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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

September 2020

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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

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Bread — Part 2
“Jesus said … My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven … I am that bread of life. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die” (John 6:32, 48, 50).
Remember the rat, the English robin, the thrush, the crow, the squirrel, the pigeon, and the four magpies we mentioned in yesterday’s meditation? They were all hungry for the bread that was broken up and spread on the garden table every morning. It was so convenient and so accessible.
But, the question remains, what about you? Is there a daily hunger for the Word of God? Most of us live in lands where Bibles are plentiful and can be purchased at very little cost. Many of my readers, no doubt, have several Bibles in their homes already. But how much are we feeding on and enjoying them? Are we feeding on Christ through the Word of God every day? As we have already cited, the Lord Jesus is the “Bread of Life.” If we are going to grow and mature in our Christian experience, we must feed on the Word, and be like the Patriarch of old, who said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

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Bread — Part 1
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51).
What do a rat, an English robin, a thrush, a crow, a squirrel, a pigeon, and four magpies, all have in common? They all enjoyed an early breakfast of bread that Pauline put out for them on her garden table each morning while we were staying with her at her home in Croydon, England. It was very entertaining to watch the competition and the fighting for the most and the biggest pieces. The rat would scramble up on the table, grab the largest hunk he could, and race away to his storehouse under some bushes and plants. In a few seconds, he would be back and the larger birds would try to chase him off, while fighting amongst themselves. The squirrel waited for his chance, and the robin and the thrush took a few nibbles now and then, seemingly undisturbed by what went on around them. The pigeon ate continually and seemed to keep guard for the rat.
It made me think of the Lord Jesus, who said, “I am that Bread of Life” (John 6:48). How much of that “Living Bread” have you enjoyed today? It is abundantly available through the Living Word. We need to feed on it every day.

Monday, September 28, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
Today the internet is down! I feel so isolated and out of touch. In a way it’s ridiculous, but I am so used to being connected that I tend to fret and think I’m missing out when it doesn’t work, even for a short time. It also makes me realize how dependent I have become on technology.
As I think about this, I am thankful to know that there is always an open line to heaven. Communication with God the Father and the Lord Jesus is always available. There are no dropped calls, no call waiting, no areas where there is no service, and no chance of being put on hold. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). It doesn’t matter the time of day or night, where we are, or what we are doing. We are told, “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). This week, avail yourself of the open line between yourself and heaven. And don’t let something in your life come between you and the Lord.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, September 27, 2020

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The Passover
There are seven observances of the Passover recorded in the Bible.
1. The institution of the Passover in Egypt (Exodus 12).
2. The celebration in the wilderness (Numbers 9:1-14).
3. Kept by Joshua at Gilgal (Joshua 5:10-11).
4. Hezekiah’s great revival (2 Chronicles 30:15-22).
5. The time of Josiah’s reign, the last before the captivity (2 Chronicles 35:1-19).
6. The days of Ezra after the return of the Jewish remnant (Ezra 6:19-21).
7. The Lord with His disciples in the upper room (Matthew 26:19).
This seventh one was the last time, as there on that occasion the Lord instituted the supper for us. Just as Israel had a yearly memorial in keeping the Passover, so the Lord says to us, “This do in remembrance of Me … For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:24, 26).
For Israel it was once a year, for us the criteria is “as often.” Is it your joy, from week to week, to partake of the “Lord’s supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20)?

Saturday, September 26, 2020

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Fleeing for Safety
It is September 15, 2017, and my wife and I are in London, England, where there has been a terrorist attack in the London Underground. A rather crude bomb was left to go off in one of the subway cars, and, thankfully, when it did explode the train was at a station and the doors were open. As a result, people were able to flee for their lives. I saw video footage of pandemonium as morning commuters young and old scrambled for safety. Many were injured, but, miraculously, no one was killed.
It made me think of the gospel and the Lord’s words of warning, “Flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7). Nobody had to tell those Londoners to flee the train and the station; they realized the danger and they acted accordingly.
But why is it, when people are warned about pending and eternal judgment that many don’t seem to care and are indifferent to their immortal soul’s welfare? I suppose it is because they really don’t believe it will happen. They would rather continue on in their sins. But there is a time coming when, “In those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them” (Revelation 9:6). How vital to flee to Christ for salvation now while His offer of mercy is still available.

Friday, September 25, 2020

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Monthly Question Page
Q. What is the difference between sins and iniquity, as differentiated in Hebrews 10:17, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more”?
A. There are many words that are used in the Bible to denote “sins,” such as, “transgression,” “wickedness,” “evil,” and of course “iniquity.” The best Scriptural definition of “sin” is in John’s epistle, where we read, “Every one that practises sin practises also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, JND). In other words, “sin” is doing our own will in independence of God. It is summed up by the prophet Isaiah, who wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Sin is anything inconsistent with the character of God.
This brings us to the question of “iniquity.” The word comes from the Latin, combining the prefix “in,” which means “not,” and the suffix “aequus” which means “equal” or “just.” So, “iniquity” literally means, “not just.” It has to do with the character of sin, and the evil intent behind the act. When David sinned, he prayed, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2).
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Thursday, September 24, 2020

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Love Wins
The other day, I was out for a morning walk around the neighborhood of the home I was staying in. As I passed by one of the houses, I noticed a sign on the front lawn. Among other things it said,
In Our America, Love Wins!
Well, I pondered this, and realized that God’s love and not man’s perversion of the term is to be the keynote and primary motive in each of our lives as Christians. Just before the Lord left the disciples to go to the cross and then return to heaven, He gave them several exhortations as to practical love and effects. Here are a selected few:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
“If a man love Me, he will keep My words” (John 14:23).
“Continue ye in My love” (John 15:9).
Yes, God’s love wins, and remember,“Now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

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Monthly Scripture Reading
Matthew 15
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.
But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

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Peripatetic
The other day, my wife came to me with a new word she had learned from doing a crossword puzzle. The word was “Peripatetic.” It refers to one who travels from place to place, often for work or business, and usually not staying long in any one location. It can be either an adjective or a noun.
My wife thought it applied to me, as I tend to be here and there, sometimes zig-zagging across North America and around the world in the work of the Lord. While this may be true, it also made me think of the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness, as they made their way from Egypt to the land of Canaan. It also made me think of the time when we will finally arrive in heaven, and no longer travel through this world as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
In the meantime, I suppose we are all to some degree peripatetic. However, I trust it is not aimless wandering and travel, but in the will of the Lord. Let’s be like David, who prayed, “Lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:24). If this is our sincere prayer and desire, the promise is, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (Psalm 32:8).

Monday, September 21, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
The children of Israel, when journeying through the wilderness, complained and questioned the ways and wisdom of God. Why did He lead them this way and that way … why the thirst … why the hunger … why, why, why? But there is an interesting comment made about their journey later on in the Psalms. “He led them forth by the right way” (Psalm 107:7). Yes, in retrospect they realized that His way was “the right way.”
Someday, when we get to heaven and review our life, we too will say the same. How good it is if we can get ahold of this concept now. Life is not all smooth and easy. However, it is better to go over a rough and difficult road in good company than the best highway alone.
The believer, of course, is never alone — but to enjoy the Lord’s company is quite another matter. As you start another week of busy activity, remember, He has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, September 20, 2020

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Forsaken
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:45-46).
What a question, asked by the Lord Jesus at the end of the three hours of darkness. To get the answer, we must go to the Old Testament, where we have the question raised prophetically, along with the innermost feelings of the Lord that we don’t get in the Gospels. There we find that the one who asks the question Himself gives the answer.
 “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me? why art Thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But Thou art holy” (Psalm 22:1-3). While the Lord Jesus was being“made … sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21), and while, in those three hours of darkness, He, “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24), God had to forsake Him because of His holy nature, and because He is of“purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13).

Saturday, September 19, 2020

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Urgent
There is always an urgency when it comes to the gospel and accepting the Lord Jesus as Savior. We never tell people to wait, think it over, or put it off for any reason. Here are some verses of Scripture in keeping with that thought:
“REMEMBER NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
“COME NOW, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
“BEHOLD, NOW is the accepted time; BEHOLD, NOW is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Neglect is perhaps one of Satan’s greatest lies. He whispers in the ear of the unbeliever, “Just wait a little longer, there is plenty of time to consider these things at a later date.” However, the Bible warns, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3). Many a neglecter has ended in a lost eternity … don’t be one of them.

Friday, September 18, 2020

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To His Knees
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10).
Abraham Lincoln was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861, until his assassination in April 1865. He is quoted as saying, “I have been driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go; my wisdom and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day.”
In the Old Testament, Daniel was in a similar position. Under each king of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius), he was promoted and advanced to high positions in the kingdom. He evidently felt the need of daily, regular prayer — not just when things were tough, but also when things were good. Like President Lincoln and many before and after him, he felt driven to his knees every day.
How good it is for us to feel this as well. It is not wrong to feel driven if it drives us to our knees in dependence on the Lord.

Thursday, September 17, 2020

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Psalm 23 — Part 9
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies” (Psalm 23:5).
A table in Scripture would remind us of three things:
1. It speaks of authority:
When we are invited to have a meal at someone’s table, the host has the authority not only to invite us, but to maintain a level of conduct that they feel is in keeping with their home and table. So we need at all times to remember that we are under the authority and Lordship of Christ.
2. It reminds us of food for our souls:
The children of Israel raised the question, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness” (Psalm 78:19)? Of course He could, and did. Today Jesus is “the bread of heaven” (Psalm 105:40), to feed and satisfy our spiritual hunger.
3. It has to do with communion and fellowship:
Eating and fellowship in the Bible are synonymous. When the prodigal son returned to the Father’s house there was a feast prepared so that they could enjoy fellowship together over the “fatted calf” (Luke 15:23).
We’re not going to be removed from the presence of our enemies (Satan and his host) this side of heaven, but there is full provision to enjoy the Lord’s presence and provision in spite of those enemies.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

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Things We Can Never Do — Part 2
Here are some further things we can never do:
• We can never say that we are unloved.
“Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1).
• We can never sin so badly that there is no restoration.
 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness … And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 1:9; 2:1).
• We can never leave His presence.
“And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen”(Matthew 28:20).
• We can never come under the judgment of God.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
• We can never lose our hope.
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

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Things We Can Never Do — Part 1
Here are some things we can never do:
• We can never lose our salvation.
“Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand … My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).
• We can never pray too much.
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).
• We can never read the Bible too often.
“They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11).
• We can never overtax the resources we have in the Lord.
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
• We can never weary or exhaust the Lord.
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?” (Isaiah 40:28)

Monday, September 14, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
As I write this calendar page, my wife and I are visiting in London, England. Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that the motto on the coat of arms for the city is, “Domine dirige nos.” Translated it means, “Lord, Guide Us.” What an interesting motto for a city with a population of almost nine million people. Yet, I wonder how many of its residence really know what the Latin translation says.
It would be good for all of us, young and old, if this were our motto as well. From the time Saul of Tarsus was saved on the way to Damascus until he laid down his life as a martyr for Christ, this was his motto. On realizing who was speaking to him from heaven that day, he immediately asked, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6)? If we have that same desire of heart and soul then the Lord wants to guide us step-by-step. Just as He said to Saul, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6), so He will direct us too. Let’s make the city of London’s motto our motto as well.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, September 13, 2020

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His Presence
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving” (Psalm 95:2).
“Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2).
HIS PRESENCE! What a privilege it is to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus, both individually and collectively. Today, many of us will have the opportunity of meeting around the person of Christ with other dear believers and Jesus Himself in the midst.
We are invited to “Come before His presence.” Will we respond to the invitation? It is not something that is forced or mandatory, but it is something that He desires, and something that we should desire and look forward to as well. David could say, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1). He valued every time that he was able, with others of the people of God, to go into the Lord’s presence.
The Lord Jesus has done so much for us in giving Himself at the cross. Now He desires our company and our worship. Will we give Him that desire today?

Saturday, September 12, 2020

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How Much?
“How much did they leave?”
Have you ever heard this question asked at a funeral or in regard to the death of someone you knew? I certainly have! The real answer to that question is, “Everything.” The Bible unequivocally declares, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).
The only thing that matters when a person leaves this world is whether they know the Lord as their Savior or not. With their last breath, a person’s eternity is fixed. Everything we accumulate and accomplish in this life means nothing unless we are saved and ready for the next life.
Here is what the Lord Himself said on the matter:
“A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth … Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal … But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 10:20).

Friday, September 11, 2020

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Idols — Part 3
Today, we continue contrasting dumb idols with the true and living God.
•“Their idols … noses have they, but they smell not.”
“And the Lord smelled a sweet savor” (Genesis 8:21).
• “Their idols. . . They have hands, but they handle not.”
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save” (Isaiah 59:1).
“We all are the work of Thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8).
• “Their idols … feet have they, but they walk not.”
“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8).
• “Their idols … neither speak they through their throat.”
“His voice as the sound of many waters”(Revelation 1:15).
Thankfully, like the Thessalonians, and by the grace of God, we have“turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). We can say, “Lo, this is our God … we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

Thursday, September 10, 2020

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Idols — Part 2
I have been to countries where dumb idols are worshipped on a daily basis. How thankful I am to know the true and living God. In keeping with yesterday’s meditation, here is a contrast based on the description of heathen idols in Psalm 115:4-7.
• “Their idols are silver and gold.”
“No man hath seen God at any time … . the invisible God” (John 1:18; Colossians 1:15).
• “Their idols … The work of men’s hands.”
“The eternal God is thy refuge”(Deuteronomy 33:27).
• “Their idols … They have mouths, but they speak not.”
“For God speaketh once, yea twice” (Job 33:14).
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).
•“Their idols … eyes have they, but they see not.”
“Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13).
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
•“Their idols … They have ears, but they hear not.”
“Neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

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Idols — Part 1
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Though I have never seen it myself, I am told that the visitor to Pompeii is shown in the temple of Isis the statue of the god through whose open lips the ancient worshippers believed they obtained trustworthy answers to their petitions and questions. But, beside the ruined shrine, one also sees the secret staircase by which the fraudulent and deceptive priest reached the back of the idol and the concealed pipe through which he whispered the responses of their false deity.
When he arrived at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul found idolatry to be the order of the day, but, in presenting the true and living God, many were turned from dumb idols to the One who truly hears and answers prayer. What a thrill this must have been for those early believers, and for us — we still have that same prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. Talk to Him today, He is not like false gods who “have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths” (Psalm 135:16-17).

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

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Worry Less
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
The other day, I was driving with my cousin from her home to some Bible meetings, when I noticed her air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror. Here is what it said:
Pray More!
Worry Less!
This was a good reminder to a person like me who tends to worry more than he prays. It reminded me of the hymn by John W. Peterson that we often sang as young people. One of the verses went like this:
Why worry when you can pray?
Trust Jesus He’ll be your stay;
Don’t be a doubting Thomas,
Rest fully on His promise:
Why worry, worry, worry, worry,
When you can pray?
The Lord wants us to trust Him at all times in every situation, and have faith that He is in full control.

Monday, September 7, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
A few days ago, I was at a Christian camp for families in the State of Michigan. While there, I noticed this saying on the wall of one of the buildings.
God Loves Us,
Not Because We Are Lovable,
But Because He Is Love!
It got my attention and made me thankful for the verse that reminds us, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Divine love is very different than natural love, in that natural love looks for something lovable in its object, and to a great degree is dependent on a response from its object. However, divine love loves in spite of the object, and loves consistently, even when there is no response. None of us can say that we are unloved. If you feel that way any time during this week, just look up and remember His own words, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, September 6, 2020

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His Desire
“And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).
In the 25 chapter of Exodus, we have the Lord looking down from heaven on a redeemed people and desiring their company as they journeyed through the wilderness. This is not so much the Israelites looking up and requesting the Lord’s presence amongst them, but He looking down and wanting their company. Thus He gave very specific instructions as to how this could be, and, as a result, the tabernacle was built and set up so that this could be brought about. As a result, the Lord was able to dwell in the midst of His people all throughout their forty year sojourn in the wilderness.
So it is today. The Lord Jesus desires our company around Himself, according to the instructions of His Word. 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). He desires to have us there — can we say, “The desire of our soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee” (Isaiah 26:8)?

Saturday, September 5, 2020

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On the Go
Where is everyone going? I sit at a busy airport and wonder at the coming and going. I wait at a train station in Paris or London, and marvel at the number of people rushing on their way. I stand on a busy street corner and shake my head at the scores of vehicles hurrying past in all directions. Buses filled with people are everywhere. It seems as if everyone is on their way to somewhere today. Work, home, the store, school, holiday, and, I believe some are going, just to be on the move.
However, one thing is for sure and certain, in the end, we are all headed to one of two destinations — HEAVEN OR HELL! The Lord Jesus, when on earth, told His listeners to make sure they were on the right road headed to the right destination. He said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
So while we all rush to-and-fro in our daily haste to get where we think we should be or where we need to be, let’s make sure we are saved and on the way that leads to heaven.

Friday, September 4, 2020

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Jonah — Part 2
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Matthew 12:41).
Jonah so despised the Gentile city of Nineveh that he tried to run away from the Lord rather than preach there. The storm and great fish were used by the Lord to make Jonah obey. But, in his heart, he was angry with the Lord for not destroying the city. He was more concerned with his reputation as a prophet than the blessing of souls. “And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray Thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest Thee of the evil” (Jonah 4:2).
God used a gourd and a worm to speak to Jonah’s heart, and He appealed to Jonah for the many simple people and children who would have been destroyed if there were no mercy. History records that Jonah’s tomb is in Nineveh. It would seem perhaps that, not only was Jonah’s heart won to the people, but he also lived out his life ministering to them.

Thursday, September 3, 2020

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Jonah — Part 1
“Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3).
When our children were very small they created a novel way to hide from people when they wanted to be left alone or wanted their own way. They would close their eyes and assume that anyone they couldn’t see couldn’t see them as well.
Jonah had a more gown-up approach to hiding, but it wasn’t any more effective than our daughters’ approach. When God asked him to go to Nineveh and deliver a message, he decided to run in the opposite direction. But he soon found out that there is no place where God couldn’t find him.
Maybe one of my readers is trying to hide from God. You are a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, but you don’t want to go in the direction that He is leading, or do the things you know He wants you to do. But there is nothing to fear. He is always with you, and eventually Jonah, in the belly of the great fish, came to this realization, and could say, “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice” (Jonah 2:2).

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

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Teaching
“All that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1).
• The Greek philosopher, Socrates, taught for forty years.
• Aristotle, the classical philosopher and scientist, instructed and schooled the elite of the day for about the same length of time.
• Plato, founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the western world, taught for some fifty years.
• Jesus, the Lord of life and glory, taught and ministered for only three years.
Yet, those three years have had a far wider and longer-lasting influence than that of the three greatest philosophers of the ancient world. That is because they only produced and taught human wisdom and reasoning. Long forgotten or unheeded are the teachings of great men of past eras and generations. But the teaching of Christ are divinely inspired, and good for all time. Familiarize yourself with those teachings, value them, and allow them to influence and direct your life. Pray, like David, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth” (Psalm 86:11).

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

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A Commission
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
I sat down under a tree by the way,
And fell asleep in the heat of the day;
And I dreamed a dream where many were crying,
Because without Christ they knew they were dying.
They were pleading for someone to come and tell,
Of Jesus, the one who could save them from hell.
And as I awoke, their call having heard,
I prayed for courage to take the Word,
To those in need of salvation and light,
Forgiveness, and peace, and spiritual sight.
And this is a call we should all obey,
If we know Jesus — show others the way,
And proclaim the gospel far and near,
To the rich and poor, who to God are so dear;
This is a commission that can’t be ignored,
A command from our loving Savior and Lord!
Are you willing to go where He sends you next,
With the Word of God as your inspired text?
If you are willing to answer the call,
I am certain of blessing for one and for all!
“Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
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