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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

September 2016

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Friday, September 30, 2016

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Monthly Question Page
*Continued from last month (August 26).
Q. How is the word “usury” used in the Bible?
A. The point is simply this: each of us have been given abilities and gifts that we are to use for the glory of the Lord, for the blessing of souls, and in His service. If we use what has been supplied by His grace, there will be increase, Paul desired for the believers at Philippi, when he wrote concerning “fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:17).
In a parable in Matthew the Lord said, “Thou oughtest therefore to have put My money to the exchangers, and then at My coming I should have received Mine own with usury” (Matthew 25:27). In Luke He says, “Wherefore then gavest not thou My money into the bank, that at My coming I might have required Mine own with usury?” (Luke 19:23). Note that the one who did not trade, or put his money to the “exchangers,” or as Luke says, the “bank” was only a professor and was cast into “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30). However, the principle applies to all. As believers we will be held accountable at the judgment seat of Christ. Have we been faithful?

Thursday, September 29, 2016

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Christianity
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again
the third day according to the Scriptures”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
There are many religions in the world, but Christianity outshines them all. That is because Christianity is more than a religion; Christianity is a person.
The heart and center of Christianity is the person of Christ, the Son of God, who is living at the right hand of God in heaven. The Bible declares, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive, for evermore” (Revelation 1:18). The Lord Jesus Christ is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).
This person is also with us, as He promised His own in resurrection, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
He is the great “I am.” Indeed, He is personally the heart and essence of Christianity. No wonder the Apostle Paul, having turned from mere religion to Christianity, could say, “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

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Monthly Scripture Reading
Matthew 6
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

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No Empty Seats
On a plane today from Toronto, Canada to Port of Spain, Trinidad, I noticed that it was a full flight — no empty seats! It made me think of how there will be no empty seats when the Lord comes to give the shout and call His own redeemed ones to be with Himself in the Father’s House. In fact, the Bible tells us of that future time, “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting” (Revelation 4:4). While I realize the number 24 is figurative, yet it is nice to think that there are the same number of seats as there are elders sitting on them. In other words, there will be no empty seats in heaven.
With our heavenly seat reserved we look forward to that day when we will leave this earth in exchange for the joy of the Lord’s presence and the blessedness of sitting down in His company forever.
Now I have another flight to catch before my travels are done for the day, but when we take our seats around the Lord Jesus, our traveling days will be over … and I personally can’t wait!

Monday, September 26, 2016

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Dear Young Christian:
Sometimes I hear people say, “Life is a drag.” I suppose by that they mean life is boring — nothing exciting is happening. Maybe they mean life had become a burden — they feel dragged down or discouraged. Whatever the context of the statement, there’s a motto I know that has a relevant and timely message:
IF YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A DRAG,
WORLDLY WEIGHTS ARE PROBABLY TO BLAME!
The Bible exhorts us, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). No athlete competing in a competition is going to carry extra weight with them. Why then do we as Christians allow ourselves to be weighed down with the things of this world, while running the Christian race? Let’s put those things aside so that we are free to live for Christ with a good conscience and a pure heart.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, September 25, 2016

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His Life
“Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I
lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18).
The Lord Jesus gave His life in a way that no one else ever could. As a divine person, the Son of God, He voluntarily gave up His life in obedience to His Father. What a sacrifice, and what love, first to God His Father and secondly to you and me.
Collectively, as the church of God, we rejoice in the fact that, “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:2). Individually, we can say with the Apostle Paul, “the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
At the end of the three hours of darkness, having taken the punishment for sin, we read, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).

Saturday, September 24, 2016

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Rivers
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne
of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).
“And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
All over the country, rivers are named for different reasons. The Snake River in Nebraska was so named because of its twists and turns looking like a serpent as it winds through the sandhills. Then there is the Osage River in Missouri so named for a tribe of Indians that lived along its banks in the early days of United States history. The Red River that divides Texas from Oklahoma is so named because of the red clay soil that colors the water.
In the Bible there is a river, so named because of its life-giving ability. It is the River of Life, and it is what John saw in his vision of the heavenly City. It will satisfy the spiritual thirst of souls for all eternity. Will you be part of that future scene that John describes? You will be, only if you have drunk from the river of life for salvation, now in this life.

Friday, September 23, 2016

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GIGO
What are we taking in through our eyes and ears?
When I was a young person, computers were about the size of a classroom, and involved laboriously feeding information into them through computer punch-cards. Back then there was an expression Garbage in — garbage out, (GIGO). In other words, computers will unquestioningly process unintended, even nonsensical, input data (“garbage in”) and produce undesired, often nonsensical output data (“garbage out”).
There is an application of this in our Christian life. The Lord made several statements on the subject, and here are just a couple:
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).
“Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:18-19).
Let’s be careful what we take in … what we watch … what we read … what we hear … etc.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

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True Science
“Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science” (Daniel 1:4).
In 1929, Edwin Hubble made one of the most astounding and important discoveries of modern science in the field of astronomy. He determined through his studies and calculations that the universe was expanding. This discovery helped to answer many questions and solve many enigmas that had, up until that time, plagued the great minds of science.
True science will never contradict the Bible, and this is certainly true in regard to Hubble’s discovery. Centuries before, the prophet Isaiah recorded the same fact. “It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:22).
What an amazing and all-powerful, creator God we have. And yet, wonder, of wonders, He loves us so much, and is interested in every detail of our lives.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

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Contentment
Are you a contented Christian? Paul told Timothy, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). He also said of himself, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
In Hebrews we read, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.” The verse then goes on to give a reason, or perhaps we should say the reason, why we should be content, even though outward circumstances may not always be what we would like. “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). With the promise of the Lord being always with us, this should be enough to satisfy the soul in spite of unpleasant circumstances and even in the absence of the necessities of life. How many believers are content and happy today, not because they have an abundance of worldly goods, or even their freedom; not because they are free from pain and suffering, but because they have a sense in their souls of the Lord’s presence with them.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

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Christ
Our present position is in Christ:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Our future place is with Christ:
“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).
Our eternal portion is to be like Christ:
“It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
In the meantime,
Our purpose should be to win Christ:
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Monday, September 19, 2016

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Dear Young Christian:
“He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth
mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isaiah 50:4).
This verse, no doubt, prophetically refers to the Lord Jesus, the perfect, obedient Man as He walked through this world with His ear ever tuned to the voice of His God and to His Father’s will. Another prophetic scripture says, “Mine ears hast Thou opened” (Psalm 40:6). The Lord Himself said, “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29).
In all this there is something good and practical for us to consider as another week of hustle and bustle and the necessary activities of daily life begin to press upon us again. As we start out today, let’s ask ourselves, Do we really have our ears tuned to the voice of God our Father? Do we, every morning, seek to tune in to what He is saying to us? Let’s start this week with renewed exercise and desire to listen and obey. Let’s be like the Apostle Paul, who said, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, September 18, 2016

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Seven Utterances
From the cross the Lord Jesus spoke seven times. Here are those wonderful and profound statements:
1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
2. To the Apostle John: “Behold thy mother!” (John 19:27).
3. To the thief: “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
4. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).
5. “I thirst” (John 19:28).
6. “It is finished” (John 19:30).
7. “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
As we consider the impact of these utterances and the eternal blessing that has resulted from them and the work of Calvary, our hearts cannot help but bow in solemn, yet joyful wonder and worship.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

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A Safe Landing
“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for
then would I fly away, and be at rest” (Psalm 55:6).
I have a friend who is a true evangelist. He never seems to miss an opportunity to give out gospel tracts and to speak to souls regarding their need of salvation. One day he was giving out gospel literature in the airport, and in doing so he gave one to a man in uniform thinking he was a flight attendant. He came to find out the man was the pilot of the plane my friend was about to board. My friend said to him, “I hope you are ready to have a safe landing in the next world.” With a big smile the pilot replied that he did indeed know the Lord Jesus as His Saviour and was ready for eternity through the work of Calvary and the blood of Christ.
For those who are saved, we are soon going to “fly away, and be at rest” in the Father’s house. What a wonderful, one-way flight that will be, with no delays and a safe, joyful landing with all the redeemed, and the Lord as the Lamb in the midst of it all. Are you ready for this flight? Have you secured your ticket to heaven through the blood of Christ?

Friday, September 16, 2016

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Joy and Sorrow
Every heart has its secret of joy or sorrow that no other person on earth ever shares. Centuries ago King Solomon put it this way: “The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy” (Proverbs 14:10).
Hidden deep down from the sight of the nearest and dearest friends, family and closest acquaintances are often griefs and feelings too deep for utterance or joys that are too great and profound for words. How true is this in the case of the Lord Jesus Himself! Who could ever enter into the depths of the anguish of His soul? Who can estimate properly His joy and pleasure?
To such a High Priest we can go with our heaviest sorrows, and with Him we can share our inmost thoughts of exultation and delight! “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 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 4:15-16).

Thursday, September 15, 2016

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Jacob’s Twelve Sons — Dan
We learn in Genesis 30:6 that Dan was the fifth son, the first of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. The tribe of Dan was very numerous. When they left Egypt at the exodus there were 62,700 fighting men, more than all the tribes except Judah. By the time they are numbered again they increased to 64,400 — compare Numbers 1:39 with Numbers 26:42-43.
When Jacob blessed his sons he said, “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. (Genesis 49:16-17). It has been suggested that the Antichrist will be from Dan, which explains why his name is omitted from the list of those that are sealed in Revelation 7:3-8.
This tribe was guilty of introducing idolatry in the land of Israel very early in their history, which continued until the captivity. “The children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land” (Judges 18:30). May we take warning from this, as John exhorts us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21).

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

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Bible Algebra
T+E=E
Truth mixed with any amount of E rror ultimately adds up to E rror.
Here is what Solomon had to say on the matter:
“Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good” (Proverbs 14:22).
He further instructs his son:
“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge” (Proverbs 19:27).
One drop of poison corrupts the whole cup. There is a story in the Old Testament which illustrates this truth so very well. You can read about it in 2 Kings 4:38-41. Wild gourds shredded by one man into a pot of food caused the others to cry out, “There is death in the pot.” The result was that “they could not eat thereof.” However, there was a remedy, and that was to “bring meal. And he cast it into the pot.” The meal speaks of Christ, the “Truth.” Learn to shun all error and “walk in truth” (3 John 4).

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

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Vision
“I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision”
(Acts 26:19).
I called a friend yesterday. I was feeling down and, to be honest, discouraged and burdened with the circumstances of life. Calling this particular friend and fellow believer was the best thing I could have done. Why, you ask? Because he spoke to me of Christ and reminded me of the Apostle Paul, who got a vision of that Man in the glory, and as a result was able to live for and serve the Lord amidst all kinds of problems and difficulties. My friend said, “Remember this: when Paul got a vision of Christ in glory his whole life changed, and everything else melted into insignificance.” This one statement did more to encourage me and lift my spirits than you can imagine. In fact, I didn’t realize how discouraged I was until I was encouraged by these words.
It is indeed Christ in glory that eclipses everything else. Paul got that vision, and it never faded. It made him a willing, obedient, happy Christian and servant of Christ, in spite of reproach, persecution and all the other things he suffered.

Monday, September 12, 2016

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Dear Young Christian:
I was driving through Bardwell Kentucky, when I noticed a large sign that caught my attention. This is what it said:
WHEN LIFE KNOCKS YOU TO YOUR KNEES, PRAY!
Don’t you feel like you have been knocked to your knees sometimes … your feet knocked right out from under you by circumstances? I know I do. Well, this sign certainly had a timely message for me. That week, I felt like I had been struck down, and the wind knocked out of me. The Lord knew I needed the reminder to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We also need to learn to “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).
Whatever hard knocks life seems to deal you this week, remember that the Lord is there, always ready to help, comfort and give the grace and strength to get up off our knees from prayer and dependence, and go on 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, September 11, 2016

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Memorial
“Upon the first day of the week … the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).
Fifteen years ago today, two planes rammed into the World Trade Center in New York city. A third plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, and yet a fourth into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The death toll amounted to 2,996. This day has become known as 9/11 and the plot of ground where the trade center stood is known as “Ground Zero.” Today there will be many memorials and remembrances, and thousands will pause for a moment to reflect on what happened back at a time that many of my readers were too young to remember.
Yes, 9/11 is firmly etched in many of our memories, and I for one remember exactly where I was and what I was doing that fateful day. But there is another memorial being celebrated today. It is the remembrance of the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread. As in the early days of Christianity this memorial is still carried out by many. Will you be there to take part in this wonderful and solemn commemoration? The Lord Jesus has invited us to His table and says, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

Saturday, September 10, 2016

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John 3:16
For God so Loved the world,
that he gave His Only begotten Son,
that whosoever belie Veth in Him, should not perish,
but have ev   Erlasting life.
My father was a man who kept notes for many years on the verses that gospel preachers started their sermons with. Near the end of his life he told me that more preachers start with John 3:16 than any other Scripture. Is it any wonder? This verse tells us of seven wonderful facts:
1. The love of God.
2. Who He loves (the world).
3. The gift of His Son.
4. The scope of the blessing (whosoever).
5. The way of blessing (believe).
6. Escape from judgment.
7. The gift He is offering as a result (eternal life).
Someone has said, “John 3:16 is the gospel message in a nutshell.” What a verse! Is it a reality with you?

Friday, September 9, 2016

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Service
“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward” (1 Corinthians 3:14).
At the judgment seat of Christ, He is going to examine our service and the things we did for Him while here in this world. One reason He will do this is to see if it was done according to His will and in accordance with Scriptural teachings. If it was, then we will receive a reward. If not, our “works” will go up in flames, figuratively speaking. Take your Bible a minute and read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. Do you see what standard God has set? It’s the highest! And He’s given you the power and ability to reach the standard so that He can reward you for your service. Keep serving, but remember to do it according to the Word of God and in a way pleasing to the One who has called us to His service!
The Lord wants the joy of being able to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Are you going to give Him that joy? If you serve Him faithfully now, He will have that joy then!

Thursday, September 8, 2016

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Joy
As I was driving through my home town of Smiths Falls, Ontario the other day, I noticed a sign outside a local church. It was a sign that encouraged people to attend services at that particular church on Sundays, but what really caught my attention were the four words in large capital letters and in quotation marks. This is what they said:
“THE JOY OF YOU”
This really disappointed me, and more so the more I thought about it. Christianity is not so much the “joy of you” but as we read in the Bible, “The joy of the Lord” (Nehemiah 8:10). When Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi, he didn’t tell them to rejoice in “themselves.” No, he said, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord .… Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 3:1; 4:4)
If you get your joy from self, you are going to be sadly disappointed. If you find your joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will have a heart so full of happiness that you won’t be able to contain it. Which will it be? Whose joy are you experiencing in your life?

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

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Tears
Will you shed tears today? No doubt some of my readers are going through real sorrows and heartaches at this present time, and if not now, you certainly have in the past, and will in the future. None of us are immune to tears!
King David went through a lot of sorrows in his life and often refers to tears in the Psalms that God used him to write. Here is one reference he makes on the subject: “Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?” (Psalm 56:8). It was a comfort to David to realize that the Lord knew every tear that he cried, and was storing up those tears in His bottle, and recording them in His book. Maybe you have cried many tears that have been long dried and forgotten by yourself and others. But remember, they are never forgotten by the one who shed many tears when here in this world. We read that He “in the days of His flesh … offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears … ” (Hebrews 5:7). Soon, for the believer there will be no more tears! “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4).

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

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Youth
Past:
With all the vim and vigor of youthful energy,
With all my strength and rigor, I lived so selfishly;
Then, Lord, Thy grace and mercy, saved me and made me free
Sin, self, the world, and Satan, now have no claim on me.
Present:
With all the vim and vigor of youthful energy,
With all my strength and rigor, Lord, may I follow Thee;
Use, Lord, my time and talents, whatever they may be,
All for Thy praise and glory, I give myself to Thee.
Future:
When all the vim and vigor of youthful energy,
When all my strength and rigor have waned and ceased to be,
Use still my time and talents, whatever’s left — for Thee;
All for Thy praise and glory, Lord Jesus, this my plea.
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25)

Monday, September 5, 2016

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Dear Young Christian:
Where I come from in eastern Ontario in Canada, there is now a chill of autumn in the air. I notice the birds are beginning to gather together on the telephone wires and the tree tops preparing for their migration south to a warmer climate for the winter. A few hardy ones will stay around and brave the cold wind, ice, and snow, but most will go.
It makes me think of our departure from this world where the moral and spiritual storms are worsening, it seems, every day. Our flight out will not be a long, hard migration to a warmer climate, and then a return trip in the spring, but a flight straight up to meet the Lord and be with Him forever in the Father’s House. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). What an awesome, one-way migration that will be.
In the meantime, keep on for the Lord, and live for Him now. Like the birds, we will soon be gone.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, September 4, 2016

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Let Us
“Let us go forth therefore unto Him” (Hebrews 13:13).
The “us” in this verse denotes a collective aspect to the going forth. Together with other believers, we are to meet for worship and praise around Himself. Notice it is “unto Him.” Not unto a certain group of Christians, or where it is most convenient. Not simply because we like the people or their way of doing things, but “unto Him.”
When the Lord sent the disciples to prepare the passover, they said to Him, “Where wilt Thou that we prepare?” (Luke 22:9). As a result of following His instructions, we read, “And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him” (Luke 22:14). This then was the very spot where the Lord Jesus took a loaf and a cup and explained to His own how they were to commemorate Him after He had died, risen and returned to glory.
Today we still have the privilege of remembering the Lord Jesus with others of His own, and with Himself in the midst. He has said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). This promise still stands!

Saturday, September 3, 2016

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Grace
It is because of God’s grace, and only His grace that there is salvation and blessing for the sinner. Every sinner saved by grace will have nothing to boast in except that grace. Here are some verses from the Bible that confirm this truth:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

Friday, September 2, 2016

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Nigh — Part 2
“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).
What does your weekend look like? Relaxing, sleeping in, a good book, just hanging out with a friend or family member, going to the mall … ? Whatever you do, remember the Lord is with you, as we were reminded yesterday. Don’t forget, whatever you do this weekend, and wherever you go, you will be taking the Lord with you. Some of the last words the Lord said to the disciples were, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). We can be thankful that He is with us, and for the promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
Our God is always nigh! The question is, are we keeping close to Him? To “draw nigh to God” is to walk in a way that lets nothing come between us and God to cloud or obstruct our enjoyment of His presence. As you move about this weekend, make sure you do it in fellowship with Himself. Don’t be like Jonah who “rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3).

Thursday, September 1, 2016

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Nigh — Part 1
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him,
to all that call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
Both of the above verses were penned by David (notice the titles of these Psalms in your Bible). He was a man who valued the presence of the Lord and was thankful that He was always close at hand. Maybe you have had a sorrow in your life lately, and as a result you feel like your heart is irreparably broken. Don’t despair — there is One who is near, and will never leave you. Furthermore, He is the repairer of broken hearts. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). All you have to do is “call upon Him” and He is there, ready and able to comfort, heal and bring blessing out of what seems tragic and hopeless. “The Lord is at hand .… Let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).
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