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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

March 2017

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Friday, March 31, 2017

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Monthly Question Page
Q. When we have had disappointment in life how do we understand that all things that happen are good? Some things don’t seem very good.
A. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Notice, it doesn’t say that all things are good, but that all things work together for good. Our Father mixes the good with the bad, the bitter with the sweet, the fiery trials with the joyful experiences, and in the end it all works out for good and blessing. Like the baker who mixes just the right amount of ingredients, stirs and beats it just right, and bakes it the correct amount of time at the right temperature. The result is that the bitter as well as the sweet ingredients, exposed to the heat of the oven, turn out a delicious cake or pastry. If we are willing to submit, and realize that He loves us and desires our best, in the end we shall see that everything, whether it seemed good or bad was really for our blessing. We may not always understand this now, but when our life is reviewed in heaven we will praise Him for all His ways with us. Let’s learn to trust His goodness!
Do you have a question? Email us at jhyland@primus.ca

Thursday, March 30, 2017

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Misunderstood — Part 2
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
We often say, We can’t judge motives, and then turn around and do that very thing. We decide in our own minds why someone said or did this or that. The Apostle Paul was misunderstood, and misjudged by the Christians at Corinth. They questioned his authority as an apostle, they questioned his ministry, they even questioned his ability to present his ministry. However, Paul said, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self” (1 Corinthians 4:3). He also said, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). He was living for the Lord and the Lord’s approval. He was willing to leave the misunderstandings and criticisms with the Lord, knowing that there was a time coming when “the counsels of the hearts” would be brought to light and the Lord’s stamp of approval given.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

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Misunderstood — Part 1
Have you ever been falsely accused? Have your motives been wrongly judged or your actions misconstrued? When Mary of Bethany poured out her ointment on the Lord, she was misunderstood and misjudged by those who observed. “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made” (Mark 14:4)? It is interesting to notice in each of the gospels where you have this account, Mary never speaks up in her own defence. No, she leaves it to the Lord to vindicate and set the record straight. “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me” (Mark 14:6).
The next time someone says something against you or your actions are wrongly judged, remember, the Lord knows your heart. Remember too, that no one was misunderstood as much as He was. “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 an example!

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

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Answered Prayer
During a discussion on the subject of prayer a young person expressed genuine surprise about receiving an answer to their prayer even before verbalizing it to God the Father. It reminds us of the verse that says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).
I suppose most answers to prayer do come from spoken petitions, but there are many times when we cannot even put into words what we are trying to express. In that regard I find what we have in the book of Romans a great comfort. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). The hymn writer, James Montgomery (1771- 1854), expressed it this way:
Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
Some deep needs seem inexpressible. But if the heart’s sincere desire rises silently in prayer God hears and answers.

Monday, March 27, 2017

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Dear Young Christian:
Today I am in Saint Kitts, which is part of what is known as the Eastern Caribbean. This morning, with two of my fellow-workers in Christ, one from the USA, and one from the island of Saint Vincent, we visited a government school. It had been prearranged for us to have some time to speak to the students as they were gathered in the courtyard during their morning assembly. It is amazing to be in countries where they still welcome and encourage missionaries to come and present the gospel to the boys and girls and young people. This morning as the students filed back to their classrooms they played the well known hymn, “Jesus Loves Me” over the loudspeaker. Coming from North America where, in most areas, it is forbidden to even mention God or Christ in the schools, two of us shook our heads in wonder, and I thought of the Scripture that says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). How thankful we are that there are still corners of the world where God and His Son are at least outwardly owned and reverenced.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, March 26, 2017

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The Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2).
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
These sublime words take us back into a timeless, dateless past. It establishes the eternity of the person of Christ. It confirms the equality, and deity of the Son of God. The Word becoming flesh is an astonishing and amazing mystery and Paul was caught up in the wonder of it when he wrote, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). There is nothing that will consecrate the believer to yield to this blessed person like the realization of the majesty, glory, and power of Him whom they have trusted.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

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With A Point
There were three of us and we were visiting in a school on the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia. As we chatted in the principal’s office, I noticed a motto on the wall. It had an unsharpened pencil with these words underneath:
“Life without Jesus
is like a pencil without a point!”
So many people are looking for the answers to life, and trying to fill the empty aching of their heart with things of this world, be it fun and amusement, material goods, education, charitable causes, and so on. But only the One who made us can satisfy us and give purpose and direction to our life. “For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9).
Centuries ago Isaiah raised a question that is still good and relevant for us all to think about: “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not?” (Isaiah 55:22)
Yes, life is pointless without Christ as our life, and first and foremost we must be the possessors of eternal life, and then there will be substance to our day-to-day life. “He that hath the Son hath life” (1 John 5:12).

Friday, March 24, 2017

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Our Hearts — Part 2
What are we keeping in corners of our hearts for ourselves? Whatever it may be, it is hindering our joy, hindering our communion with God our Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is definitely hindering our spiritual growth, and our testimony for Himself. Let’s judge it, and give Him the full and first place He desires. He alone can fill and satisfy the human heart! He has entreated us: My son, give Me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26).
Here are the words of a hymn that perhaps sum it up very well:
Lord, we are Thine: Thy claims we own,
Ourselves to Thee we’d wholly give;
Reign Thou within our hearts alone,
And let us to Thy glory live.
May it be so in each of our lives, until the Lord Jesus calls us home to Himself in the Father’s house, where our hearts will be centered fully, and undistractedly on Him for eternity. Here is a good daily prayer for all of us, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:34).

Thursday, March 23, 2017

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Our Hearts — Part 1
God wants wholeheartedness, not halfhearted Christians. Are we following the Lord but still keeping a place in our hearts for something we cherish above Himself … the world … wealth … etc? Don’t be like Peter who followed the Lord but, “followed afar off” (Luke 22:54).
He wants our whole heart’s affection: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Matthew 22:37).
He wants our hearts filled with praise: “I will praise the Lord with my whole heart” (Psalm 111:1).
He wants us to seek Him with whole-heartedness: “With my whole heart have I sought Thee” (Psalm 119:10).
He wants us to read and keep His Word in the same way: “I will keep Thy precepts with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:69).
He wants us to be wholehearted in prayer: “I cried unto thee with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:145).
In this same way we are to have full confidence in Him: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart” (Proverbs 3:5).

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

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Monthly Scripture Reading
Acts 9
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

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Songs In The Night
While thumbing through a book of Christian quotes and anecdotes, I came upon the following statement: “Some of the sweetest songs have been wrung out of life’s bitterest trials. Many a song that is sung in the sunlight was composed in the darkest night watches” (JBN).
It brought to mind a hymn we used to sing, the first verse and chorus of which, is as follows:
What though the way be lonely
And dark the shadows fall;
I know where’er it leadeth,
My Father planned it all.
Chorus:
I sing through the shade and the sunshine,
I’ll trust Him whatever befall;
I sing for I cannot be silent —
My Father planned it all.
It also brought to mind a couple of verses from the Psalms: “In the night His song shall be with me” (Psalm 42:8). “I call to remembrance my song in the night” (Psalm 77:6). How good it is for us to learn to sing and give thanks no matter what the circumstance.

Monday, March 20, 2017

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Dear Young Christian:
I was a guest in the home of a Christian couple, and the first morning I woke up to notice a text hanging by the bed.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path”
(Psalm 119:105).
This of course is a very familiar verse of Scripture, but seeing it like that, first thing in the morning, made me realize the importance of having divine light from God for our pathway at the beginning of every new day. It is there and available, but do we open the Word and read it? You might have a very good flashlight, but you have to take it out of your bag and turn it on if it is going to guide you along a dark path. You might have a lantern, but if you do not take time to light it and hold it tight, it will be useless in showing you the way on a stormy night. So, with God’s Holy Word, we need to take time each morning, and then ask Him for grace to walk in the light that has been shown to us.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, March 19, 2017

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This Day
“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever” (Exodus 12:14).
This day was a special day for the Jewish people. A lamb’s life was taken, his blood sprinkled on their front door posts and lintel to protect them from the destroying angel that passed over the land of Egypt that night. The Lord wanted them to remember that day forever after. They were never to forget God’s provision and that wonderful redemption and great deliverance from Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
So we as Christians have a special day that we remember, although it’s not so much the day as it is what happened on that day. We remember the death of the Lord Jesus because through His death we have been set free from eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Because of the blood He shed at Calvary, our sins have been washed away. So what we remember is the cost of our salvation. Never let us forget what it cost God to make us fit for heaven.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

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The Clock Of Life
“To everything there is a season, and a time… . A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).
We were distributing Bibles and gospel tracts on the Grenadine Island of Canouan. A headstone in a cemetary caught my eye. The granite marker had an engraving of an alarm clock. Underneath was the following inscription:
“The clock of life is wound but once!”
This is a line taken from a poem which reads:
The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop,
At late or early hour.
To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed;
To lose one’s health is more;
To lose one’s soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
What about the “clock of life” for you? When will the hands stop? Will it be “at late or early hour”? Who can tell? Are you prepared for the next life where there is no time or clock? Remember what the Bible says in Hosea 10:12. “It is time to seek the Lord.”

Friday, March 17, 2017

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Thoughts
“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
A well-known evangelist once made the following statement: “God has not promised to bless my thoughts, but He has promised to bless His Word.”
Often we preface our remarks on some verse of Scripture by saying, “I think … ” This is all fine and well as long our thoughts are in line with God’s thoughts as revealed in the Bible. “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Remember, when we present the truth, whether in the gospel to the lost, or to encourage our fellow-believer, it is not expressing our thoughts that will bring blessing, but quoting and sharing the Scriptures. It is the living Word that the Spirit of God can use for the blessing of souls we are seeking to reach.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

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Gates of Nehemiah — The Old Gate
“The old gate repaired Jehoiada” (Nehemiah 3:6).
This gate would suggest the thought of watchfulness to walk in the old paths of truth as they have been set out for us in the Word of God. Earlier in their history Jeremiah had encouraged and warned the people with the exhortation: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” The sad thing is, that they responded to His entreaty in a very negative way, as the verse concludes. “But they said, We will not walk therein” (Jeremiah 6:16).
Timothy was given a similar exhortation in the New Testament. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Timothy 3:14). Many were turning away from the foundational truth that Paul and others had been given and were seeking new things. Paul was really telling Timothy to hold fast to old paths and not look for a new revelation or a different slant or application of things. Growing up I often heard it said, “If it’s new it’s not true, and if it’s true it’s not new.” There is a lot of wisdom in this.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

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Youth — Part 2
“For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth … O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth” (Psalm 71:5, 17).
There is a great blessing in giving the Lord the best days of our lives.
In your youth give yourself to God for His service and honor. In your youth be out and out for Christ, be a good soldier for Him. Do not say in your heart, “Why shouldn’t I enjoy the world and its joys (pleasures) as others do?” Jesus, the Son of God beckons you to a nobler, more fulfilled life; He call us to self-sacrifice and devotion, in which you shall have joys beyond all that this world ever gave its servants.
Dear young Christian, the truly happy life is the one that is given to the Lord. There are more joys found in the service of Christ than in all the pleasures of the world. The appeal is to you now in your youth to devote yourself to Him. The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy in this regard when he said, “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).

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

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Youth — Part 1
“I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth”
(1 Kings 18:12).
What a wonderful statement by Obadiah! Solomon said: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). If we start our Christian life with this realization our path will be a happy one in serving Him.
A brother in Christ once said to a group of young believers: “You dear young people, in all the freshness and bloom of youth remind me of a very beautiful bouquet of flowers. Suppose you desire to present a very beautiful bouquet to a good friend. You purchase it, and it is so beautiful that you wish to keep it. But the third day you notice it is beginning to wither, and you hasten to give the faded bouquet to your friend. Do you treat the Lord this way? Give yourselves to Him while in your vigor and strength. Serve Him with your whole heart. Remember what He has done for you.”
How little do Christian young men and women appreciate the blessing of giving God their young — their best days — the strongest and heartiest time of their short life.

Monday, March 13, 2017

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Dear Young Christian:
While speaking in a school in the Bahamas I noticed a large text hanging in the auditorium; this is what it said:
“I have more understanding than all my teachers:
for Thy testimonies are my meditation”
(Psalm 119:99).
Interesting isn’t it, that the administration of a public school realizes that there is something more important than the learning acquired through the textbooks of men.
What is really going to make us wise, and give us the understanding for living in this world, is to read, meditate on, and obey the Bible. It is God’s guide book for the Christian life. Education is necessary and has its place, and we can, and should do our school studies for the Lord, and to the best of our ability. But don’t forget the most important study of all. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, March 12, 2017

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This Man
The Lord Jesus “took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). There is much to meditate on as to His person and work as a man, both past and present. Here are just a few Scriptures to get you started on this Lord’s day, as we remember what He has done for us and the wonderful results of the work of Calvary.
“THIS MAN receiveth sinners” (Luke 15:2).
“Truly THIS MAN was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).
“I find no fault in THIS MAN” (Luke 23:4).
 “Away with THIS MAN” (Luke 23:18).
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through THIS MAN is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:38).
“THIS MAN, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood” (Hebrews 7:24).
“THIS MAN, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name,
For the Son of God who came.”–Philip Bliss

Saturday, March 11, 2017

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He Just Came
One night a preacher said to an old man who had come several times to the gospel meetings, “Isn’t it time you turned to Christ for salvation?”
“I did tonight,” he replied. “I’m saved now.”
He then asked him how he knew this; was it because he had determined to give up his sinful habits and live a decent life?
He said, “No, it was while you were preaching I thought I saw God holding out His hand to me and saying, ‘I will receive you just as you are,’ And I just came.”
The old man came to God who is stretching out His hands to all, young and old, all day long. The Bible tells us, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

Friday, March 10, 2017

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We Have…
When we know God as our Father and Christ as our Savior we find that there are many things that we have been given, many spiritual blessings and resources. Here are just a few of them. Do some research through your Bible and you will find many more.
Redemption: “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Eternal life: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
Peace: “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
An inheritance: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance” (Ephesians 1:11).
A High Priest: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14).
An Advocate: “We have an advocate with the Father,  Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
Hope: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19).

Thursday, March 9, 2017

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What Is Christ To You?
An intimate friend of Lord Alfred Tennyson, British Poet Laureate, (August 6, 1809-October 6, 1892) was walking with him one day through the beautiful grounds and gardens of his estate. He was anxious to know, after all the beautiful things that the poet had written about Christ, how far he had a personal interest in the Savior. So he said: “What is the Lord Jesus to you?”
The poet carefully plucked a daisy from the lawn, and said, “All that the sun is to this flower, giving it life, strength, beauty and fragrance, the Lord Jesus is to me.”
What would you answer to a question like that? Would you be able to quote the words of the Old Testament bride: “Yea, He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my Friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16). The Apostle Paul, said, “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). He also said, “Christ is all (everything)” (Colossians 3:11). Can you say that?

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

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Golden Silence
There are four scenes where Mary, the mother of the Lord, is present but does not speak.
1. At the manger with the shepherds, she stands in silent wonder. “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19).
2. In the house with the wise men she stands silent in worship. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him” (Matthew 2:11).
3. In the temple court with Simeon, she stands silent in contemplation as he prophesies. “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against” (Luke 2:34).
4. Thirty-three years later at Golgotha she stands silent in sorrow. “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother” (John 19:25).
It is the eloquence of golden silence that springs from a heart in tune with the mind and will of God the Father.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

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Found Out
“Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
“Be sure your sin will find you out,”
My mother used to talk about
The sowing and the reaping too,
And how God knows each act we do;
Impressed upon me in my youth,
I’m thankful for her faith and truth.
I never have forgotten quite,
That secret sins are brought to light;
We get away with nothing now —
Be careful what you do allow:
The day will come, accounts be given,
When we see Jesus Christ in heaven.
“Be sure your sin will find you out,”
I’m glad my mother talked about!

Monday, March 6, 2017

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Dear Young Christian:
I recently noted an article on one of the great 19th century French painters, Anne-Louis Girodet, (January 5th, 1767-December 9th, 1824). In his later years he seemed to think that he worked best at night, and so to provide for light, he wore a wide-brim hat and positioned candles around the brim. Forty candles was the maximum illumination he needed. He also based his fees for commissioned work on the number of candles used during his work.
This made me think what the Lord Jesus said to His disciples while here on earth. “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:15-16). Just as the artist worked by letting the light of the candles shine on his canvas, so we are to shine for the Lord while in the spiritually dark night that envelops this world. “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Sunday, March 5, 2017

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Worship
“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant” (Joshua 5:13-14)?
Joshua, by falling on his face, showed what he thought of himself when he came into the presence of a heavenly being. He humbled himself and was ready to listen. How much better for us to humble ourselves (that is to put aside everything that we think we are) when we come into the presence of the Son of God to worship Him. And we should be ready to listen, too. Listen for the leading of the Spirit, listen to what the hymns say, listen to what Scriptures are read, and what they present as to the person and work of Christ, and listen to that which is expressed audibly in praise and prayer. Our worship sometimes is so superficial. Let’s be real and genuine.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

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Lost
“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:8-10).
I couldn’t find my credit card! What a panic, and I began to frantically search for it. Losing a credit card is not a small thing and I immediately thought of automatic purchases that would be disrupted, not to mention the possibility of someone finding it and charging items to my account. What a relief when it turned up in a jacket pocket.
The story of the lost, lifeless coin, told by the Lord Jesus illustrates the value of souls, and the desire and diligence of the Spirit of God in searching and finding those who are “dead in sins” (Ephesians 2:5), and need to be saved. Is the Spirit working with your heart and conscience today? Don’t despise His pleadings. Come and be found, and receive salvation. There will be great rejoicing in heaven.

Friday, March 3, 2017

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Counsel
“But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who were brought up with him” (2 Chronicles 10:8).
Advice and counsel are readily available today on any subject which comes to mind. There seems to be a counsellor and a consultant for every aspect of life these days. The issue is this: whose advice or counsel will we listen to? Is the one giving the counsel an authority in their field? Do they speak from experience? All too often the young tend to listen to their peers who have no expertise or experience on which to draw. How blessed is the young believer who seeks counsel from older saints who have knowledge of the Word, the ways of God, and can speak from life-long experience of walking with Him.
In our verse today, King Rehoboam listened to the counsel of those who were inexperienced and as a result gave him bad advice, and it got him into a great deal of trouble. That’s not to say that our peers don’t often have helpful things to say to us, but the bottom line is that everything must be weighed in the presence of the One whose very name is “Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6).

Thursday, March 2, 2017

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Look Up
“Lift up your eyes on high” (Isaiah 40:26).
A noteworthy story is told of a young army officer who was going through his drill at the riding school. He had been saved only a short time, but learned a valuable lesson that day, that he never forgot and that stood him in good stead the rest of his life. The young soldier was known as Number 2.
On this particular occasion he was mounted on his horse, trotting around the ring, when he heard the riding master call out, “Number 2, look up! Hold up your head, Number 2!” As the young officer pulled himself together and looked up, he thought, “Here is an unsaved man telling me, a child of God, to look up. I will indeed look up and praise the Lord, and live for His glory.” This he sought, by the grace of God, to do from that day forward.
Yes, it is a good lesson for all of us. We are exhorted to, “Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). If we only look at present circumstances, and earthly advantage, and forget that we are a heavenly people, we are going to get discouraged and downhearted.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

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The Rock
“The Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge” (Psalm 94:22).
“The Lord: the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1).
“In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength” (Psalm 62:7).
When I was growing up I used to often hear my parents refer to something as being “solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.” Today, there is a major financial and insurance institution in the United States that uses the Rock of Gibraltar as their corporate emblem.
However, anyone who follows the world markets and knows anything about today’s economic situation will have to admit that there are very few if any financial guarantees in today’s world of instability. That’s why we need to be resting on Christ the Rock. The prophet Isaiah said, “And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:2). Here, and only here is true stability and assurance for the future, whether in this life or that which is ahead in the next life.
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