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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

October 2021

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Sunday, October 31, 2021

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His Greatness
I have just returned from the Breaking of Bread meeting where we sang the following hymn:
O Lord, we adore Thee, For Thou art the slain One
That livest for ever, Enthroned in Heaven;
O Lord! we adore Thee, For Thou hast redeem’d us;
Our title to glory We read in Thy blood.
O God, we acknowledge Thy greatness, Thy glory!
For of Thee are all things On earth and in Heaven;
How rich is Thy mercy! How great Thy salvation!
We bless Thee, we praise Thee: Amen, and Amen.
The singing of this hymn brought to mind these verses:
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3).
“So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty: for He is thy Lord; and worship thou Him” (Psalm 45:11).
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power” (Revelation 4:11).

Saturday, October 30, 2021

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Where To
Sitting at a major airport recently, I said to my wife, “Where is everyone going to?” Her response was, “They’re all wondering the same thing.”
Yes, everyone seems to be going somewhere. It is characteristic of these days we live in, just before the coming of the Lord. The Bible states, “The time of the end: many shall run to and fro” (Daniel 12:4). We live in a restless world, and Satan uses this on-the-go attitude to keep people from considering where they are ultimately going when they leave this world.
The Bible tells of two destinations after this life, HEAVEN and HELL. All of us will end up in one or the other. For those who have believed the gospel and received Christ as Savior, Heaven is their final destination. Those who refuse God’s salvation through the work of Calvary will spend eternity in Hell, referred to as “Lake of Fire” (Revelation 20:14). That’s why the Lord 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).

Friday, October 29, 2021

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Monthly Question Page
Q. What is the difference between supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, as it appears in 1 Timothy 2:1? “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”
Q. Prayer is a general term. In 1 Timothy 4:5, the word “prayer” is literally translated, “freely addressing God.” (JND Translation). In other words, prayer is simply speaking to God or to the Lord.
Supplication is deeper and more specific. It has to do with matters and situations about which we are really exercised. It may be a special difficulty or trial, or a decision that needs to be made that is going to have a real impact on our life. The word beseech could be used with similar meaning. Intercession is to pray or intercede on behalf of someone else.
Whatever aspect of prayer we are utilizing, it should always be with thanksgiving. “Giving thanks always FOR all things” (Ephesians 5:20). “IN everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “In every thing by prayer and supplication WITH thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

Thursday, October 28, 2021

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The Marathon
In the 1980 Boston Marathon, the first female to cross the finish line was a woman by the name of Rosie Ruiz. Amidst much cheering, she received the winner’s medal. But then it was noted that her legs and general appearance looked far too fresh to have run a 26-mile race. An investigation discovered that she had entered the race at the last mile. As a result, she was duly disqualified.
Now contrast Rosie Ruiz with those who begin a marathon and finish last. Often, they are cheered just as much as those who come in first. This is because everyone appreciates the quality of perseverance.
The Bible likens the believer’s life to a marathon race. We are told, “let us run with patience [endurance] the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).The Lord wants consistency in our Christian life and testimony. At the end of Paul’s life he could say, “I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).Will you be able to say that with confidence at the end of your Christian race?

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

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Monthly Scripture Reading
Genesis 37
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

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Enlarged
“Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress” (Psalm 4:1).
Having been through some real trials and tests in my life recently, I have realized something of what it means to be enlarged in my soul spiritually. In my experience, to be enlarged in this way is to have a deeper appreciation of the following…
• The Lord’s presence.
• The person of Christ.
• The hope of His return.
• His ways with us.
• The grace, mercy and faithfulness of God.
• The love of Christ.
• The power of prayer.
• The power of God’s Word.
• The love and care of our fellow believers.
When our appreciation of these things is deepened, so is the heart’s affection for Christ. Then we can truly say, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted” (Psalm 119:71).

Monday, October 25, 2021

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Dear Young Christian:
Are you a truly happy Christian? I’m not asking you if you are a trouble-free Christian … I am asking you if you are a happy Christian. The Apostle Paul was a happy believer in spite of all the problems and persecutions he encountered from day to day. He said, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). Happiness and real joy are what should characterize those of us who are saved. Not that we don’t shed tears from time to time or feel pain and hurt. But, if we are walking with the Lord and enjoying His love, we have an inward joy which we cannot lose. The Lord told His disciples, “Your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22).
Remember too, our joy in the Lord, especially during trials and afflictions, is often a testimony to the unsaved. As they see the joy of the Lord radiate in our lives, they wonder how such a thing can be. So, as you start out this week, remember this exhortation: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland

Sunday, October 24, 2021

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The Blood
“But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced” (John 19:33-35)
It seems that man could not satisfy his hatred of Christ, but, as James G. Deck wrote:
The very spear that pierced Thy side
Drew forth the blood to save.
What an amazing plan of salvation! The blood of Jesus, shed there at Calvary, cleanses from every stain of sin. The question of sin has now been settled. God’s righteous requirements have been satisfied. Now today we can “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” (Hebrews 10:22).

Saturday, October 23, 2021

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A Warning
“When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just Man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him” (Matthew 27:19).
Pilate’s wife sent a very clear message to her husband to leave Jesus alone — to not condemn Him. However, Pilate did not listen to his wife’s warning. We soon read, “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified” (Mark 15:15). Secular history records that he soon lost his place of power and honor as well as his life — possibly by suicide. After death is the judgment. Pilate now awaits righteous judgment by the very One he judged unrighteously.
A few days before His trial, the Lord had asked the question, “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42). Pilate’s answer determined his destiny. Your eternal destiny also hangs on your answer to that question. Can you say, like Peter, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16)?

Friday, October 22, 2021

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Contentment
“Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me” (Proverbs 30:8).
This is a very hard prayer to pray, but it’s a good one. To be content with what the Lord has given will save so much frustration and trouble. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). “And be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
More important is spiritual growth which is the result of eating convenient food and is so much more essential than worldly wealth. All the things in this world are going to be burned up. “The Heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment” (2 Peter 3:7). Only what’s done for the Lord will have lasting value. Reading this calendar will give you a small spiritual vitamin pill each day. But we can’t get too much of the Scriptures. Don’t forget to read a portion of the Word of God daily.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

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Young People of Scripture
Eutychus
“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9). To get the full story read Acts 20:7-12.
The name Eutychus means “well off,” and so he was. He was in company with the early Christians in the city of Troas and was, no doubt, a true believer himself. He had the privilege of being present for the breaking of bread on the first day of the week, and, on this particular day, had the privilege of listening to the ministry of the Apostle Paul. However, he tired of all that and sat in a window, a dangerous place — especially when one is tired and three stories up. The result was that he fell to the street, outwardly seemed dead, but eventually was revived and restored to his brethren.
There is a lesson to be learned from this. We can become spiritually sleepy leaving ourselves open for the world and fall from that place of privilege we have been brought to by grace. While there is always restoration available, there is spiritual hurt and loss as a result.We are exhorted, “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep” (Romans 13:11).

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

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Comfort and Grace
Do you need comfort and grace for your circumstances and trials today?
Turn to…
“THE GOD
OF ALL COMFORT”
(2 Corinthians 1:3)
And to..
“THE GOD
OF ALL GRACE”
(1 Peter 5:10).

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

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Injured
A giant gorilla can be gentle. However, when visiting the zoo, I have heard it roar and seen it beat its chest when injured. Christians, too, are often gentle until injured by others, including other believers. When we’re hurt, we want to roar and say, “I’ve got to stand for my rights. I’m not going to let that person push me around. I’m going to think of myself first.”
Here are some good verses to keep in mind when we feel that way:
• “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men” (2 Timothy 2:24).
•“Speak evil of no man … but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:2).
•“The wisdom that is from above is … gentle” (James 3:17)
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the new believers at Thessalonica, he reminded them, “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).
Remember too, “The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness” (Galatians 5:22).

Monday, October 18, 2021

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Dear Young Christian:
It is good for us to learn early in our Christian experience that the source of our strength and might is not within ourselves but in the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. The Apostle Paul learned this, and by divine inspiration wrote the following: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power” (Colossians 1:11).
Are you strong physically but feel like you lack power in your Christian life? You will only have it as you walk each day conscious of the fact that your life is linked with the life of Christ in glory. That is the only source of true spiritual power. Without this divine power “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).
Rely on the Lord’s power as you start your weekly routine. You may feel your own weakness, but “when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland

Sunday, October 17, 2021

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The Father and the Son
“And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2).
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son” (Hebrews 11:17).
This story of Abraham and Isaac is one of the most beautiful foreshadowings of God the Father and His Son the Lord Jesus going to the cross, and the Son being offered as the true burnt offering. It is summed up by these wonderful words: “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). “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).
Today we remember that atoning work, realizing that for Isaac there was a substitute, “a ram caught in a thicket by his horns” (Genesis 22:13). However, for the Lord Jesus there was no substitute, He “offered Himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14).

Saturday, October 16, 2021

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True Love
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
In this text we have the basics of the gospel and salvation.
• First, we have God’s very nature … “Herein is love.”
• Second, we have our attitude towards God … “not that we love God.”
• Third, we have His attitude towards us … “but that He loved us.”
• Fourth, we have God’s great provision … “and sent His Son.”
• Fifth, we have the sacrifice and work of Calvary … “to be the propitiation.”
• Sixth, we have the reason for the work … “for our sins.”
This is true love, love beyond any earthly love. Have you come to know the One who is the source of that love? Is He your Savior and Lord? “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).

Friday, October 15, 2021

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Confession
“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
If you are a real believer and have been disobedient in something, you will have a bad conscience about it. To clear your conscience, it is necessary to confess this sin to God when you are alone with Him in prayer. Tell Him that you did it and why you did it. Be specific!
That’s what confession means. Tell Him you’re sorry about it and desire to avoid doing it again. Every sin confessed in this way is immediately forgiven! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God will never change His mind about you or disown you. You have been bought with the precious blood of Christ. You are too valuable to Him to be lost! Here are words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that were written for your assurance: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, 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 10:27-29).

Thursday, October 14, 2021

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Our Shepherd
“He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:3).
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, desires that we follow Him. He calls us, we hear His voice, and we follow. How simple a formula this is, and yet how often we miss it. To follow the Good Shepherd is to experience His love, His care, and the joy and peace that result from obedience and the enjoyment of His presence and approval. When you doubt His wisdom and love, then repeat, with David, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psalm 23:1-6).

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

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Our Purpose — Part 2
As mentioned yesterday our purpose in life should be fourfold. Here are the two further examples:
3. To edify and help our fellow believers:
The Lord as the perfect example said to His own, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace” (John 16:33).
We are told, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
4. To be God’s light to unbelievers:
Pilate said of the Lord, as the perfect example, “I find no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:4).
The Centurion gave a similar testimony: “Certainly this was a righteous Man” (Luke 23:47).
We are exhorted to “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).
It is only in this life that we have the privilege of living for Christ. Are we fulfilling the purpose we have been given by God?

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

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Our Purpose — Part 1
When I was a young person, I often thought how wonderful it would be if the Lord took us directly home to Heaven. There would be no school, no problems, no responsibility, and nothing to worry about. However, it doesn’t work that way. We are left here in this world for a reason, and, as believers, our purpose in life should be fourfold:
1. To live for the glory of God:
The Lord as the perfect example could say at the end of His pathway, “I have glorified Thee on the earth” (John 17:4).
We are exhorted, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
2. To do the will of God:
The Lord as the perfect example affirmed: “I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 6:38).
For us, we are to be “doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6). “That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Monday, October 11, 2021

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Dear Young Christian:
Yesterday, my wife and I were in Hohr-Grenzhausen, Germany. This area is famous for salt-firing pottery and stoneware. This is a special process where the firing kiln uses an open flame with wood, oil or gas, and, when the highest temperature is reached, common table salt is added. This crystallizes and fuses with the clay, giving it a special texture and quality. As my wife purchased a few small items from the factory shop, I was reminded of the following verses, “But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our Potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8). “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels … . Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in Mine hand” (Jeremiah 18:3, 6)
Just as those craftsmen make beautiful, useful pieces of pottery, so God is working with each one of us. He wants us to be useful vessels for Himself and His service and is forming us to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland

Sunday, October 10, 2021

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A Little Lower
“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).
We might well ask ourselves, In what way did He become “a little lower that the angels”?It was the fact that in becoming a man He could and did die. Angels cannot die! So, the Son of God “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
In the first chapter of Hebrews we read, “Being made so much better than the angels” (verse 4). Christ has a place and name far above angels. Psalm 2 is quoted to prove that, coming into the world, Christ takes a place much better than that of the most exalted created beings. However blessed their position, angels are but servants: Christ is the Son. Never was it said to an angelic being, “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee” (Hebrews 1:5).
So, we conclude that only in the fact of the suffering of death, and to taste death was He at that moment “a little lower than the angels.”
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Saturday, October 9, 2021

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The Way of Salvation
We frequently meet people who have no lasting peace in their hearts, even though they live a religious life and say they are Christians. What has gone wrong? They constantly look at themselves. When they think they have managed to do the will of God they become self-confident and even proud. If they have suffered defeat, they despair.
The Bible tells us that this is not the way of salvation. “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt” (Romans 4:4). No effort of ours will ever bring us any nearer to God. The Bible confirms that all our attempts to satisfy God will never meet with His approval. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).
We have to look away from ourselves and accept by faith the work of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary. There He satisfied God in every respect, and took our place in judgment, bearing the punishment for our unrighteousness, pride, and self-will. “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).

Friday, October 8, 2021

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Every Word
Today I am in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I am sitting at a desk in the guest room of the home I am staying in, and on the wall directly in front of me is a wall plaque with the following verse from the Bible:
“Every word of God is pure:
He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him”
(Proverbs 30:5).
Yes, as Solomon’s words remind us, we certainly need every word that God has written in His holy book, the Bible. We may have our favorite verses, stories, chapters, or writers, but we mustn’t neglect the rest of what we have in this book, so carefully written by inspiration over many centuries by so many different and diverse men. The Lord Himself said to Satan during the temptation in the wilderness, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).
The rest of the verse in Proverbs reminds us that our God is our protection and security, and that there is always safety in trusting Him. As Solomon’s father David said earlier, “But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3). I have enjoyed meditating on this verse this morning and trust you will too.

Thursday, October 7, 2021

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Two Dogs
“The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other” (Galatians 5:17).
H. A. Ironside shared the following:
An American Indian was giving his testimony in a gathering of Christian members of his tribe. He told of his conversion and of how in the beginning he felt as though he would never sin again; he was so happy in knowing His Savior. But as time went on, he became conscious of an inward conflict, which he described as follows: “It seems, my brothers, that I have two dogs fighting in my heart: one is a very good dog, a beautiful white dog, and he is always watching out for my best interests. The other is a very bad dog, a black dog, who is always trying to destroy the things that I want to see built up. These dogs give me a lot of trouble because they are always quarreling and fighting with each other.”
One of his hearers looked up and asked, “Which one wins?” The other instantly replied, “Whichever one I say ‘Sic ’im’ to.”
This is an apt illustration of the new nature and the sinful flesh in the believer. If we gratify the flesh, we will be certain to go down in defeat. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

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It Came to Pass
Here is an interesting article I came across the other day by H. A. Ironside:
He was a very illiterate man, who could only spell his way through the Bible with great effort and often failed to grasp the full import of the passages he tried to read. Rising to his feet in a testimony meeting where the leader had called upon each one to give his favorite portion of Scripture, the aged brother said, “I gets more help from them blessed words ‘And it came to pass’ than anything else in the Bible.”
Asked what he meant, he explained, “When I’m so upset with trouble and pestered with trials, I goes to the Bible and begins to read, and I never goes far before I come across them words, ‘It came to pass’ and I says, Bless the Lord. It didn’t come to stay. ‘It come to pass!’ ”
We smile at this quaint account, but we can all learn from his simple faith. For me it brings to mind the following Scripture: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

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Only a Moment
“Remember how short my time is” (Psalm 89:47).
“My days are swifter than a weaver’ s shuttle” (Job 7:6).
Only a moment fleeting,
In view of eternal days;
Only a little while,
To live for God’s glory and praise!
Few are the days of our sojourn,
Here upon planet earth;
Few are the years we are given …
Make them of Heavenly worth!
Use every passing moment,
While still in your youthful prime;
Live for your Lord each day,
Don’t squander your valuable time!
Soon life will pass and be over,
What will count in the end?
Only a life lived for Jesus,
This is what matters, my friend!

Monday, October 4, 2021

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Dear Young Christian:
“His compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
It is said that our first pursuits in the morning generally indicate where our hearts are. David said, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3).
The Children of Israel had to gather their daily food first thing in the morning, or they would be too late. “And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted” (Exodus 16:21).
If believers can rise from their beds and go about their daily business of life before they have looked up to the Lord and turned to the Scriptures, it is more than probable that their hearts have gotten away from God. Nothing can possibly make up for a lack of spiritual power and food, for “Christ is all” (Colossians 3:11).
Your Christian Friend,
Jim Hyland

Sunday, October 3, 2021

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God’s Son
“A Son” (Isaiah 9:6).
“The Son” (1 John 4:14).
“The Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
“The Son of the Father” (2 John 3).
“HisSon” (1 John 1:3).
“His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
“His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).
What a wonderful and glorious theme we have in the person of the SON! So often we are occupied with what the Son of God means to us, and I trust He means everything to our hearts. But it is a grand meditation to consider what the Son means to the heart of God His Father. At His baptism on the banks of the Jordan River, we read, “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). This was God’s commendation concerning His delight and joy in His Son. Later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, God the Father gives another confirmation of His pleasure and approval. “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him” (Luke 9:35).

Saturday, October 2, 2021

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I Know
“One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).
The ninth chapter of John’s gospel is a lovely account of a man who was born blind but who was one day healed by the Lord Jesus. When questioned by the Jewish leaders as to what had happened, he made no attempt to try and explain it. He couldn’t have, even if he had wanted to. All he knew was that, up until that miraculous day, he had never seen anything. Then all of a sudden, he was cured. He saw the sunlight, people moving, the sky, the grass, flowers, colors, and so on. But even more wonderful, he saw the Son of God standing in front of him. A marvelous change had taken place which could not be denied. And although he could not explain it, it was indeed real … no question about it!
This story is an illustration of the change that takes place in a soul when the sinner turns to the Lord and there is a work of the Spirit to open our spiritual eyes to see beauty in Christ. We don’t need to understand, as the proof is in itself. It is something that we accept humbly and by faith. It is His work, as the Scripture says, “The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind” (Psalm 146:8). Has He opened your eyes?

Friday, October 1, 2021

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Sin and the Bible
“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11).
“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
Someone has well said, “The sin that we commit does not produce our state of soul but manifests it. Why do I sin? because I want to.”
Someone else has stated, “The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
These statements show us the importance of judging sin in our lives, and the importance of daily reading and searching the Word of God.
Here is a short, daily check list that will help us in that regard:
❑ Did I start the day with prayer?
❑ Did I read something from my Bible?
❑ Did I obey His Word?
❑ Did I keep as far away from temptation as possible?
❑ Did I judge sin in my life?
❑ Did I live in the consciousness of the Lord’s company?
❑ Did I ask the Lord’s help throughout the day?
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