Young Christians Calendar

July 2015

Monthly Question Page

Q. What is the significance of the number of fishes in Peter’s net? “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three” (John 21:11).

A. Sometimes this net has been referred to as the “gospel net” for the following reasons:

The number 100 in Scripture often signifies complete salvation. For instance, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one…” (Luke 15:4).

The number 50 signifies the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended fifty days after the resurrection the of the Lord, and the Christian era began.

The number 3 denotes death and resurrection. “Christ died…He was buried…He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

So we learn that with the descent of the Spirit of God at Pentecost, the gospel began, telling of complete salvation based on the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It is interesting to note that Peter was the instrument used to begin this work, in Acts chapter 2.

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

Thursday, July 30, 2015

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The Person and The Book

“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).

A. J. Pollock states the following in his book, Why I Believe The Bible:

The whole of the Scriptures revolves around the Person of the Son of God. The Pentateuch (first 5 Books, written by Moses) gives us the figures of Christ, the Psalms, the feelings of Christ, the Prophets, the foretellings of Christ, the Gospels, the facts of Christ, the Epistles, the fruits of Christ, and Revelation, the final judgment of Christ.

Indeed, when we come to see that the Book testifies of this wonderful Person, and the Person testifies of the Book, and that these testimonies stand or fall together, it must be concluded that we either must receive both the Book and the Person, or refuse both the Book and the Person. There is not any middle ground. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). It is shown in this verse that both the Book and the Person are interwoven, as they are one.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

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Rescue — Part 2

The lost are perishing all around us every day — boys and girls, young people, and adults who have never-dying souls, and who are on their way to eternity. Their cries go up from the flues of sin and vice where they suffer. Let’s hurry to bring them the way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14).

When we were young people we used to sing a hymn, whose first verse went like this:

Throw out the life line across the dark wave;
There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the lifeline, his peril to share?

Have you thrown out the lifeline to someone today? Have you tried to rescue a perishing soul? Have you pointed an individual to Christ? Souls are passing into eternity even as you read these questions!

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

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Rescue — Part 1

A Boston architect spent several hours devising a way to rescue a kitten which had fallen into a ventilating flue in the wall of a large post-office building, and had been imprisoned there for five days without food or water. The flue was forty feet deep from the ceiling level of the apartment above, and notice of the kitten’s plight was conveyed through its cries, which could be faintly heard.

The architect’s first impulse was to cut through the marble facing of the apartment, but the suggestion was made that perhaps the prisoner in its desperation might seize the end of a line weighted by a bulky shape at the lower end. The experiment was tried, and strange to say the nearly starved creature almost instantly took fast hold with its claws, while it was very carefully and slowly drawn up to safety the entire height of forty feet.

Every generous heart rejoices in this story of kindness to the tiny kitten, but if it is right and just and Christlike to do that to a helpless animal, how much more should we rouse ourselves to reach lost souls. We are told by the Lord Jesus, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Monday, July 27, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

Someone has well said, “Religion has man doing something for God; Christianity has God doing something for man.” Saul of Tarsus was a religious man before he got saved and became the Apostle Paul.

However, the Bible gives us the true meaning of religion: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). How religious are you…I mean in the true sense of this verse? There are all kinds of false religions in the world. Let’s show the world some true, Biblical religion as we go about this week.

The evangelist, Charles Spurgeon once said, “I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps don’t talk; they shine….So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct.”

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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Nearness

“And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him”
(Exodus 24:1-2).

Here we have a classic example of Old Testament worship. Moses could go near the Lord, the rest couldn’t. How would we feel if only one brother could go into a special room to partake of the Lord’s Supper with the loaf and the cup on this morning, but the rest of us had to sit in another room? We would feel very distant from the Lord. The wonder of Christianity, though, is that we can ALL come near to the Lord. We can ALL gather around Him and enjoy His presence as we remember His death at Calvary. He invites us to “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 10:22).

This is a great privilege and one that we can enjoy until the Lord Jesus descends to call us to Himself in heaven.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

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Impressions

“From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

Impressions made on the mind in youth are not easily removed. There is a stone in the British Museum in London said to be as hard as steel, and no impression can be made on it. Yet there is an impression on it of a bird’s foot. There was a time when it was soft and pliable. Youth is the time when impressions are made, never to be erased.

The late Doctor Bonar once met a young girl named Christina, to whom he said, “You have Christ in your name; have you got Christ in your heart?” Christina never forgot that question! It was not long before Christ had a place in her heart, and she lived to serve Him faithfully for many years.

This account shows the importance of a godly spiritual influence in our youth. Many of our readers have had that, but do you value it? Have you made it good to your own soul? Do you know Christ as your own personal Saviour. Timothy had a godly upbringing under the guidance of his mother and grandmother…but he had to make it personal.

Friday, July 24, 2015

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Reflect and React — Part 2

Sometimes we try to justify our reactions and responses by thinking that we were mistreated; or the person should have understood, or they shouldn’t have acted that way in the first place, or that wasn’t really what I said or meant. But here is the reaction of the Lord Jesus, who was the most misunderstood, mistreated, and misquoted person who ever lived on this planet. “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).

What have others seen of Christ reflected in your life today? What have your reactions been to the things that have come your way, and the things that people have said? Here’s what the Apostle Paul’s desire for his life was: “As always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body…For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:20-21).

If others saw something of Christ in his day-to-day life, Paul was content, and we should aspire to this too!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

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Reflect and React — Part 1

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

We are here in this world to shine as lights for Christ. And remember we are studied every day by those around us as an “Epistle…known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). As such, the believer is to reflect Christ in their life at all times: by what we say, what we do, and by our spirit and attitude.

Often it is our reaction to others and to circumstances that displays our true state of soul. How often have we reacted to something someone has said, or lashed back over something someone has done, and then realized that it was not the spirit of Christ? We are exhorted, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who…humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:5-6,8). How much is that really true in your life? What will the world see and read of Christ in your life today, as you step out your door and take up the daily routine of school or work?

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

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Monthly Scripture Reading

Revelation 20

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

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Judge Not

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned” (Luke 6:37).

Sergeant Broome looked critically at the rusty rifle, and then at the “rookie” private who carried it.

“Private Darling, has all my talking been in vain?” demanded the sergeant. “Clean that gun, and be quick about it, or else there will be consequences.”

In a few minutes Darling returned from his quarters with a shiny rifle ready for inspection.

“Do you mean to tell me that you have that filthy rifle clean already?” challenged Sergeant Broome. “Impossible!”

“No sir, I had picked up the wrong one by mistake, this one is mine.”

“And who owns the other one?” persisted the sergeant.

“You sir,” was the meek reply.

This incident, illustrates a spiritual truth that is sometimes lost sight of. It is often the case that people overlook their own sins and shortcomings, but they are quick to see and condemn others, often for the same things.

Monday, July 20, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

As we start another week of school, work, or whatever we have to do, let’s remember that while it is true that we arein this world (and we can’t get out of it), yet we are not of this world, and that there is a way that we can live in separation from the world. The Lord in praying for His disciples, in anticipation of leaving them in a wicked hostile world, said twice, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14; John 17:16). However, in between He also prayed that they would be preserved while they were in the world. “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).

So today, the Lord can help us to walk through this world in a path of separation that will honor and please Him, give us peace and joy, and cause us to bear fruit and testimony to those around us who do not know Him as Saviour. Then too, maybe this will be the day or the week when we are finally calledout of this world to live with Him in heaven.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, July 19, 2015

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Be Ready

“And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount” (Exodus 34:2).
“And none shall appear before me empty”
(Exodus 34:20).

How’s our readiness? The Lord wanted Moses to be ready the very next morning. And not just any old ready — but ready to stand before God. Anyone who has ever done any job hunting or sent out a résumé knows that there are three cardinal rules to follow when going for a job interview:

1. Be prepared.

2. Be there on or before the appointed time.

3. Dress like you really want to impress.

How much more dedicated we should be when summoned to present ourselves before the Lord Jesus, the King of Kings. Are we ready this morning to present ourselves where He has promised to be in the midst? It is His delight to invite us there, is it our delight to respond with a ready and willing mind and heart? Let’s appear before the Lord, ready and prepared to worship Him.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

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Obituary

“And he died” (Genesis 5:5).

Suppose the following was a summary of your life…how sad it would!

****

Obituary of _________________

Born: ______________________

Died: ______________________

Raised in a Christian home.

Had godly parents.

Lived a godless life.

Took no thought for eternity.

Felt an empty void in heart.

Was never satisfied with circumstances.

Blamed God for their troubles.

Rejected Christ till their last breath.

Died prematurely due to their lifestyle.

Will stand at the Great White Throne.

Will spend eternity in Hell.

****

The best thing in this life is to be ready for the next life!

Friday, July 17, 2015

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All Thy Heart

“Seek Him with all thy heart” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
“Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart” (Deuteronomy. 6:5).
“Serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Deuteronomy 10:12).

These three statements are words given to us from the Lord to direct us into an intimate relationship with Himself. To carry out these exhortations we must have the heart engaged…and not just part of our heart, but ourwhole heart. Half-heartedness just doesn’t work when seeking, loving, or serving the Lord. If we try to keep some of our heart for the world and some for the Lord it will only end in worldly disaster, coldness of soul, and dullness of affection.

If you have slipped into half-heartedness, today is a good day to start over, and follow the Lord with all your heart. King Solomon gives us some timely advice on this subject in the book of Proverbs. He says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Thursday, July 16, 2015

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Minor Prophets — Nahum

“The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum…Nineveh is laid waste” (Nahum 1:1; 3:7).

Nahum prophesies the final doom and destruction of wicked Ninevah which took place somewhere between 120 and 150 years after the preaching of Jonah, the repentance of the whole city, and the judgment spared at that time.

Though God spared a generation in the days of Jonah, yet we learn that when judgment is pronounced, God is serious, and while He may delay it for a time in His mercy and grace, yet it will fall eventually according to His timetable. This is a solemn warning to any scoffer who would dare to say, “Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (1 Peter 3:4).

Although Nahum’s prophecy initially had its fulfillment in the invasion of Sennacherib, yet there is a future aspect when the King of the North will be finally judged, never to rise in rebellion against the Lord and His people again. In the meantime we can enjoy the verse that says, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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Confidence

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Maybe you are feeling like you are sinking on the sea of life, and that the circumstances and the flood of things you have to face and deal with are just too great. Our God assures us, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee” (Isaiah 43:2).

One hot summer afternoon I watched a mother in a swimming pool with her young child. She held her arms underneath the child to support him and keep his head above the water. The child was completely secure and confident in the strength and ability of his parent. That’s really the way it is with God and His children. He keeps His arms underneath us in the waters of this life and keeps us afloat. Remember as you go about today that God’s arms are underneath you, and no matter how low or how down you may feel, you can never get below those arms of everlasting power.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

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“That I may know HIM” (Philippians 3:10).

The more we read the Bible
the more we learn of Christ;

The more we learn of Christ
the more we love Him;

The more we love Him
the less we are occupied with self;

The less we are occupied with self
the happier we are;

The happier we are
the more of a testimony we will be;

The more of a testimony we are
the more fruit there is;

The more fruit there is
the more glory we bring to Christ.

Isn’t that what really counts?

Monday, July 13, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

Sometimes we talk about a person getting cold in their soul, and in contrast we say that someone is, on fire for the Lord. Which are you? The Lord says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15). He doesn’t want lukewarm Christians.

Here is an interesting excerpt I read earlier today that brought this to mind: A musician was tuning his instrument before beginning to play, and the onlookers noticed that he held it to the heat for a few seconds. In reply to their enquiry, he said, “I can’t get any music out of a cold instrument.”

There is an interesting application in this for us as believers. If we are cold and indifferent to the Lord and His Word, we are not going to be the harmonious testimony that He wants us to be. The world is not going to hear the sweet music of Christ in our lives, which is only obtained by walking in the warmth of His love and being on fire for Him. Let’s warm up this week, by keeping close to the Lord.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, July 12, 2015

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The Ascension

“And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:50-53).

The disciples watched the Lord Jesus go up into heaven, as He had told them on a number of occasions that He would. During the previous three-and-a-half years they had come to know Him as the Son of God, sent to earth by His Father. They had seen Him die on the cross. They had witnessed Him in a resurrection body for forty days. And now they had seen His glorious ascension back to heaven. No wonder they worshipped Him. No wonder their hearts were full of joy and praise. Even now, almost two thousand years later, our hearts should be full of praise and worship as we consider the Lord’s birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His soon return to call us to Himself.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

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Value

I have been up the Eiffel Tower in Paris on more than one occasion. It is interesting to see the city from this vantage point, especially at night. Paris is indeed “The City of Lights.”

The Eiffel Tower was designed, and its construction engineered by Gustave Eiffel for the world’s fair in 1889, and to mark the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Eiffel was a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 2012 The Eiffel Tower was designated as the world’s most valuable monument, at a price tag of 546 billion dollars. It also holds the record as the world’s most visited, paid monument…and from the crowds I’ve seen there I can believe it.

But what about the Cross of Calvary? It is perhaps the most despised and forgotten monument in the history of the world. And yet, as to value, it is beyond any price that earth could give it. The great question is: what does it mean to you? Can you say, like Paul, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14)? Is the cross of Christ precious to you? Do you know its value?

Friday, July 10, 2015

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First Things

“And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, gather of it every man according to his eating…And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating…And they gathered it every morning” (Exodus 16:15-18,21).

What are the first things you do in the morning just after you get out of bed? Our first pursuits in the morning generally indicate where our hearts are. The children of Israel had to gather their daily food first thing in the morning, or they would be too late. If a believer can rise from his bed, and go about the business of life before he has looked up to the Lord, and turned to the Scriptures, it is more than probable that his heart has grown cold and gotten away from the Lord. Nothing can possibly make up for a lack of food, for “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).

Thursday, July 9, 2015

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Tranquilizer

Our tongues are what so often get us into trouble! They speak hasty, angry, spiteful words, that can never be taken back or erased from memory.

Recently I saw the following quote in a book called, Facts of Life and Bits of Wisdom.

“There is no tranquillizer in the world more effective, than a few kind words.”

It reminded me of this verse from Scripture: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

How many times have we caused problems, or added to a bad situation, by saying things that should not have been said? A few kind words uttered in the proper spirit and with the proper attitude can often calm someone who is upset or against us, and smooth out an otherwise volatile circumstance. Let’s learn to give “soft answers,” rather than “grievous words,” which only compound a problem instead of helping it.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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How Often?

“Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways” (Isaiah 58:2).

Here are some interesting statistics published by a well-known Christian organization on how often Christians read their Bibles:

19% read daily

25% read a few times a week

14% read once a week

22% read a few times a month

18% never read

Even if these statistics are only somewhat accurate, they are appalling and certainly worth considering. The real question of course is, which category do you fit into? If it is anything other than “read daily” let’s try to raise the percentages by becoming more diligent with our Bible reading. Let’s be like those from Berea, of which we read, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

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Take a Moment

“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).

Will you take a moment Christian,
From your busy life today,
To read a little Scripture,
And to meditate and pray?

Will you stop and thank the Father,
That He sent His only Son?
Will you thank the dear Lord Jesus,
For the victory that He won?

Will you take but just a moment,
At the start of every meal,
To say a word of thank you,
And to tell Him how you feel?

And when the day is over,
Will you kneel in prayer tonight,
And ask for care and mercies,
While you sleep till morning light?

Young Christian take a moment,
Just a moment of your time!

Monday, July 6, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

“Fools make a mock at sin” (Proverbs 14:9).

Here is a verse to consider as we head out again into a world where sin is made light of, and not only practiced, but preached and glorified.

The unbeliever thinks very lightly of sin, laughs at sin, participates in sin, and as the Bible states, enjoys “the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

Yes, sin has its momentary pleasures, but that is as far as it goes…momentary and fleeting at best! Let’s be careful that we don’t get caught up with the spirit of the world, where sin seems to be one big joke. God does not look lightly on sin and neither should we. David said, “Take not the spirit of Thy holiness from me” (Psalm 51:11 JND). In other words, Don’t let me get used to sin. The only way this will happen will be in staying close to the Lord and in reading His Word. Otherwise we will become desensitized to sin and lose a sense of what holiness really is.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, July 5, 2015

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Precious

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious”
(2 Peter 2:7).

There was a time in our life, before we were saved, when we saw no beauty in The Lord Jesus. “And when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). Then after we were saved we saw Him differently. Now we say, “He is altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:16).There are innumerable reasons why He is so precious to us. Here are just a few:

1. He loved us. “The Son of God, who loved me”
(Galatians 2:20).

2. He died for us. “He laid down his life for us”
(1 John 3:16).

3. He redeemed us. “I have redeemed thee”
(Isaiah 43:1).

4. He cares for us. “He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

5. He is coming for us. “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself” (John 14:3).

What a wonderful, precious Saviour we have. Let’s worship and praise Him today, and every day of our life.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

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Emptiness

“Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness” (Proverbs 14:13).
“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour…And, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit
under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).

Do these verses describe your life? Empty! I hope not! But if they do, there is good news for you. The empty joy that comes through living for self and indulging in all the pleasures and activities of the world all the time can be exchanged for real, genuine, and lasting joy. This is by knowing Jesus and trusting Him as your Saviour. He is the healer of broken hearts and lives. When you know the Lord and live for Him, “Your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). Later John wrote, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4). Do you know this “fulness of joy”? (Psalm 16:11).

Friday, July 3, 2015

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Wasted Time

“That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15).

As a young person I wasted a lot of time! I did things that, while not wrong in themselves, had no eternal value. Time is something that can never be reversed or recovered once it is past. That is one reason we are told to, “Walk in wisdom…redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5). In other words, we are to use the time we have wisely for the Lord’s glory and the blessing of others. We are to use our “now”because they quickly become our “past” and then it is too late.

The only time we have is whatever time is left before the Lord comes. We can, and should use that time carefully. Peter exhorts those of us who have wasted time in the past, and says, “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2). What will you do with the rest of your time?

Thursday, July 2, 2015

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Prayer Meeting

The great scientist, Michael Faraday (1791-1867), reputed to be the father of modern electronics, was lecturing to a large audience in London. After the applause had subsided, the Prince of Wales arose and proposed a motion of appreciation and congratulation to the lecturer. But when they looked around to find him, they found that he had already left the hall immediately after concluding his lecture. Only his closest friends knew where he had gone, and that the hour of the weekly prayer meeting had arrived. He had always maintained that he could not afford to miss the prayer meeting. This was the man believed by many to have had the most massive intellect that ever existed in the world.

What does the prayer meeting mean to you? In Acts 12 There was a prayer meeting on behalf of Peter who was in prison. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5). At that prayer meeting there was a young person by the name of Rhoda (Acts 12:13). God allowed it so that she was the one who went to the door when Peter arrived, having just been miraculously delivered. That night she learned the value and power of the prayer meeting.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

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Tears

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4).

As young people we are not immune to sorrows and tears in our experiences of life. Sorrow comes to young and old alike, and tears are no respecter of age.

Some years ago an older brother wrote to a young sister who was going through some real sorrow. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

“May you know the joy of having the Lord Jesus wipe away the tears from your eyes, and know that it is more blessed to have Him wipe away your tears, than to have no tears to wipe away.”

The Lord never forgets one tear that has been shed by one of His own. David said, “Put thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?” (Psalm 56:8). Every tear you have ever cried is carefully preserved in His bottle, and recorded in His book. Someday those tears will be brought to our remembrance, and He will show us the purpose of blessing and comfort He had in letting us shed each one. Then we shall never cry another tear for all eternity.