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A daily meditation for young Christians

October 2020

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Saturday, October 31, 2020

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Peace with God
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
I recently heard a rather interesting statement in connection with this verse. “Peace with God is being able to look God straight in the eye.”
This peace and confidence in the presence of God comes only from having our sins washed away in the blood of Christ and being “justified.” “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9).
Justification is simply being seen before God in all the righteousness and perfection of Christ based on the work He accomplished on the cross. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In this way, we have “no more conscience of sins” (Hebrews 10:2).
This comes about by confessing that we are sinners, and by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
Can you look God straight in the eye?

Friday, October 30, 2020

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Monthly Question Page — Part 1
Q. Why does it say, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood” (Hebrews 9:22)? What things were not purged by blood?
A. Under the law in the Old Testament, everything connected with the tabernacle was sprinkled with blood. Every aspect of remission (forgiveness) under the Jewish covenant could only be on the basis of an animal’s life being taken and its blood shed. However, there was an exception for a poor Israelite to bring a meal or “meat offering,” Which had no blood. “Then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: it is a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering” (Leviticus 5:11-13). (Continued next month.)
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Thursday, October 29, 2020

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One Sentence Testimonies
“Truly God is good” (Psalm 73:1).
“The Lord is good” (Nahum 1:7).
As we visited various believers on the Island of Saint Vincent this week, we heard many stories of how God has cared for His children, and the Lord has sustained His people. Here are some of the sentence testimonies I jotted down as we went from place to place:
• The Lord took care of us in a very difficult time.
• Our faith in God was not disappointed.
• I know the Lord was watching over us the whole time.
• We were able to trust Him, even though things were rough.
• God’s goodness is what kept us going.
• We are so thankful to the Lord.
• I felt His nearness in the trial like never before.
• We have a wonderful Father.
What has the Lord done for you recently? What is your one sentence testimony, as you consider His goodness and care?

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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Monthly Scripture Reading
Nehemiah 8
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up.”

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

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Simplicity
“The simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Today, I am on the island of Saint Vincent in the Eastern Caribbean. I have spent most of the day going over legal papers and deeds regarding the title to buildings where believers meet regularly for worship, prayer, and other Bible meetings. It is very complicated with a lot of legal jargon, and ramifications I don’t understand. Some of these deeds and papers were drawn up over sixty years ago, and those involved are long with the Lord.
As I turn away from all this, I am thankful to realize that Christianity is not complicated. It is simple faith in the person of Christ, both for salvation initially, and then for every step and every moment of the believer’s life and pathway. God has clearly and simply set the path of faith before us, and we are told, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We sometimes tend to complicate things. But don’t complicate the Christian life or the Word of God. Walk with the Lord “in simplicity and godly sincerity” (2 Corinthians 1:12). It will certainly please Him!

Monday, October 26, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
Here in the Eastern Caribbean, where I am travelling this week, there is a saying amongst some Christians that goes like this,
Labor is rest and pain is sweet,
If Thou, my Lord art near!
While it may be a bit of a stretch, as work is work, and none of us like pain, yet there is much truth in the joy of having the assurance of the Lord with us through every circumstance of life. On one occasion, the Apostle Paul summed up his life for the Lord by saying, “In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft” (2 Corinthians 11:23). Yet, in all his labor, discomfort, and pain, he had the comfort and joy of being able to say, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me” (2 Timothy 4:17).
This week there will be much to do, and perhaps some pain as well. But it is a great thing to have the sweetness of the Lord’s company at all times.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, October 25, 2020

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Our Sins
“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
“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)?
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Foretold long before by the prophet Isaiah, on the cross the Lord Jesus took the punishment for sin, and, as a result, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Remember, it was not the physical sufferings of Christ that atoned for sin, but those sufferings in the three hours of darkness.That was when God laid our sins on Him, and we read, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Saturday, October 24, 2020

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“And He Died”
Go to a graveyard, walk slowly through it, and note the ages of those who are buried there. I think you will be surprised at the age range. In most large cemeteries, you will find everyone from one day old to just over one hundred.
In Genesis chapter five, we have the genealogy of Adam to Lamech. Those men before the flood lived to be several hundred years old. But, of each one, we read, “And he died” (verses 5,8,11,14,17,20,27,31). Today, people don’t live to be that old. In fact, if someone reaches one hundred, it is a big deal, and often cause for a big celebration.
But, one thing is for sure,“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
The great question is, “Are we ready?” We may be alive and healthy this morning, and in a coffin this evening. God’s gift of eternal life is available. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Where will you be if it is written in your obituary tomorrow, “And he died”?

Friday, October 23, 2020

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Benefits
Here are three verses that I enjoyed recently on the subject of benefits.
1. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19).
If we are honest with ourselves we have to admit that every day we experience the Lord’s goodness!  He gives us so much, and we want to be careful not to take it for granted.
2. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).
It is easy in the course of a busy day and the hassle of coping with society to forget the Lord and all the good things He is doing for us.  I for one certainly need to keep this verse in view, and to remember too, “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).
3. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me … I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,” (Psalm 116:12, 27)?
When we have considered the Lord’s wonderful benefits, then don’t forget to thank Him for them.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

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Answers
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him” (Proverbs 26:4).
“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Proverbs 26:5).
To the casual reader, these two statements at first seem to contradict one another. However, that is impossible, as there are no contradictions in the Bible and no verse of Scripture negates the truth or principle of another.
The lesson we learn from these two statements that appear back to back in the Word of God is this: Sometimes we need to give an answer and sometimes we just need to hold our tongue.
If we recognize that the question is asked to just stir up strife or cause an argument, then perhaps it is better not to answer. “Avoid foolish questions … for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus 3:9). However, sometimes there is need for an answer so that the person doesn’t go unchallenged and, as a result, glory in his own self-assurance and conceit. We see in the life of the Lord that He sometimes answered those who came with shallow and unlearned questions, and sometimes He did not. He alone can give us wisdom to know when to speak and when not to.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

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Cords
I recently enjoyed a three-part statement made by a brother in Christ, and I jotted it down in my notebook to pass along for the enjoyment of my readers as well. Here it is with some Scriptures that came to mind added to each statement:
Look to Christ and see there. . .
• The golden cord of love.
This brought to mind the verse,“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” (Hosea 11:4).
• The silver cord of hope.
This reminded me of David in the difficulties of his life, and how he often found his hope and comfort in His Lord. For example, “For in Thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15).
• The crimson cord of redemption.
This made me think of what Rahab was told by the spies. “Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window” (Joshua 2:18). By this means, all that were in her house at the time when the walls of Jericho fell, were saved. It is a picture of a believer being sheltered from judgment by the blood of Christ.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

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The Word of ….
God has spoken to us through the Bible, and as “The Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23), it is referred to in different ways. Here are ten of them:
•“The Word of God” (Revelation 1:2).
•“The Word of the Lord” (1 Peter 1:25).
•“The Word of Truth” (James 1:18).
•“The Word of His Grace” (Acts 20:32).
•“The Word of Reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
•“The Word of Righteousness” (Hebrews 5:13).
•“The Word of Christ” (Colossians 3:16).
•“The Word of Life” (Philippians 2:16).
• “The Word of Faith” (Romans 10:8).
•“The Word of My Patience” (Revelation 3:10).
What great importance is placed on the revealed mind of God! In this book, which we often esteem so lightly and take for granted, we have God’s message of warning, hope and blessing as to the future, as well as all that we need to know to live for Him in the present. How much value and emphasis do you place on this precious book?

Monday, October 19, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
Often, we long for, and perhaps even pray for, the absence of problems in our life. However, this is a very unrealistic goal since the Lord Himself said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33).
Instead of promising that we will be trouble free, the Lord has promised us that He is with us and will keep us and sustain us in spite of the problems. King David was a man who seemed to face trouble and problems all his life, but here is what he records in Scripture on the matter:
“In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock … The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble … The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble” (Psalm 27:5; 37:39; 41:1).
As we face the problems of this week, let’s pray for the grace to lean on the Lord and rely on all the resources He has supplied to get us through.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, October 18, 2020

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The Cross of Sacrifice
“Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor” (Ephesians 5:2).
Yesterday, my wife and I visited Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium. It is the resting place of 11,954 soldiers of the Commonwealth Forces. This is the largest number of burials contained in any Commonwealth cemetery of either the First or Second World War. It is the largest Commonwealth military cemetery in the world. The dates of death of the soldiers buried at Tyne Cot cemetery cover a period of four years, from October, 1914 through September, 1918, inclusive.
At the heart of the graveyard is a large monument called The Cross of Sacrifice. As we stood among the headstones in solemn contemplation, we were reminded of the Cross of Calvary. There was the greatest sacrifice ever given for the eternal salvation and blessing of man. Busloads of people from all over the world visit this, and many other memorial sites in Western Europe. Commemoration ceremonies are held on certain days and at certain times of the year to remember the great sacrifice so many made for the freedom of humanity and nations. But, today we remember the greatest sacrifice of all: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Saturday, October 17, 2020

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A Second Chance
Sometimes the question is raised as to whether those who have rejected God’s great salvation through the work of His Son on the cross will have a second chance to be saved after the rapture (the second coming of Christ). Let’s see what the Bible has to say on the matter:
“The bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not” (Matthew 25:10-12). “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are” (Luke 13:25).“They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
Have you heard the gospel and rejected it? If so, you will have no second chance after the Lord comes. Now is the time to be saved!

Friday, October 16, 2020

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Two Masters
“No servant can serve two masters”(Luke 16:13).
These words, spoken by the Lord Jesus to His disciples, challenge us to make a decision. If we profess to be truly saved, we cannot follow the Lord on the one hand and associate with the world on the other. Satan is the god and prince of this world and opposed to everything that is of Christ. The world rejected Christ, and still rejects Him today. Are we going to associate and have a part in that which has no love for our Savior? Such double-mindedness does not please the Lord. Later on, the Lord said to the disciples, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am” (John 13:13). However, it is easy to say things, quite another to mean it and to act on it. We can call Him our Lord, but the question is, is there reality in our hearts and a true desire to give Him that place?
Towards the end of his life, Joshua called the people of God together and challenged them, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” He then added, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Many, young and old, over the centuries have followed Joshua’s example, and, to be sure, have never regretted it.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

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Psalm 23 — Part 10
“Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5).
The mention of oil in the Bible is invariably a type of the Spirit of God. It is because the Spirit is with us and in us that we can enjoy the person of Christ, walk the Christian pathway with power, produce spiritual fruit, and have any understanding of the Bible. Of Asher we read, “Let him dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24). This figures to us the importance of what we read in the New Testament, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
But, in Psalm 23, it is a question of the head. It is “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). It’s having our thoughts completely governed by the Spirit, in conjunction with the Word of God. This is what makes our cup of joy and gladness overflow in worship, praise, and thanksgiving, and what turns it into, “the oil of gladness” (Psalm 45:7). This is how the Apostle Paul could say, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Let’s set our “mind on the things that are above” (Colossians 3:2 JND).

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

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A Healthy Believer
When I was a teenager attending high school in Smiths Falls, we had a Latin motto on our school crest, the translation of which read,
Healthy Mind,
Healthy Body.
While this is not a direct quote from the Scripture, it does have a Biblical equivalent in the Old Testament. Four times, Solomon wrote something to this effect.
1. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance” (Proverbs 15:13).
2. “He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).
3. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
4. “Go thy way … with a merry heart” (Ecclesiastes 9:7).
We are tri-part beings — “spirit and soul and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). These three parts of man are intimately connected and affect one another more than we realize. A healthy spiritual life makes for a happy, cheerful attitude, and, in turn, has an impact on our physical being.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

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Five More Words
Yesterday, we noted the words of the Apostle Paul expressed to the Corinthian believers, “I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19). Here are five more five-word statements from the Bible to encourage you today:
• “Jesus beholding him loved him”(Mark 10:21).
•“Christ also loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25).
•“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).
•“I will never leave thee”(Hebrews 13:5).
•“Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27).
With the realization that we are loved with a divine, unchanging love, we can rejoice in the Lord, knowing that He will never leave us. What peace this gives! No matter what we have to do or face in this world that is so hostile to Christ and His followers, these simple, clear, inspired declarations give us the strength and joy we need to live the Christian life.

Monday, October 12, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
On the back on an old address book, with the names and phone numbers of believers living in a certain locality, I found the following:
FIVE WORDS
“I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19).
•“Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21).
•“Behold the Lamb of God”(John 1:29).
• “Yea, He is altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:16).
•“We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25).
•“They shall see His face” (Revelation 22:4).
These five simple but beautiful statements, each with five words, give us a good perspective and proper focus for the week ahead. Have a fresh vision of Christ as you start out this week, and you will have good spiritual success.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, October 11, 2020

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Forsaken
“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 27:46).
“I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).
In a meeting at Mildmay, England, in 1890, the evangelist, Charles Spurgeon, related the following story:
An elderly believer who suffered much with bodily infirmity and pain asked a friend if he ever knew anyone forsaken of God, for he felt that was his condition. “Only one,” was the reply, “but He, today, is sitting on His Father’s throne, at His Father’s right hand.”
Yes, the Lord Jesus was forsaken of God in those awful three hours of darkness when He “made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now, as a result of that great work of Calvary, “He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20).
He was forsaken that we might never be forsaken.

Saturday, October 10, 2020

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You Are Loved
No person can truly live without love! To live without love is to languish physically and emotionally. But, the good news is that nobody has to live without love, as the following verses clearly show:
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love” (1 John 4:16).
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).
“And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him … Then Jesus beholding him loved him” (Mark 10:17, 21).
It is not a question of whether you are loved or not, but a question of whether you are enjoying that love. To know God as your Father and the Lord Jesus as your Savior is to experience that wonderful, divine, eternal love in a very real way. It is to have the assurance and joy of His words, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

Friday, October 9, 2020

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Broken
A young man, having broken his watch glass, entered a jeweler’s to purchase a new one. When the watch was returned, he inquired how much they would allow him for the broken pieces of the smashed one. On being told that broken things were of no value, he said, “I have a book at home that says something is no good until it is broken.”
“That must be a strange kind of book,” the jeweler replied.
“Yes,” said the young man, “it says,‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise’ (Psalm 51:17).”
“Oh,” said the jeweler, “I know, you are talking about the Bible.”
This simple story may seem a bit amusing, but it illustrates a very important truth. When we allow sin in our lives we need to get before the Lord and confess it in true repentance and humility. This is always the way of blessing, as the quoted verse indicates. Notice the order of the heart and spirit are reversed in this next quotation: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Thursday, October 8, 2020

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Hydrate
“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25).
“O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved” (Song of Solomon 5:1).
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1).
A major bottling plant in Trinidad has the following as its advertising slogan:
Hydrate Your Body!
Hydrate Your Mind!
We might add, in a spiritual sense,
Hydrate Your Soul!
We may well ask the question, “How then can we hydrate our soul? We are careful to keep our bodies hydrated, especially in hot climates or during the summer months. But, to keep spiritually hydrated, we need the water of the Word. Just as we need to keep physically hydrated on a daily basis, so we need to keep spiritually hydrated as well. We value good clean drinking water and many of us are willing to pay good money for it, but God has given us the pure “water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6). How much of it will you drink today?

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

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Circumstances
“Who teacheth like Him”(Job 36:22).
God sometimes puts us in strange and often difficult circumstances to teach us important lessons in His school.
• Joseph was put in prison to teach him to wait God’s time.
• Jacob wrestled with the angel at Peniel, where he learned that the blessing in life comes from wholly leaning on God, not by our own planning and scheming.
• Moses was in the back side of the desert to prepare him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.
• Jonah was in the belly of the great fish to bring him to the end of himself and teach him obedience.
• Paul and Silas were in prison to teach them to pray and rejoice, even in difficult circumstances.
• The Apostle John was exiled to the isle of Patmos in order to be used to write the book of Revelation.
Perhaps you are going through something you don’t understand at the moment. You are wondering why God is allowing this or that in your life. Don’t be discouraged, He has a purpose, and is teaching you and training you to be a useful vessel for His glory.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

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At His Feet
“Mary … sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word” (Luke 10:39).
Sitting at the Savior’s feet,
Listening to His words so sweet;
Words of life, and love, and truth,
Words to guide us in our youth —
Guiding us through every stage,
Relevant for every age.
Sitting quiet at His feet,
Come each day and take your seat;
There you’ll learn His happy way
For your pathway every day:
When His counsel there is sought,
Vital lessons there are taught.
Sitting still at Jesus’ feet,
We can every foe defeat!
Light and peace in every word,
From His gracious lips are heard;
Of Himself He loves to tell —
Take your place and listen well!

Monday, October 5, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
We are in Germany this week. Yesterday, there was a federal election in the country. Angela Merkel has won a fourth term as German Chancellor.
As we see things develop and evolve on the world stage, I am more and more thankful that the governments of this world have not been entrusted to the Church of God. The following verses show that God is in full control of the governments of this world, and puts whomever He wants into political office to accomplish His purposes:
“The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).
“For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”(Romans 13:1).
We are citizens of heaven and on our way to“a better country, that is, an heavenly” (Hebrews 11:16). In the meantime, our responsibility is“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers” (Romans 13:1).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, October 4, 2020

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Let Us
“O come, LET US sing unto the Lord: LET US make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation … LET US come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms … O come, LET US worship and bow down: LET US kneel before the Lord our maker … O magnify the Lord with me, and LET US exalt His name together … For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore LET US keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth … LET US draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water … LET US go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach … By Him therefore LET US offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name … LET US be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him” (Psalm 95:1; Psalm 95:2; Psalm 95:6; Psalm 34:3; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 13:13; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 19:7).

Saturday, October 3, 2020

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If Only
While in England recently, the following story was related to me:
One sunny day, two couples boarded a yacht and headed out to sea, anticipating a pleasant day of sailing. About three miles out, they came to a stop and one of them called out, “Anyone for a swim?” Within minutes, all four had dived into the sea. They swam and floated leisurely near the boat.
Eventually, the owner of the yacht headed for the stern where the boat’s ladder hung. To his horror, it was not there! He had neglected to lower it before they left the boat. In distress, he called the others. Shock swept over them. The high smooth sides of the boat only mocked them. The men lifted one of the women up, but she could find nothing to grip on to. Exhausted, they floated for hours in the shade of the yacht, and, although several boats were visible in the distance, none came close enough to hear their calls. One by one they drifted away to their doom. Only one of the four remained conscious long enough to be pulled to safety, and to tell the tragic story. Then, from sheer exhaustion, she too died.
If only! Yes, if only they had remembered to lower the ladder. But God has lowered His ladder of salvation for you. Have you taken hold of it? “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

Friday, October 2, 2020

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With God
What a wonderful thing it is to have a personal relationship with the God of the universe.
Enoch and Noah “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22; 6:9).
“Moses spake [with God]”(Numbers 27:15).
Mary,“found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
The believer has “peace with God” (Romans 5:1).
In Christian service we are to be “laborers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
We are to live and work in such a way that we “abide with God” (1 Corinthians 7:24).
Yes, God is very interested in each of us as individuals. Sometimes, in a large family we may feel left out or even forgotten, but God has no favorites. Thomas could declare, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). He is ours and we are His, and nothing can change that.
To walk with God, and talk with God,
Is joy and peace divine,
To know that I belong to Him,
All else I can resign.

Thursday, October 1, 2020

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Unmerited Favor
Someone in a Bible study recently made the comment that, “Grace is not merely unmerited favor, but favor in spite of merited judgment.”
I’ve thought a lot about this, and enjoyed the truth of it. As sinners we deserve judgment, but God has come in with His grace and provided a Savior and unnumbered blessings, along with care and provision for our life here and, in the future, a place in the Father’s house with Himself. Here are some Scriptures regarding that grace:
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
“And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16).
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
“That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).
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