Young Christians Calendar

October 2015

The Fountain of Youth

Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to America. Later he conquered Puerto Rico for Spain and was its governor from 1510-1512. He became the European discoverer of Florida while trying to find the infamous “Fountain of Youth,” a spring whose waters supposedly had the power to restore youthful vigor.

Ponce de Leon never did discover the fountain that he hoped would reverse the aging process. However, God’s Word tells us of a far more wonderful fountain than anything the explorer could have ever dreamed of finding.

Isaiah writes, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

The Lord said to the woman at the well, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” (John 4:14).

Have you availed yourself of the “water of life” (Revelation 21:6)?

Friday, October 30, 2015

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Monthly Question Page

Q. What is the significance of the serpent of brass in Numbers 21?

A. “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9).

The serpent on the pole is a picture of the Lord Jesus lifted up on the cross. This is confirmed in the New Testament, where we read, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14).

The whole human race has been bitten with the sting of sin. In order for God to offer eternal life the Lord must die, because, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Brass is often, in Scripture, a picture of divine, righteous judgment. So, we read, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). And also, “He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

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

Thursday, October 29, 2015

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The Extra Plate

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,
do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Sometimes what we do doesn’t seem like very much, or perhaps seems insignificant, but when it is done for the Lord, He will bless it.

“I cannot,” a man said to himself, “speak publicly, or do many other things in Christian service, but I can put two extra dinner plates on my table every Sunday and invite two young men who are away from home.”

He did this for more than thirty years, and became acquainted with a great number of young men. As a result of this faithful labor of love many were saved and became faithful Christians through his personal influence.

When he died he was to be buried in Andover, thirty miles distant, and because he was a well-known merchant, a special train was chartered to convey the funeral party. It was made known that any of his friends among the young men who had become Christians through his testimony would be welcomed in a special car set aside for them. One hundred and fifty packed into the car from end to end in memory of the man who preached to them the gospel of the extra dinner plate.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

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Monthly Scripture Reading

James 5

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

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Faith and Prayer

“The prayer of faith” (James 5:15).

The following account shows the power of faith and prayer when they are linked together in our Christian life.

When Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary, first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of cannibal islands the ship was becalmed, and it was slowly but surely drifting towards the shore. All on board knew that to be captured meant certain death.

The captain came to Mr. Taylor and begged him to pray for the help of God. “I will,” said Taylor, “provided you first set your sails to catch the breeze.” The captain declined to make himself the laughing stock of the crew and passengers by unfurling in the dead calm. Hudson Taylor said, “I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” In desperation this was then ordered by the captain, and it was done.

While Hudson was engaged in prayer, there was a knock at the door of his stateroom. When asked who was there, the captain’s voice responded, “If you are still praying for wind you’d better stop for we have more wind than we can manage.”

Monday, October 26, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

I am the kind of person who sometimes talks too much, or says something before I think. The problem is, you just can’t take it back once it’s said. My wife is often after me to be quiet, and I am often reminded of the verse, “Study to be quiet, and to do your own business” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). I guess that’s why the following quote caught my eye: “I never was sorry of something I didn’t say.” It reminded me of what Solomon said about the matter. “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (Proverbs 29:20).

This week we are all going to face frustrating situations. Let’s learn to control our tongues and think before we speak. Sometimes we need to swallow our words before we spit them out. David gave us a good motto to live by when he prayed, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, October 25, 2015

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Past/Present/Future

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come”
(1 Corinthians 11:26).

There are three dimensions of time in this verse:

First of all, there is the past: “The Lord’s death.”

Secondly, there is the present: “As often as ye eat..and drink…ye show the Lord’s death.”

Thirdly, there is the future: “Till He come.”

As we sit down and enjoy the Lord’s presence at the Lord’s table today, may we look back to the past with grateful thanksgiving and praise; on to the future with joyful anticipation; and in it all, worship Him now, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, when He said to the woman at the well, “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:23).

Saturday, October 24, 2015

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Anticipating Death

“If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

In an interview, a prominent Hollywood actress said she was eagerly anticipating death as this would bring her “oblivion.” I could hardly believe my ears! Why would anyone want to pass into oblivion? Are we nothing but cosmic accidents? Does nothing we say or do have any lasting meaning or value?

Perhaps some people are able to convince themselves that oblivion is something to look forward to. However, it seems that most unbelievers either entertain a vague hope of an afterlife, or they avoid thinking about it at all.

The Bible is very clear regarding life after death. The Lord told of two men who lived in this world, died, and went on to the next world. The Lord left nothing unexplained as to the reality of what comes after death. Listen to these words: “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23).

Which will it be for you — BLESSING or TORMENT?

Friday, October 23, 2015

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Our Bodies

“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14).

Humanity feels quite proud of our highly technological age, yet products are still made which are less than perfect. Embarrassed manufacturers are often required to issue recall notices, sometimes at great expense to the company or corporation.

I was recently told of a young man who stood lost in thought as he viewed a large detailed diagram of the human body. In wonder he examined the various organs, veins, arteries, glands, muscles and bones. Then he exclaimed, “Just think, when God put it all together, it worked.”

Yes, God has made and entrusted to us a marvelous piece of equipment. Let’s use our uniquely made bodies in His service and for His eternal glory. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Thursday, October 22, 2015

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Sleep

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

It is a very precious thing that God speaks to us of the believer who has entered into death, not as being dead, but sleeping. We are all going to be awakened; everyone that sleeps in Christ is going to hear the voice of the archangel, the shout and the trumpet. It will awaken them and bring them out of those graves. It does not make any difference whether they have been there a day, a year or a thousand years. It is the Lord’s archangelic voice. Men try to limit the power of God, but it cannot be limited. Suppose a child of God passes into death in the middle of the ocean and is buried right there. Will that body be raised again? It surely will; every sleeping saint will be raised; not one will be left out — Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Paul and all the rest.

Scripture never uses the term “sleep” in connection with the death of the unsaved or ungodly. No, death is never spoken of as sleep except of those who are asleep in Christ. It is asleep by, or through, Christ.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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God Listens

God Listens — Just Speak

What a wonderful truth it is — God is a good listener! We can come to Him at anytime of the day or night. He doesn’t keep office hours, there is no call-waiting, and no being put on hold…just an invitation to “Pour out your heart before Him” (Psalm 62:8). When was the last time you had a real heart-to-heart talk with God your Father? I don’t mean just a few things quickly and casually mentioned in a hurried prayer, but a real heart-to-heart talk? He is waiting, and He wants to hear your voice. The Bridegroom in the book of the Song of Solomon said to the bride, “Let me see thy countenance.” But then he added, “Let me hear thy voice.” Then he added, “For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely” (Song of Solomon 2:3).

Remember too, there is no time limit at the throne of grace, and no fear of refusal, or being cut off before we’re finished. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

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God Speaks

God Speaks — Just Listen!

Good sound advice, isn’t it? Yes, when God speaks we need to be all ears. Several times the Bible reminds us, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15). As you read your Bible today listen for the voice of God your Father speaking to you. He has a wonderful message, whether it is counsel, comfort, exhortation or correction.

This is the era of noise, confusion and just general helter-skelter and discombobulation. We tend to be preoccupied with our own problems and busyness, and we are not always good listeners. As they say, “It goes in one ear and out the other.” The result is we often end up in difficulty — sometimes serious, sometimes not. But don’t tune out when it comes to the voice of God. Let’s be like Samuel who, after realizing that God was calling him, immediately responded, “Speak; for Thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). As a result of having a listening ear he received a very serious and important message that he would have otherwise missed.

Monday, October 19, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

I am thinking today about a prayer in the Old Testament, that would be a good prayer for each of us to pray on a daily basis. The prayer is this, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law” (Psalm 119:18). Of course we need to first open the Bible, and then pray that the Lord will open our eyes in the power of the Spirit; and that we would understand and enjoy what we read as well. If this is our prayer then we can be assured that He will do it, just like He did for those He walked with to Emmaus. “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

Opened eyes and understanding are essential to spiritual growth and our walk with the Lord. If you walk down the street with your eyes closed you are going to trip and fall or wander out into dangerous traffic. The same is true of our spiritual life as well. Satan has many traps and obstacles to trip us up. Walk with your spiritual eyes and understanding open this week, and you will not stumble in the path of faith.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, October 18, 2015

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Remember

“We will remember Thy love more than wine”
(Song of Solomon 1:4).

The most precious time that any believer on earth can spend is the privilege of spending an hour or so on Lord’s Day morning remembering the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and breaking bread in the way He has asked us to do. His love was greater than any love we’ll ever know. He was willing to die for us so that we would not have to. The hymn-writer put it this way…

“If that isn’t love, the ocean is dry,
There’s no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can’t fly.
If that isn’t love, then heaven’s a myth;
There’s no feeling like this — if that isn’t love!”

Let’s enjoy the remembrance of the Lord Jesus’ love today. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Saturday, October 17, 2015

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Believe God

“Impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).
“I believe God” (Acts 27:25).

Sometimes I have heard people say, referring to some statement from the Bible, “Well, I find it hard to believe that!” Perhaps they would be more honest if they said, “I find it hard to believe God!”

When God speaks we are to accept what He says without question. Those who don’t, will find out too late that what God has said about sin and eternity is the truth. When the Bible states that, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23), that is exactly what it means. When we read about hell and the consequences of rejecting God’s offer of mercy and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of Calvary, it is no exaggeration. God means what He says, and says what He means.

Our first responsibility is, “repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Or, as Paul and Silas put it to the jailor in the prison in Philippi, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Friday, October 16, 2015

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“In…”

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).
“Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

These two verses give us quite a contrast, don’t they? “In the world,” there is everything that is of Satan to keep the unbeliever insensitive to his ruin, and to discourage and keep the believer from enjoying His blessings in Christ. There is nothing in this world, apart from the Lord Jesus, that is for blessing and edification. “The whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19).

However, “in Christ” we have everything for our good and blessing, and all we need to walk through this world for the glory of the Lord, and with spiritual wisdom and understanding. We have treasures and blessings that will never be taken from us and that we will enjoy for all eternity. Dig out those treasures by reading and meditating on the Word of God, and enjoying the person of Christ every day.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

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Minor Prophets — Haggai

Haggai is the first prophet after the return of the Jewish remnant from the captivity in Babylon. He encourages the people to rebuild the temple after a lapse of fourteen years. “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built” (Haggai 1:2). They were more occupied with their own houses and interests than with the work of the Lord and His house. So the question is raised, “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste” (Haggai 1:4)?

We also have the confirmation of His presence and the assurance that His promises would not fail, in spite of their failure and indifference. “For I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so My spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not” (Haggai 2:4-5).

This book has a special lesson and warning for us in these “last days” of Christianity. We need to be stirred up as to maintaining the truth of the church, and rest on the Lord’s faithfulness and unchanging promises. He is faithful!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

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Unwavering Faith — Part 1

“The cloud is consumed and vanisheth away” (Job 7:9).

The captain of the ship goes on to relate,

“When asked if he knew how thick the fog around the ship was, Mr. Müller replied, ‘No, my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.’ He then knelt down and prayed one of the most simple prayers I have ever heard. When finished I was going to pray, but he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to pray. ‘As you do not believe He has lifted the fog, there is no need whatever for you to pray about it.’

“I looked at him and George Müller said, ‘Captain, I have known my Lord for 57 years and there has never been a single day when I failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, Captain, and open the door and you will find the fog has gone.’

“I got up and the fog was indeed gone, and on that Saturday afternoon George Müller kept his promised engagement.”

What a lesson from a man of faith, and we are told, “Whose faith follow” (Hebrews 13:7).

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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Unwavering Faith — Part 1

“Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:6).

During his life George Müller, of Bristol England received more than 1,000,000 pounds from the Lord without advertising or soliciting…every penny came as an answer to prayer. This story is told by the captain of a ship on which Mr. Müller was traveling.

“I had been on the bridge for 24 hours and never left it, when Müller came to me and said, ‘Captain, I have to be in Quebec on Saturday afternoon.’ ‘It is impossible,’ I said. ‘Then, very well, if your ship cannot take me, God will find some other way. I have never broken an engagement in fifty years; let us go down into the chart room and pray.’

“I looked at the man of God and thought to myself, ‘What lunatic asylum can that man have come from, for I have never heard of such a thing as this?’ ‘Mr Müller,’ I said, ‘do you know how dense the fog is?’”

Tomorrow we will see that Mr. Müller knew the truth of the verse, “He that regardeth the clouds shall not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

Monday, October 12, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

In this verse the word “conversation” doesn’t mean speech. It’s a word that was used when the Bible was translated into English to mean the way you live, or your whole manner of life. So let’s rephrase our verse: Be an example of the believers in the way you live…in your whole manner of life. Other people should be able to read your life like a book. And what they should read is: I am a Christian — my life is Christlike.

What has the world read of your life in the past, and what will they read this week? If what they have read in the past hasn’t been a very good story, confess it to the Lord and start a new chapter. We have Christ as the perfect example, let’s follow Him so that our life will be an example as well, and that others may see Christ is us.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, October 11, 2015

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One

“One man” (John 11:50).

It must be God’s man. No other man could die for sin. No other human could make atonement. It took a sinless victim to put away sin. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“One offering” (Hebrews 10:4).

That offering was Himself. “Christ…offered himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14). Nothing else would do, He must lay down His life as “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2).

“One sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:12).

That’s all it took, “one sacrifice,” nothing more, nothing less! God’s Son laid on the altar of Calvary. “Once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

“One Mediator” (1 Timothy 2:5).

No one else could pay such a ransom for sin, it must be God Himself in the person of “the man Christ Jesus.”

Saturday, October 10, 2015

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Riches From Idols:

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve
the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

Ancient history tells us of a great conqueror who invaded a country in the Far East. One day he entered a temple where stood an idol so beautiful that none of his followers were willing to destroy it. “Then,” said he, “I will smash it myself.” He lifted his battle-axe, and with a mighty blow smashed the idol into a thousand pieces. From its interior a rich store of golden coins, thousands of them, poured like a stream at his feet.

For those who, like the Thessalonians, turn to God and Christ, there is not only salvation from a lost eternity in hell, but there is a rich store of spiritual blessings in waiting as well. They are the “unsearchable riches of the Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). The Lord Jesus has secured those riches for us, and Scripture declares, “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Are you rich in Christ?

Friday, October 9, 2015

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Another Vessel

“He made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it” (Jeremiah 18:4).
“And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Malachi 3:3).

One day, when the celebrated chemist, Michael Faraday, was absent from his laboratory, a workman accidentally knocked a silver cup into a large container of acid. He was greatly perplexed and distressed as the cup disappeared; it was an utter mystery to him as to where the cup had gone. When Faraday returned and heard about it, he threw some chemicals into the jar and the silver reappeared. He recovered it and sent it to a silversmith, where it was recast into another beautiful cup.

Sometimes the Lord does something similar in our lives. He allows circumstances to melt us down so that He can form us into something beautiful for His glory. Are we willing to let Him do that in our lives? It isn’t always pleasant, it is like the acid, it burns, it hurts, perhaps there are tears, but in the end the result will be that the Lord will, “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer” (Proverbs 25:4).

Thursday, October 8, 2015

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Speak Up

Speak Up! Report Hazards!

So said the poster in a high risk area of a student workshop I was visiting. It got me thinking about our responsibility as believers to speak up when it comes to warning those around us as to the awfulness of leaving this world without Christ.

When it comes to eternity, hell is not just a hazard, but a dreadful reality. What are we doing to speak the gospel and warn souls as to what is ahead? John the Baptist on one occasion said, “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7).

When the Lord Jesus was here on earth He was constantly warning those within hearing of His voice. For example, He said, “I tell you…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). And near the end of His ministry He announced: “Now is the judgment of this world” (John 12:31).

Not only do we have the warning, but we have the remedy as well; the work of Calvary. Let’s speak up today!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

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Prayer

“Pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified” (1 Thessalonians 3:1).

While God our Father is sovereign, and very gracious, and blesses in spite of our failure, yet the following is a good rule-of-thumb to keep in mind whenever you take up any work for the Lord, or really in any aspect of your day-to-day life and routine:

No prayer……………… no blessing.

A little prayer……. a little blessing.

Much prayer……… much blessing.

I remember years ago as my wife and I were visiting on the island of Bermuda, we had a very busy schedule. As we were driven from one appointment to another to speak in prisons, schools, and other institutions, the sister who kindly drove us from place to place kept reminding us, “Remember, the more prayer the more blessing.

It is interesting in that regard to go through the book of the Acts and notice that the chapters and incidents where prayer is mentioned are the chapters and incidents where there was always much blessing as a result of the work.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

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In Youth

“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).

Lord, use my youthful vigor,
And energy today,
To please Thee, and to serve Thee,
In all I do and say!
Lord, use my youthful talents,
To glorify Thy name,
Instead of worldly boasting,
Or earth’s applause and fame.

Lord, consecrate me fully,
And take all that is mine;
I know what Thou hast given
Is not my own, but Thine!
Lord, use me in the best years,
Don’t let me waste them now;
Teach me to do Thy will, Lord.
In youth, my will to bow.

Monday, October 5, 2015

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Dear Young Christian:

The advertising slogan of a major furniture and appliance store in a country where I was traveling, read:

“LIVE LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW!”

Now, granted this was just a catchy slogan to get people to shop and accept the company’s credit terms of not having to pay interest for several months, but it really sums up the spirit of the age we live in. The unbeliever says, “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

However, this is not how a Christian is to live. We are to live in view of the time when we will be required to give an account of everything that has been entrusted to us: our time, our energy, our intellect, and our material possessions. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:19). What kind of account will you have to give for this week’s activities?

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sunday, October 4, 2015

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His Desire

“And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. And He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:14-15).

It was the desire of the Lord Jesus to have His own gathered around Himself in the upper room for one last time before He went to the cross. The Lord knew that this would be the very spot where, after they ate the passover supper, He would institute the Lord’s supper. How it must have delighted His heart when His disciples responded and gave Him the joy of being in their midst!

It is still the desire of the Lord Jesus to have His own around Himself, to remember Him in the breaking of bread. Will you give Him the desire of His heart today? Every time we absent ourselves from the Lord’s presence without just cause or reason, we rob Him of the joy and desire of His heart. Of course we lose in our souls too, but it is Christ who is even more affected, being robbed of the delight He finds in our company collectively. Will you give Him His portion today?

Saturday, October 3, 2015

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Indifferent

“One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

People just don’t care anymore! When I was growing up people still had some concern about eternity and going to heaven. They may have had a very mistaken idea about how to get there — keeping the ten commandments, good works, giving to charity, attending church regularly, etc., but at least there was some concept of life beyond life on earth.

But today people seem completely indifferent to it all. They are like Solomon in the above verse who simply viewed things from the perspective of earth and time. What they don’t realize is, that they are rushing headlong to a lost eternity, and that they will wake up some day with the knowledge that it’s too late and that there is no hope.

When the rich man spoke from the confines of hell he was no longer indifferent. “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28). There are earnest souls in hell, but it is too late!

Friday, October 2, 2015

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Word and Deed

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Colossians 3:17).
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossian 3:23).
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

All that which is not suitable for Christ’s presence is evil! Are the above verses too high a standard for us? Not if we really and truly value Christ in our hearts! If we love Him, what pleases Him pleases us.

Let’s be done with the negative question. “WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS OR THAT?”

Let’s get something positive before our hearts instead, such as, “WHAT IS THERE FOR CHRIST IN IT?” Before you speak or act, ask yourself, “Is it a word I can speak, in the name of the Lord Jesus, or a deed I can do for Him and His glory?” If you cannot say wholeheartedly, “Yes,” stay clear of it.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

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Alone

In a brief note from one believer to another we find a very remarkable truth:

I am a handicapped person in a wheelchair. I am often very lonely, although I amneveralone! God the Father and the Lord Jesus are always with me, though I don’t have a lot of people to talk to.

Yes, we all feel loneliness from time to time, and the Lord felt it often when He was here on earth. As the time approached for Him to go to the cross, and knowing that even His disciple would forsake Him, He said, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32). We also read of Him prophetically, “I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top” (Psalm 102:7).

So, the next time you feel alone or forsaken by friends or family, remember, the Lord knows how you feel, and He has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). You may feel alone, but you never are alone.