Bible Truth Publishers
EmailRSS
Blogs

Daily blogs from Bible Truth Publishers

Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

April 2015

All months

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Technology
“They that use this world, as not abusing it”
(1 Corinthians 7:31).
Technology can be a good servant, but also a hard master!
I am thankful for the technology that God has allowed man to develop, and it can be used to spread the gospel and the truth of Scripture in wonderful ways. In that context it can be a very good servant. Through technology the Bible is getting into dark corners of the world where it has never been before. Missionaries and servants of God are able to travel distances and to places that were unheard of a few years ago. So we use it, but we don’t abuse it.
However, the great danger with technology is that we become a slave to it, and that it becomes a hard master. It is good to stop and assess the situation from time to time, and ask ourselves, Am I using it for the Lord’s glory, and to simply get me through this world in the everyday circumstances of life, or am I letting it control my time and drain my spiritual energy? To a certain extent we need to keep up with technology for school and work, but don’t let it rob you of the enjoyment of your relationship with the Lord.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Eating
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).
The more we eat, the more we want!
With our natural appetite, the more we eat, the less we want. It is quite different with our spiritual appetite — the less we eat, the less we want; and the more we eat, the more we want.
The less you read of Scripture, the less appetite you have for it. Habitual reading of the Word of God will give you a greater appetite, and will cause you to “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). The Lord’s desire for us is that we would have a craving for the Word. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The Bible is the only spiritual food that satisfies the spiritual appetite while we are here in this world. Let’s be like Job who said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Alone
“I watch and am…alone” (Psalm 102:7).
I am writing this page while on the train from Menen, Belgium to the airport in Brussels. There are three of us traveling together, including my wife and another friend. We have had a happy time in western Europe, and have visited some isolated Christians whom we have come to know and love in the Lord over many years. Many have very little Christian fellowship as they live in areas where the light of Christianity is almost non-existent. In a real sense they go on alone with, and for, the Lord.
I have often wondered what it would be like to have to go on alone for the Lord, or with very little encouragement, even from close family. The Lord knew what it was to be alone. Many Christians are put to that test every day, and we need to pray for them. It is possible to live for the Lord even under those kinds of conditions, and just being with a large number of other Christians is no guarantee that we will continue on in the path or be kept pure. Solomon said, “I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.” (Proverbs 5:14).

Monday, April 27, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
Yesterday we considered the question “What think ye of Christ?” raised by the Lord Jesus as He addressed the Pharisees. But there is another very important part to that same question. The second part of the question is, “Whose son is He” (Matthew 22:42)? The answer that the Pharisees gave was, “The Son of David.” But the Lord went on to show them that He was far more than just the Son of David. He was the eternal Son of God.
Earlier in Matthew Peter declared, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). It is not only important, but imperative that we hold on to the truth that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God. When the Lord was on earth there were many who saw Him as simply being a good man, a prophet, and a great teacher. But, while it is true the Lord was all of those things, yet, He was more. John said, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Christ
“What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42).
The Psalmist said:
“Thou art fairer than the children of men” (Psalm 45:2).
The Bride said:
“He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16).
Peter said:
“Lord…Thou knowest that I love Thee” (John 21:17).
Paul said:
“Christ is all (everything)” (Colossians 3:11).
What is your estimation of the Person of Christ? How much does He mean to you, and how deeply do you love Him? As you are occupied with His qualities and attributes, and as you remember and consider the work of Calvary today, your appreciation of the Lord Jesus will deepen. Then, as you go forth this week, the answer to the question, “What think ye of Christ?” will be found and seen in your everyday life and testimony.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Copy linkPrint
The Entrance of the Word
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
A poor man who had been deprived of a Bible all his life, because of the cost, was at last given the opportunity to secure one.
He read it daily with growing interest until one evening he said to his wife, “Let us read a chapter or so together, aloud every night.”
This they did. In about a week, during the reading session, the man suddenly stopped, and said, “Wife, if this Book is true, then we are wrong.”
A couple of evenings passed by when again the man stopped reading and said, “My dear, if this Book is true, then we’re lost.”
Now deeply anxious, he continued reading. By and by he stopped again, but this time his face lit up with joy and he exclaimed, “My good wife, if this Book is true, then we are saved.” He had experienced the truth of the verse, “The entrance of Thy words giveth light” (Psalm 119:130).

Friday, April 24, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Monthly Question Page
Q. Who is the Messiah and what does the title mean?
A. Messiah is the English translation of the Hebrew word, “Mashiach,” and means “anointed.” In our English Bible the word, other than in Daniel, is often translated “Christ” or “the Christ.” This links Messiah and Christ together as being “the Anointed.” The Messiah is the only hope, not only for Israel, but for the Gentiles as well.
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined” (Daniel 9:25-26). These verses show that although Israel was cut off from being a nation because of their rejection of their Messiah, yet He will establish them in Millennial blessing and reign over all the earth as “KING OF KINGS” (Revelation 19:16).
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Egypt
As I indicated on Monday, I am in Egypt this week, and today I took an hour boat ride on the Nile through the heart of the city of Cairo, Egypt. Cairo is a city of almost 20 million people (estimated), and the Nile is considered the longest river in the world.
Egypt must have been a glorious nation in the days of Joseph and Moses. Today it is in economic, political, and religious turmoil. However, the following verses show that God will yet bless Egypt in a future day when He deals again with the prophetic earth. “And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it…Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance” (Isaiah 19:21, 25). (Read the verses in between the two quoted to get the full picture).
No doubt this blessing will be due to Egypt sheltering the children of Israel in the time of the seven-year famine, (Genesis 47), and sheltering the Lord as a young child from the hatred of Herod who wanted Him killed (Matthew 2:13).

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Monthly Scripture Reading
John 1
And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him.
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Shopping Spree
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed” (Revelation 3:18).
“One of these days I must go shopping…”
I am completely out of self-respect.
I will exchange some self-righteousness for some humility, which is less expensive and wears better.
I need some tolerance which is really “in” this season.
Someone showed me some samples of peace. We are low on that, and one can never have too much.
I must try to match some patience that my neighbor wears. It might look good on me as well.
I’ll try on the garment of long-suffering that they are displaying. I never thought I wanted to wear it, but I feel myself coming to it.
I mustn’t forget to have my sense of appreciation mended with some inexpensive everyday goodness.
I wonder, does my transformation robe need patching a bit?

Monday, April 20, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
I am writing this page as I look out over the city of Cairo Egypt from my ninth story bedroom window. Yesterday it was 47° Celsius which is the same as 120.2° Fahrenheit. I fear it is going to be the same or more today.
With a fan blowing on me I am thinking about the children of Israel as they worked beneath the hot desert sun so many centuries ago, and how the Lord said to Moses, “I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant” (Exodus 6:5). They may have thought that God had forgotten about them, but He saw their difficulty, He heard their groans, and at the right moment and in the right way, He was going to deliver them.
Maybe you are going through some hard thing this week. You feel the Lord has forgotten you, that He doesn’t hear your groans or even your prayers. But be assured that He is well aware, and has not failed you. Just as He eventually did the best for the Israelites, so He will do for you. Trust Him!
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Hallelujah
“And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia” (Revelation 19:4).
Some words were coined for use only by Christians, and such is the word HALLELUJAH! Actually the word is Hebrew, and is a compound of two words, hallal and jah. The first word, hallal means “to praise,” and the word jah is the word for God, the same word which means Jehovah.
Hallelujah is a universal word and understood by all who love God’s Word everywhere. Simply put, the word means, “praise be to God.”
It is understandable that the world does not grasp the meaning nor significance of the word Hallelujah, for only those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ can truly praise the Lord for what He has done for them.
The word is used a number of times in the Psalms, but in the King James Version it is always translated, “praise ye the Lord” or something similar; such as Psalm 104:35 and 106:1. John uses it four times in the Book of Revelation.
Praise the Lord today; He is indeed the worthy One!

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Copy linkPrint
A Giver
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
(1 Timothy 1:15).
Each January, I have the privilege of giving the gospel in the schools in the Bahamas. In doing this I try to take an incident or story from their history that has an application to the truth of salvation.
On my arrival in Nassau one year, I visited a new museum, called the “Pirates of Nassau Museum.” I was taken from one display to another and listened to the history of the pirating in the Caribbean. I soon realized that those scoundrels had only one thing in view in coming to those areas in around the Bahamian Islands, and that was to get something for themselves. Yes, they were out to GET, by whatever means it took.
It was then my joy to be able to go to the schools and tell of the Lord Jesus, who came to this world, not to GET, but to GIVE. The pirates of Nassau stole and murdered; the Lord gives life and an inheritance to those who receive Him as Saviour. He Himself said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Friday, April 17, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Companions
There is an old saying, “A person is known by the company he keeps.”
With this in mind, make sure you select as friends and close companions, not only other Christians, but those who are out and out for the Lord — those who are really on the Lord’s side. The company we keep will influence us for good or for evil. Make sure you company and fellowship with the godly. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another” (Malachi 3:16). This kind of interaction with other believers who desire the Lord’s glory has His distinct approval and commendation.
The Lord’s earnest desire, and we might add, ours as well, is that you would grow to be men and women whose influence upon your generation will be felt; an influence which will stamp its own character on souls for eternity; for influence — good or bad — never dies. The impress of eternity is upon each one of us.
David said, “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep thy precepts” (Psalm 119:63). Can you honestly say that as well?

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Minor Prophets — Obadiah
Obadiah has a very short and direct message concerning the future judgment of Edom. The Edomites are the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, as we see from Genesis 36:1. “Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.” They have always been staunch enemies of the people of God, as we see in Exodus 17 when Amalek, Esau’s grandson came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. Later the wicked man Haman, another descendant of Esau, tried to have the Jews annihilated in the book of Esther.
Along with many other nations they are determined to have Israel destroyed. A careful reading of Psalm 83 will clearly show their hatred as they say, with other nations that join with them, “Come let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel be no more in remembrance” (Psalm 83:4). (Notice the connection with Edom in verse 6 of the Psalm.)
Edom’s judgment will be complete and final as is indicated by verse 10: “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever.” God does not look lightly on any nation or people who have despised or suppressed Israel in any way.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Patience
I saw, what I thought was a very good definition of patience:
Patience is trusting God’s timing!
Trusting God’s timing is more than just waiting God’s timing. We have no choice but to wait for God’s timetable, but, at least for myself, I don’t always do it with patience or trust. To realize that His timetable is really the best, and that He knows, not only what we need, but when we need it, will give us a real peace and calm in our hearts that we cannot experience otherwise.
David put it this way: “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass…Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself.” (Psalm 37:5,7).
To some degree we are all creatures of impatience. Seven times in the book of James we have the word patient or patience, beginning with the following exhortation: “The trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:3-4).

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Copy linkPrint
No Repay
Here is an interesting statement that I saw on a billboard the other day:
You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.
It reminded me of the Lord’s exhortation when he was in the house of a certain Pharisee. He said, “But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:13-14).
So often our motives for doing something for others is selfish. We do it because we hope to get something for ourselves — some reward, verbal or temporal; a return invitation; or some recognition that we think will put us in good standing with others.
But let’s learn to do it for the Lord’s commendation and approval. Paul said, “We labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Monday, April 13, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
Did you ever just talk for the sake of talking? Have you ever just rambled on with pointless chatter, and really not said anything of real value? I certainly have been accused of that on more than one occasion, and been reminded of the verse that says, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).
This week, let’s try to do more listening than talking. God has given us two ears and one mouth. It seems that He wants us to listen twice as much as we talk. For some of us this is harder than for others. But we can all ask for grace from the Lord to help us to hold our tongues. Over a hundred years ago a man by the name of John Nelson Darby made this statement: “Say little, serve all, pass on, this is true greatness.” The Lord Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Precious
“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious”
(1 Peter 2:7).
As you think about the Lord today, ask yourself this question: Is He really precious to my heart?
There was a time in each of our lives when we did not love the Lord or desire His company. We were like the prophet, who said, “There is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). Then after we were saved we saw Him in a completely different light, and like the bride in the Song of Solomon we said, “He is altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:16).
Today, remember…
“He loved us” (1 John 4:19).
“He saved us” (Titus 3:5).
“Christ…hath given Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).
“Christ hath redeemed us” (Galatians 3:13).
“He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsakes thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
And don’t forget His wonderful promise: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Salvation
Through whom:“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
For whom:“God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
How:“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Where:“Believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).
When: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Why: “We shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9).

Friday, April 10, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Worry — Part 3
When we worry, we doubt God’s power. Remember, God is unlimited in his mighty power. Nothing can harness His strength and force. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2). Unfortunately, we do fear, in spite of God’s power.
“The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). We have a mighty God! He is all-powerful. There is nothing He cannot do for His own, but we must trust Him to do it.
When I was a boy, a friend and I tied a tin can to a dog’s tail and watched it run and leap down the street with the can clattering along behind. There is a can that we may tie to all our troubles: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
As human beings we have many limitations, but our God has none. Do not doubt His power!

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Worry — Part 2
When we worry, we doubt God’s wisdom.Don’t forget, our God is too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes. When we worry, we doubt this…we really question the goodness and wisdom of our God and Father. We read, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye” (Psalm 32:8). If God promises to direct our lives every step of the way, what have we to fear?
Two young boys had heard the Sunday school lesson which told of Elijah being translated to heaven in the chariot of fire. After class, one of the boys said to the other, “Would you want to ride in a chariot of fire?”
His friend replied, “I wouldn’t mind, if God were doing the driving.”
Young people, you may be certain that God is doing the driving. You need not fear anything, for His wisdom is sufficient. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Worry — Part 1
Worry for the believer is really sin, because it doubts God, and there are really three reasons why it is sin. These three reasons we will consider over the next three day.
When we worry we doubt God’s love.The love of God for the believer is one of the grandest themes in the Bible. Our language has not words enough to express His love for us. Sometimes preachers are given to exaggeration, but on this theme there can be no exaggeration.
While calling in the home of a believer who had repeatedly suffered one trial after another, she exclaimed, “I guess God doesn’t love me anymore.” The reply was, “He loves you all the more,” and the following verses were quoted: “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth… Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:6,11). God always has His afterward for those who suffer in light of His love.
Every time you worry, you doubt God’s all-sufficient love.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Don’t Forget or Neglect
“Watch and pray” (Mark 13:33).
Forget to pray — 
There will be no power today!
Your feet will stumble and stray,
If you forget to pray!
Pray each morning and night — 
Your steps will be guided aright!
You’ll have comfort, discernment, and light,
If you pray each morning and night!
Neglect to read God’s Word — 
His voice will not be heard!
Nor your heart and conscience stirred,
If you neglect to read God’s Word!
Read a chapter or two — 
And it will help you through!
Refresh, restore, renew,
If you read a chapter or two!

Monday, April 6, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Dear Young Christian:
When the Lord Jesus was praying to His Father one of the things He asked for concerning His disciples was, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). His desire for those who belonged to Him was that they should be separate from the defilement of this world. Hebrews 10:10 describes our spiritual position because of the work of Calvary. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” But the Lord’s request in John is referring to daily separation in the everyday details of life. We can do that through reading the Scriptures. When you pour water through a sieve, even though it doesn’t retain anything, at least the sieve is cleaned. In the same way you can clean your mind and heart with the Word of God.
Make it your habit this week, and every week for that matter, to read your Bible on a daily basis. Let it have its cleansing affect, referred to as “The washing of water by the Word.” (Ephesians 5:26).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Copy linkPrint
The Lord’s Death
“And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31).
There they were on the Mount of Transfiguration. Five men with the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, James, John, along with two men from past eras, Moses, and Elijah. What an awesome experience it must have been!
Moses and Elijah could have visited with the Lord on numerous topics when they met Him on the mountaintop. Instead, they discussed Calvary. Perhaps the whole of heaven was occupied with the Lord’s imminent death, and so Moses and Elijah were just continuing what was the main topic of concern in heaven.
How much are we occupied with the Lord Jesus and His death at Calvary? God would commend this subject to you as one that warrants your special attention today. It’s the most important event that ever occurred on earth. God will never forget it and neither should we.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Give Me
“Father, give me” (Luke 15:12).
These words were spoken by the younger brother in the parable that the Lord told about the man who had two sons…what we often refer to as the story of the Prodigal Son.
These three words really sum up the natural desire of the heart of the person who is without Christ. The unsaved want all the blessings and mercies that God the Father will give them, (and He gives them many), but without the company of the Father or the Father’s house. They feel Christianity is too restrictive…they want to live for themselves…have some fun out of life…do their own thing…no one is to put any restrictions on them…and on and on it goes.
However, the young man found that his own way, and his fast living, wasn’t worth the cost, and that it didn’t satisfy his heart in the end. He had to come to the point where he said, “I have sinned” (Luke 15:18), and in repentance returned to the Father. What a loving reception awaited him, and the Father could say, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:24).

Friday, April 3, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Our Responsibility — Part 4
“Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
When we think of what we have been freely given by grace, it ought to motivate us to tell others of God’s wonderful gifts and blessings through Christ and the work of Calvary.
May the Lord help us to be sensitive to the need of the lost and perishing people all around us. May we wake up and realize the truth expressed by the four lepers in the days of Elisha; “This is a day of glad tidings, and we hold our peace” (2 Kings 7:9)?
The time is short. The coming of the Lord is near! Soon the day of grace will be over, and there will be no more opportunities to speak a word for Christ or to have compassion on the lost souls around us. Let’s pray that the Lord will help us to be faithful in the responsibility that He has given to each one of us, so that we will have the joy of hearing from His lips these words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Our Responsibility — Part 3
Not only is it the responsibility of the Christian to spread the gospel to the lost, but it is a privilege that should be motivated by love for Christ. “For the love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
If we really have a genuine love for Christ and if our hearts are really occupied with Him, then we will not be able to keep from reaching out to others in some way. When the authorities forbade Peter and John to preach the gospel, they replied, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
If we have been with the Lord and have enjoyed His presence, our hearts will overflow to those around us. Jesus said to His disciples, “Ye shall also bear witness, because ye have been with Me” (John 15:27). It is a wonderful thing to enjoy the Bible for ourselves; but let us also in love share what we have with others lest we become stagnant in our Christian life. The Dead Sea is dead because it has no outlet. It always receives but never gives. It has no overflow to start a little stream in the desert around it.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Copy linkPrint
Our Responsibility — Part 2
Many souls are headed for a lost eternity in hell. Should we as believers be indifferent to the needs of those about us? If a child were to step out into a busy street, certainly we would try to rescue it! If our neighbor’s house were on fire and he were asleep inside, would we not do everything in our power to try to warn him of his danger? Yet many of our neighbors and friends, and perhaps even family members, are in greater danger than that of being on a busy street or in a burning house. They are asleep in their sins, indifferent to where they are going when they leave this world, and are in danger of losing their souls for eternity! It is indeed our responsibility to faithfully and lovingly warn them of their lost condition!
The Apostle Paul could say, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).
He also stated: “For necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
What are we doing about our responsibility?
← May 2015March 2015 →