mary’s heart had never left the garden. Over the years Jesus had won her affections and although the Sabbath routine had to be kept, I’m sure Mary’s heart was not in it. In heart she was still in the garden, at the mouth of the sepulcher. Her Lord had died. What would she do? As soon as custom would allow she came back to the garden. This is devotion. Nothing would come between her and her Lord — even if He was dead. She wanted to be close to Him, even if it just meant being close to His dead body.
Are we that devoted to Him? Is the remembrance of His death that drawing power that brings us together every Lord’s Day morning?
Later on we read of the early believers, “Upon the first day of the week…the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7). The Lord has requested, “This do in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Copy linkPrint
A New Heart
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
Your heart, if normal, is about the size of your doubled fist. The average weight of the heart of a man over 20, is 10.59 ounces, with a calculated increase of about 1 ounce for every 22 pounds of added weight to the body. The average heart beats at 72 beats a minute, about 2,500,000,000 times in a lifetime, or 103,680 times a day. Every day 9,000 quarts of blood are pumped through your heart. At top speed it can pump more than 16 quarts a minute.
Amazing! But God wants to give the sinner a new heart. Wonderful things are done to the human heart with surgery in this day of medical advancement, even to transplanting this vital organ, but the greatest heart transplant a person can have is the one that only God can perform because of the work of His Son at Calvary. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Friday, April 11, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Comfort
“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand” (Psalm 73:23).
One day in 1932, pianist, singer, and songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey discovered his need for God’s comfort. He left his pregnant wife Nettie at home in Chicago while he drove to St. Louis to sing. At the end of the performance, he received a telegram with the tragic news that his wife had died in childbirth. Within hours, the baby boy also died.
Filled with grief, Dorsey sought answers. Should he have stayed in Chicago and not gone to St. Louis? Had God done him an injustice? A few days after Nettie’s death, he sat down at the piano and began to play and compose. Finally sensing God’s peace and closeness, he commenced to sing some new words and play a new song:
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light;
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Treasures
Treasures are laid up, only as treasures on earth are laid down. This does not mean that we have to go through life poor or destitute, but the question is what value do we place on the things that God our Father has given us to help us through this life? Are we using our temporal means for the furtherance of the gospel and the truth, or are we using them simply for our own pleasure and lust?
When we get to heaven we will have to give an account of how well we handled our financial affairs and worldly possessions. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
In view of all this, the Lord Jesus, when here on earth gave some very timely advice. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Slings & Stones – Part 2
The missionary went on to say:
“But is that not rather cruel discipline for one wayward sheep? That last stone went so close that it almost struck it! Yes, almost, but not quite! And it brought the sheep right back to the place where the shepherd wanted it.”
Sometimes The Good Shepherd disciplines and deals with us in a way that may seem harsh and rough. But it is because, like the foolish sheep, we go our own way. Then, He proves His “everlasting love” by allowing circumstances that, like the slings and stones, cause us to return to the very place where our caring Shepherd wants us to be.
One thing is for sure, the Shepherd wants us by His side, and enjoying the cool waters and green pastures of spiritual refreshment and sustenance that He has for us. These things can only be enjoyed as we are near to Him. Remember too, that the nearer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the enemy. “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Slings & Stones – Part 1
“As a Shepherd seeketh out His flock in the day that He is among His sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:1).
At a Palestine Exhibition in London, a missionary, dressed in native shepherd’s costume was telling about shepherding in the Middle East.
He said:
“You may wonder why the shepherd carries a sling and stones. It is not so much to defend from wild beasts. A wandering sheep, nibbling the grass, leaves the flock. How to get it back? To send a dog would perhaps drive it further away. As the sheep browses heedlessly, crack goes a stone against the rock beyond. The startled sheep jumps, turns, and looks towards the flock. Crack! Another stone, now close behind. Scared, the sheep begins to run towards the flock. The volley continues; the cracks of the stone against rock, always behind the sheep, afford sufficient stimulus to bring the wanderer safely home.”
Continued…

Monday, April 7, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
Are you praying about something special this week? I was encouraged by reading about some young men who were taken directly from school to the National Service training camp. Life became tough. The only bright spot was on Lord’s Day mornings when the Christians were able to meet together to encourage each other in the Lord. Then came the shattering blow — a new commanding officer. “No more religious services in this camp,” he shouted on his first Monday on duty. The young men took the matter to a higher authority — THEY PRAYED! Before the end of the week the Lord had this godless officer transferred — he lasted only a week, but the Lord’s Day gatherings continued without a break.
If you are praying about something that seems insurmountable, remember God our Father is greater and higher than any problem you encounter. “The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will” (Proverbs 21:1).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Copy linkPrint
The Cross
“He bearing His cross went forth” (John 19:17).
“Who for the joy that was set before Himenduredthe cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
“He…became obedient untodeath, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
“Having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).
“Thepreaching of the cross…is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
I love the cross of Jesus,
For there my Saviour died;
For there His blood, so precious,
Flowed from His spear-pierced side.
The cross is all my glory,
In nothing else I boast;
It made me fit for heaven,
With all the ransomed host.
“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Copy linkPrint
The Future
We often remark that we can’t predict the future, and that we never know what the next moment may bring. The course of life can change very quickly, and the unexpected happen momentarily.
However, we do know what is ahead in eternity. For the ones who know Christ as their Saviour there are no uncertainties when it comes to their future eternity. The Father’s House is our final destination — no question about it!
David said, at the end of the Shepherd Psalm, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). What a wonderful certainty he had.
There is also a certainty regarding the future to the one who rejects Christ. We read of a man who lived for himself with no thought of God or the next life in Luke’s gospel. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:23).
We spend so much time preparing for the future as far as this life is concerned, but how many there are who neglect to prepare for the future concerning the next life.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Shortest Verses
The two shortest verses in the English Bible stand in sharp contrast to one another.
“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
“Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
The Lord Jesus was the “Man of Sorrows” here in this world so that we could rejoice for all eternity. We read of Him, “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared” (Hebrews 5:7).
Now we can rejoice because of what we have in Him, and both He and we will rejoice together for all eternity. Again we read of Him in a future day, “He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). The Man of Sorrows will become the Man of Joy when He has His own around Himself forever.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Plain But Wholesome
“Beauty is vain” (Proverbs 31:30).
Colorless is an adjective applied to some people. Mushrooms are colorless compared with the brilliance of many toadstools, but give me a dish of mushrooms every time. We need to beware of the flashy highly colored, for though it may have sensual appeal it may also hide a deadly poison.
Satan knows how to attract by the brilliant and spectacular, and has allured many to destruction by glitter and glamour.
The prophet wrote of Christ “there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2).
Call to remembrance the wearied Saviour making His painful way to Calvary, bleeding and battered, to be crucified. Not an attractive sight.
Yet He it was who said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever” (John 6:51). Here is wholesome food.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Copy linkPrint
Practice
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
I was quite impressed by reading about how a Christian in a Korean village learned the whole of the “Sermon on the Mount” by heart, and then tramped 100 miles over rough terrain to recite it to the resident missionary who was living and working in that area. When he had finished, he was exhorted to put it into practice.
“But that is the way I learned it,” he replied. “At first I tried simply to commit it to memory, and it would not stick. So I tried this plan: I would learn a verse, and then go out and find a heathen neighbor and practice that verse on him. Then I found it would stick!”
Wouldn’t it be good if we all learned the Word of God in that way. It certainly would make it stick, and it would certainly make it real in our personal lives and in our testimony to others. Let’s be like David who prayed, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth” (Psalm 86:11).

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Copy linkPrint
In Everything
In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
Thank Him for all His love and care
And wisdom of His ways.
In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
Rejoice in Him forevermore,
Through bright or dismal days.
In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
No matter what the circumstance,
A cheerful anthem raise.
In everything give thanks!
At all times give Him praise!
Now, in this life, as soon above,
When on His face we gaze.
“In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
← May 2014March 2014 →