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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

November 2020

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Monday, November 30, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
None of us can anticipate what is ahead for this coming week. But there is one person who knows exactly what’s ahead, and one who has planned it all for our good. There will be no surprises as far as He is concerned. Of course, I am talking about the Lord Jesus, our Savior, Friend, and Guide. “But He knoweth the way that I take” (Job 23:10). “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6).
Thankfully, we don’t know what is ahead, as it is a burden we could not carry. We remember the past, we deal with the present, but, mercifully, God has blocked us from knowing what is ahead, other than the fact that we have a home secured in heaven and what has been told us as to prophetic events. But as to day-to-day events, we are to live for Christ each moment and not worry about what may be around the next corner. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matthew 6:34). If you enter this week with this confidence I know it will be happy and profitable.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, November 29, 2020

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Ascension
“The working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:19-21).
One of the glorious truths of Christianity is the ascension of the Lord Jesus back to heaven to sit down on the right hand of God, having completed the work that His Father had given Him to do. That is, the work of redemption! His joy was to do the Father’s will and to return to the Father as a glorified Man. He had this before Him throughout His whole life on earth. This is really the meaning of the statement, “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Today we look back to Calvary to remember that great work, but we also look up and worship an ascended Man, while we look forward to the time when we will see Him face to face.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

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Heaven and Hell
People love to believe there is a heaven but resent being told there is a hell.
Without any authority, many try to prove the nonexistence of hell, or else they deny its endlessness. The only true authority, the Son of God who knew all about it, has said this:
“These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).
“Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him”(Luke 12:4-5).
“Into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not”(Mark 9:43-44).
 “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”(Matthew 24:51).
“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).

Friday, November 27, 2020

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Monthly Question Page — Part 2
(Continued from last month.)
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. Last month, we noted that with the “meat (meal) offering” there was no shedding of blood. This typifies a person being brought into blessing through simple faith in the person of Christ, even though they don’t have a clear understanding of His finished work on the cross. This would include young children, and those who have never had the gospel explained to them.
“This is the offering … the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual” (Leviticus 6:20). The “fine flour” speaks of the perfections of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be many in heaven who, like the woman in the days when the Lord was on earth, “touched the hem of His garment” (Matthew 9:20). They didn’t grasp the full implications of the Lord’s death and shedding of blood, but they had a simple, child-like appreciation of who He was and a love for Himself. Thus, the term, “almost all things.”
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Thursday, November 26, 2020

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Thanksgiving
“And when ye will offer a sacrifice of THANKSGIVING unto the Lord, offer it at your own will” (Leviticus 22:29).
“That I may publish with the voice of THANKSGIVING, and tell of all Thy wondrous works” (Psalm 26:7).
“Offer unto God THANKSGIVING; and pay thy vows unto the most High” (Psalm 50:14).
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with THANKSGIVING” (Psalm 69:30).
“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of THANKSGIVING, and declare His works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107:22).
“I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of THANKSGIVING, and will call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:17).
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with THANKSGIVING” (Colossians 4:2).
“Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and THANKSGIVING, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:12).

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

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Monthly Scripture Reading
Jeremiah 18
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear My words.
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel.
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

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God Is for Us
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest … . Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight” (Joshua 1:9; 10:25).
Every day we can have confidence and assurance that our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, is with us and on our side in our daily battles with our enemy, Satan. We must never forget that we are very special to God the Father and to the Lord. Remember, we cost them a great deal. The Father sent the Son, and the Lord Jesus gave His life and shed His blood for us on Calvary’s cross. He died so that we could be with Him for all eternity.
We can face the enemy and overcome; not in our own strength or through our own devices, but in the power of the one of whom we read, “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?
The realization of this wonderful truth should be a real encouragement to us. God does not look down on us. We are His children and He loves us very much. Remember this, and take courage as you face the day.

Monday, November 23, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that every day brings its own perplexities. How good it is to know that the guidance of the Lord is continual. “And the Lord shall guide thee continually” (Isaiah 58:11).
However, if we choose our own way, we cast off the Lord’s guidance. If we abstain from self-will, then He will direct our every step. If we will only let ourselves be guided by Him, we will be sure of a sense of His presence with us to give His peace and joy to our hearts, and to be “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
Asaph, the inspired writer of Psalm 73, summed it up with these words:“Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee” (Psalm 73:23-25). Let’s truly seek the Lord’s guidance this week and walk in the light and joy of His company.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, November 22, 2020

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Thinking of Him
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16).
Our thinking about Jesus gives extreme pleasure to God His Father, and He especially remembers those that think on the Lord’s name. That name of JESUS is very dear to God’s heart. It is recorded of Him, “Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him” (Proverbs 8:30). His Father declared from the open heavens, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
It is the name above every name, that God has given Him. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10).
It’s the name of His only Son. Today, many of us will remember the Lord in His death at Calvary. We will mention His name many times. And there will be some silent times as we think on His name and thank Him from our hearts for what He did to save us. Think on Jesus today.

Saturday, November 21, 2020

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Neglected Warning
On the night of April 14-15, 1912, the finest and safest vessel that had ever been built, the “unsinkable Titanic,” struck an iceberg and sank. “The staggering fact,” an editor commented, “is not that the ship went down, but that she went down after fifteen hours of radio warnings, her engines at full speed, her band playing, her passengers dancing and, apparently, nobody caring that there was ice ahead.”
We shake our heads at such neglect and foolishness. More than fifteen hundred lives lost, which made it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. The saddest part about it is that it could have been avoided.
And yet there are many at this moment who are heading for destruction and they seem to have little if any concern or care about it. There is a moment coming when “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Have you heeded the warnings? Don’t wait until it is too late!

Friday, November 20, 2020

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Trusting
To trust someone is to put full faith and confidence in that person. The following are some questions and answers in regard to trusting the Lord.
• Why should we trust the Lord?
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).
• When should we trust the Lord?
“Trust in Him at all times”(Psalm 62:8).
• How much should we trust the Lord?
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart” (Proverbs 3:5).
• What is the result of trusting the Lord?
“Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
• What does the Lord promise when we trust Him?
“He is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in Him” (Psalm 18:30).
“The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants: and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22).

Thursday, November 19, 2020

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Psalm 23 — Part 11
 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).
Several years ago, my wife and I drove through Wales. It is a country of rolling green hills dotted with quaint farms full of flocks of sheep. As we came over a hill, we were suddenly brought to a dead stop due to a large flock crossing the road. Out front, we could see the shepherd leading his sheep to fresh pasture. As the last of the sheep came into view, we noticed two sheep dogs hard at work keeping the stragglers and those that wanted to go their own way from taking off in the wrong direction. I said to my wife, “That’s Goodness and Mercy.”
Yes, we have the goodness of God to enjoy and rest in. “The goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1). And we also have His mercy to carry us through every situation: “His mercy endureth forever” (Psalm 118:1). With the Great Shepherd leading us, and His goodness and mercy to follow and protect us, we can indeed follow on as His sheep no matter how steep or difficult the path of faith, and no matter how much the enemy seeks to discourage us and lead us astray.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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Our God
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).
This is a marvelous thought to begin and end each day.
The first part of the verse uses words of power and protection. “The eternal God,” is power. “Thy refuge” is protection.
The second part of the verses uses words of consistency and compassion. “Everlasting” is consistency. “Arms” would speak of compassion.
Yes, we are guarded from above, around, and underneath. Such truth should encourage us to trust in our God at all times, in all circumstances. This is our God, and we can have full confidence in His wisdom, power, love, and purpose. We can echo the language of the prophet, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).
His power far exceeds our thought,
His love will never fail,
This God is ours and we are His,
Why should we fear or quail.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

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Unto the End
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1).
Having loved … He loved them unto the end.Not simply to the end of His journey down here in this world, but He would continue to love them throughout their experiences in spite of the fact that He was going away and returning to heaven.
Just so it is with us. His love is ever the same. He says,“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). In the New Testament, the question is raised,“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ” (Romans 8:35). The answer is clear, “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Enjoy that love today!

Monday, November 16, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
The work of the Lord usually has small beginnings.
I have recently been reading of different pioneer missionaries such as Hudson Taylor to China, Ida Scudder to India, John Williams to the South Sea Islands, Mary Slessor to Calabar, West Africa, and so on. I have read these and many other accounts over the years, but the one thing that impressed me this time was how insignificant the work seemed at first. And yet those individuals pressed on by faith in spite of much opposition and many setbacks. As the work grew so did their faith, and, by the end of each one’s life, much had been accomplished to the glory of God.
Has the Lord given you something to do in His service? Remember, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). The work of the Lord has small beginnings, and, in the measure in which we are diligent and faithful, we will be given more, and the work will grow and flourish.This week, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, November 15, 2020

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The Same Lord
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
I am writing this page on Sunday, the 5 of November, 2017. During the remembrance meeting this morning in Dickson Village Saint Vincent, there was a small earthquake. As the meeting room shook gently for a few seconds, it made me think of the above verse concerning the early believers gathered together in the early days of Christianity. In those days, there was great power with many signs and wonders to confirm the Word of the Lord and His mighty work and presence.
While we are not in the days of early Christianity, and we do not experience such outward shaking and other signs in the same way, yet it is wonderful to know that we have the same Lord, and the privilege of being in His presence for the breaking of bread, prayer, and ministry of the Word of God. Matthew 18:20 still stands: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Will you be gathered with such today, around the person of Christ? He is the Same!

Saturday, November 14, 2020

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The Assizes — Part 2
“And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” (Revelation 20:11).
Last Saturday, we learned that the Assizes was a court that formerly sat at intervals in each county of England and Wales to administer the civil and criminal law. Here is another account from the archives of that judiciary, as told by one who was there on that occasion.
A youth in the county of Durham stood up and pleaded guilty. The sentence was passed and the jailer led the way down the steps to the cell. It seemed that he had no one to plead his cause. As he turned to descend the steps he looked around the balcony, where a woman, rising to her feet and wiping the tears from her eyes, gave a look of love, but was speechless. Who was it, I wondered? It was his mother. It was, however, beyond her power to say a word.
How sad to think that there will be young people at the Great White Throne of judgment who will be sentenced to hell for eternity, and whose parents, having been saved, will not be able to plead their case. I hope no reader of these pages will suffer that fate.

Friday, November 13, 2020

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Friday the Thirteenth
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
Friday the thirteenth is considered by many as a day of bad luck, and a day to be extra careful and wary of adverse happenings. You can look up the origin of this superstition and find pages of information on the subject, and a diversity of thought as to why both “Friday” and the number “thirteen” are thought to be unlucky.
But, as believers, we don’t have to be worried about such things. We understand that every day is in the Lord’s hand and that He guides and orders our circumstances according to what He sees is best. We have the assurance that every day is a blessing and that we belong to “Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11).
Although today is another Friday the thirteenth, it should be a day of rejoicing in the Lord, trusting in His love and goodness, and a day when we can serve Him and others. Don’t be afraid to go forth in the confidence that He is in full control of whatever happens, and that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).

Thursday, November 12, 2020

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Not My Will
Today, I picked up an old periodical dated August 1971, and, among other things, was struck by one of the paragraphs I read. I will quote it here for your consideration as I believe it has a message relevant to all of us whether young or old.
“Why are so many of God’s children not enjoying full peace and liberty in their souls? It is simply because they are following the will of their fallen nature in many details of their lives. In fact in many details of their daily life they have not even stopped to consider what God’s will is about it. So as a consequence they are not in conscious fellowship with God, walking by the Spirit in every detail of their daily life in obedience to His revealed will.”
How true this is! Although our sins are forgiven, and we are on our way to heaven, there is never the day-to-day experience of joy and peace unless we have the same submissive spirit of the Lord Jesus, who said, “Not My will, but Thine” (Luke 22:42). Then let us “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

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Armistice Day
Armistice: noun; An agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce, ceasefire, peace, suspension of hostilities.
Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11th to mark the armistice signed in Compiegne, France between the Allies of World War I and Germany. It took effect at 11:00 am—the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The date was declared a national holiday in many allied nations, and it coincides with Remembrance Day and Veterans Day.
Today, around the world, young and old will pause to remember those who have given their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of humanity and for the freedom of nations and peoples.
But let’s pause and think about the Lord Jesus who paid the ultimate price at Calvary to set us free from the power of sin and Satan. He took the punishment for our sins, gave His life, and shed His blood. “Seek the Lord, and … . Remember His marvelous works that He hath done” (Psalm 105:4-5).

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

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Bitter or Better
“Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better” (Ecclesiastes 7:3).
Trouble will make us either bitter or better. Notice how very little is needed to change these two words—just the letter “I”. It is the “I” that changes the whole matter. When the “I” keeps out of the question, out of the difficulty, and Christ is brought in, life will be better; but when the “I” is introduced and gets mixed up into the trouble, life will become bitter, and we will become hard. Too many times this “I” gets in the way and the poor hurt ego gets a slap, and off it runs screaming for attention. The poor little ego sits and weeps tears of self-pity until his eyes are so red and inflamed that he can’t see things as they are or should be.
On the other hand, trouble, if correctly used, will bring great peace and deep surrender. What are you seeking in your trouble today? Is it deliverance or development? Take the positive attitude and use your trouble as one of the most wonderful instruments God ever placed into your hands for the working out of the character of Christ to be formed and duplicated in you. And remember, troubles will make you either bitter or better!

Monday, November 9, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
I have been thinking about what an easy thing it is to hold back just a little of our resources because of something we want for ourselves. Solomon, in his God-given wisdom, declared, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it” (Proverbs 3:27).
Do you want to serve the Lord? One way of serving the Lord can be in giving to others — whether it be our time, our listening ear, money, food, or just a word of encouragement. If we have the power or the means to give, then let us give and not worry about losing something for ourselves. The Lord will repay in His own time. He is no man’s debtor. The New Testament reminds us, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).Like the Apostle Paul, my prayer for you this week is “That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, November 8, 2020

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A Finished Work
“It is finished” (John 19:30).
These words, uttered by the Lord Jesus reflect back to the words He had previously uttered, when, with confidence and assurance, He said, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). Having finished that work of bearing our sins and fulfilling all Old Testament prophesies up to that point, He then says, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46). Solomon said, “There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death” (Ecclesiastes 8:8). But here was One who had that power. He is able at one moment to lift up His voice with strength, and the next moment to deliver up His spirit. It was the fulfilment of His own words, “I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18). We remember a finished work today. What peace and assurance this gives to our hearts and minds.

Saturday, November 7, 2020

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The Assizes — Part 1
“I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them … And they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11,13-15).
The Assizes was a court that formerly sat at intervals in each county of England and Wales to administer the civil and criminal law. In 1972, the civil jurisdiction of assizes was transferred to the High Court, and the criminal jurisdiction to the Crown Court. The following story from that court illustrates the time when those who refuse God’s offer of salvation will stand before the Lord as their judge.
A poor young woman with a baby in her arms stood convicted of a serious crime. The counsel pled hard with the judge to show pity. Finally, the judge, with an officious wave of his hand and flourish of his robes, said, in a deep voice, “I am not here to show pity, but to execute the law.”
Mercy, grace, and full pardon are offered now, have you accepted it? Someday it will be too late!
(Continued next Saturday.)

Friday, November 6, 2020

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Love, Grace, and Mercy
In a home in Guyana we were seated in the main room of the house waiting for our hostess to appear. On the wall was a clock, and on the face of the clock were these words:
Thank God for His love, grace, and mercy.
I wonder if whoever designed the face of that clock felt that any time was a good time to be thankful for those three things. Whatever thought the designer had, we can be assured that God’s love, grace, and mercy are things we should be profoundly thankful for at all times.
• Without His love, we would be lost and on our way to hell.“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
• Without His grace, we could never live the Christian life. “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
•Without His mercy, we would never get through the circumstance of life.“It is of the Lord’s mercies thatwe are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22).
Have you taken time today to be thankful for His love, grace, and mercy?

Thursday, November 5, 2020

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Dare
“Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone!”
I am sure I have sung those words dozens and dozens of time from my youth up. And yet, I have probably thought little about them on most occasions.
But let’s ask ourselves these questions today:
• Do we dare to stand for the Lord, even if we have to do it alone?
• Do we dare to refuse that which is evil, even if it means reproach or suffering?
• Do we dare to be faithful in telling others the gospel, even if we don’t always see results?
• Do we dare stand faithfully for the truth of God’s Word even when others are giving it up?
Of Daniel we read, “But Daniel purposed in his heart” (Daniel 1:8).
The Apostle Paul had to say, “No man stood with me” (2 Timothy 4:16).
The writer of Psalm 102 said, “I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top” (Psalm 102:7).
The Lord said to His disciples: “Ye shall … leave Me alone” (John 16:32).

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

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Point of Departure
Here in Guyana, South America, and the islands in the Eastern Caribbean where I have been travelling the past couple of weeks, we find that we often take a wrong turn or what we think is the right way, only to find a dead end or the road completely impassable. We then have to turn around and return to the place where we got off track.
This has reminded me of an expression I often heard older Christians say when I was a young person: “Get back to the point of departure.” What they meant was that, when we sin or get off the path of faith and obedience, we must confess our sin and get to the root of what caused us to depart from the Lord so that we can experience the Lord’s restoration. David did that when he realized he had sinned. Here is part of his prayer of confession at that time: “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me … Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow … Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me … Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation” (Psalm 51:3, 7, 10, 12). Read the whole Psalm and, if you find yourself in a similar situation, Get back to the point of departure!

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

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Lonely and Sad
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5).
When I’m lonely, when I’m sad,
When I think that I have had
All that I can take today,
Jesus comes to wipe away,
All my tears, and fears allay.
When I’m sick, and ill at ease,
Nothing seems at all to please;
When cast down in deep distress,
Jesus comes to heal and bless,
Burdens lift, and wounds to dress.
Then I praise Him, then I sing,
Knowing He is Everything!
All is rest and peace divine,
Knowing Jesus Christ is mine,
All is well, yes all is fine.

Monday, November 2, 2020

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Dear Young Christian:
“See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).
Have you ever said, “I just find it hard to tolerate that person”? Perhaps it would be good to stop and wonder how many people are saying that about you. Someone recently said to me, “For every person that you find hard to tolerate, there may be several who feel that same way about you.”
Is there someone in your life that really bugs you? Is there a person you find simply annoying or even repulsive? Maybe you say, “I just can’t stand them!” However, if we look at others through the eyes of Christ it will make a vast difference. When we realize that every individual is equally loved, and each believer is equally blessed, it helps us to not only tolerate others, but to love them with the same divine love that has been showered on us. “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Try it this week and see what happens. I’m sure it will make a difference.
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland
We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sunday, November 1, 2020

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Wholehearted Praise
“Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation” (Psalm 111:1).
In this verse, we are first of all given a command to praise the Lord. Then, we are given the example of the inspired writer, who declares that he is going to wholeheartedly praise the Lord in fellowship with others who have the same desire.
For many of us, we will have this opportunity and privilege today. It is wonderful to praise the Lord each day of the week, but there is also the privilege of gathering together with other believers collectively for this purpose. We are encouraged to, “Come before His presence with singing … . Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:2,4).
Remember too, that the Lord doesn’t want just halfhearted praise, He wants wholehearted praise. Is your heart full of praise today? David declared “I will praise Thee with my whole heart” (Psalm 138:1).
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