Young Christians Calendar – September 2022

September 2022

Monthly Question Page

Q. I do not come from a Christian family, and often my parents as well as my older brother make fun of me. What reaction should I have?

A. The Lord, when here on earth, often spoke of how those who were not His own would reproach and revile those who loved Him. He also gave instructions as to how to react. Here is one example:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”(Matt. 5:44).

While I am sure your family does not hate you, yet because they are not saved, they cannot understand why you live and act the way you do as a Christian. The best testimony you can give is to quietly live for Christ and follow the Lord’s example,

“Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, he threatened not; but committed Himself to him that judgeth righteously”(1 Peter 2:23).

Remember too, this wonderful promise,

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).

Thursday, September 29, 2022

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In Your Heart

“Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes” (Deuteronomy 11:18).

Here are eight keys to having our hearts warmed and drawn to Christ as we pass through this cold, heartless world:

• Put your cares in the Lord’s hand,

He will put His peace in your heart.

• Center your thoughts on Himself,

He will put His knowledge in your heart.

• Rest your hopes on His promises,

He will put His assurance in your heart.

• Think often of His grace and mercy,

He will put His song in your heart.

• Meditate on His work, past/present/future,

He will put His love in your heart.

• Make Christ the apex of your whole life and being,

He will magnify Himself in your heart.

• Walk in fellowship with the Lord,

He will put His sweetness in your heart.

• Continually rejoice in the Lord,

He will put His joy in your heart.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

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Monthly Scripture Reading

Philippians 1

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

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Daily Life

Here are some invitations from the Lord Himself that are relevant and needful for our daily lives as believers:

• “Come unto Me” (Matthew 11:28).

He invites us to come with our burdens and concerns, and find comfort and peace even in difficult times.

• “Learn of Me” (Matthew 11:29).

The Lord has lessons for us to learn throughout our whole live, and as Elihu reminded Job, “Who teacheth like Him?” (Job 36:22).

• “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19).

To have Him as our guide is essential to being kept in the path of faith and service for His glory.

• “Abide in Me” (John 15:4).

This is an appeal for maintaining constant communion. We need to remember that apart from Him we can do nothing, and there will be no spiritual fruit in our lives.

• “Believe also in Me” (John 14:1).

He wants us to trust Him at all times and in every situation. He is worthy of our confidence and will never fail or disappoint our faith.

Monday, September 26, 2022

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Dear Young Christian,

Daniel O’Donnell is a well know Irish singer of both secular and Christian songs. As I waited for my wife to get up this morning so we could have breakfast together, I listened to one of those songs entitled “If Jesus Comes Tomorrow?” I had listened to it before, but perhaps thought little about it. What went through my mind this time was, Shouldn’t it be “If Jesus comes TODAY?”

This hope of the Lord’s coming is to be such a reality that we should be looking for it TODAY, right now! As we go about daily life we should be thinking and living like those who are ready to take the next step from earth to the Father’s house. It is good for us to look up from time to time and quote the last prayer and recorded words of believers in the Bible: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). This hope is in no way an uncertain hope like the hopes of this life. “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:19). Perhaps TODAY!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Sunday, September 25, 2022

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The Lamb

“John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

“And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36).

What a declaration, and what a glorious subject for our heart’s meditation. THE LAMB OF GOD! The theme runs throughout Scripture, from the sacrifice of Abel until the last page of the inspired Word. Forever we will be occupied with the Lord Jesus in this aspect of His work. As the following quote so preciously says:

“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain…the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb…And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:6, 8-10).

Saturday, September 24, 2022

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Pardon Refused

In 1830, George Wilson was sentenced to death for murder committed during a robbery. Andrew Jackson, who was at that time president of the United States of America, exercised his right and sent Wilson a full and free pardon, which he vigorously refused. The matter was then referred to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice John Marshall gave the ruling: “A pardon depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept it, but pardon refused is no pardon.”

George Wilson was executed!

Most, if not all, of us, can hardly imagine such a thing. Yet there are multitudes in this world everyday refusing the greatest pardon ever offered to mankind. Here it is:

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

What have you done with God’s offer of pardon through the work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary? Have you refused it, or accepted it?

Friday, September 23, 2022

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Life Is Short

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow”
(Matthew 6:34).

When I was a boy I always wished that I was older than I was. I thought if I were only 13, a teenager, I would have it made. When I reached 13, I wanted to be 16, so I could drive a car. Then it was 18, because I thought I would have more privileges. When I reached 18 my longing was to be 21, and be of age and, as I thought, free to do as I pleased and out from the yoke of my parent’s authority. Now in my sixties I feel like I’ve blinked and it’s gone. Much of it I have wasted and frittered away, and I can only echo the words of the Apostle Paul, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Life is short! As my mother used to say, “Don’t wish your life away, live for the Lord today…one day at a time.” As an older friend and brother in Christ, I want to encourage those of you who are younger to do this. I know there are certain stages of life we think will never end, but they do, and sometimes the stage on the horizon is more challenging than the one we have just gone through. Trust the Lord, seek His will for today, and do it, and leave tomorrow and the future in His loving hands.

Thursday, September 22, 2022

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Well Doing — Part 2

“For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (1 Peter 3:17).

There is a certain sense in which it is easy to suffer for wrong doing. The unbeliever grits his teeth and takes his punishment. The believer, when caught, or when conscience dictates confession, acknowledges their wrong and deals with the consequences.

However, it is quite another matter to suffer for “well doing.” This takes spiritual fortitude and a close walk with the Lord. And our reaction to such suffering says a lot about our spiritual state of soul. Do we take it in the spirit of Christ, of whom we read: “Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23)?

Here is what Peter further declares on the matter:

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled…For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (1 Peter 3:14, 17).

So we are told, “Cease to do evil; Learn to do well” (Isaiah 1:16-17).

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

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Well Doing — Part 1

“Ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing” (2 Thessalonians 3:13).

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

There is so much that can be done for the Lord that is considered “well doing.” It isn’t always busy activity either. It can be as “well doing” as praying for someone, even before we get out of bed in the morning. Maybe a text or message with an appropriate verse of Scripture or an encouraging thought for the day. Of course, there are a host of “well doings” that could keep us busy from morning until night, and we are exhorted by our verse today to carry these out patiently and joyfully, and in so doing we will reap a reward from the Lord, who so appreciates it and tells us, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

In His strength we can carry on without fainting for the blessing of others and the satisfaction of our own hearts, knowing there has been, for His glory, some “well doing” on our part today.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

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The Lord is MY…

Last week, we wrote of the Lord being MY Rock. Here is a similar meditation.

To know the Lord is a very personal thing. It is not to know Him at a distance or in some vague or ambiguous way. No, it is intensely personal and unquestionably individual. We belong to the Lord and He belongs to us. Here are some verses that define just how true this is:

• “The Lord is MY strength and song, and He is become MY salvation: He is MY God” (Exodus 15:2).

• “The Lord is MY Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).

• “The Lord is MY light” (Psalm 27:1).

• “The Lord is MY strength and MY shield” (Psalm 28:7).

• “But the Lord is MY defense” (Psalm 94:22).

• “The Lord is MY portion” (Lamentations 3:24).

• “The Lord is MY helper” (Hebrews 13:6).

The Lord is mine, I love Him so,
MY all for every need;
In every circumstance of life,
Sufficiency indeed!

Monday, September 19, 2022

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Dear Young Christian,

“He opened to us the scriptures” (Luke 24:32).

It seems that every time I turn around I am dealing with another passphrase or password. I find it very frustrating, especially since I am dyslexic (a disease where a person tends to reverse numbers and letters). When this happens too many times, then the account or page freezes and I am left stuck with having to reboot, or rename, and reassign a new set of letters, numbers, and hashtags.

Thankfully I can open my Bible or my prayer-link to the throne of grace and not have to worry about such things. How easy our God has made it to access heaven and His open ear so that I can come every hour of every day, and every hour of every night as well.

Are you taking advantage of this wonderful resource? Will you open your Bible and let the God of the universe speak to you? Will you access the throne room of the universe in prayer today? No passphrase or password need! “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Luke 11:9).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Sunday, September 18, 2022

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No Fault

“Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this Man” (Luke 23:4).

A cold, hardhearted Pilate had to be honest and admit that the Lord had done nothing worthy of death. When the Jewish leaders called for His crucifixion, he asked, “Why, what evil hath He done?” (Mark 15:14).

Yes, there was nothing in the Lord Jesus that would warrant any of the treatment He received at His trial or His subsequent crucifixion. He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26).

However, the sinless Son of God bore all this at the hand of wicked men, and more than that, at the hand of God, He “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).

As we consider such divine, stupendous, glorious love, we can only bow our hearts with the Apostle Paul who declared, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).

Saturday, September 17, 2022

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Our Focus

We live in a world of unrelenting change and constant upheaval, not only in the political and world affairs arena, but also in our own lives. Sometimes our minds leap from one problem and difficulty to another. Our thoughts become tangled in anxious knots thinking that everything is doom and gloom and that there is no solution or light at the end of the tunnel. We feel like we are going to be swallowed up by circumstances and that there is nothing left but dutiful resignation as we face the gaping jaws of uncertainty.

When this happens, we need to change our focus and turn to the One who says, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye…are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). And the One who says, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). He also assures us, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). And again, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear” (Hebrews 13:5-6). This focus changes everything and gives us the courage and spiritual energy for whatever comes our way.

Friday, September 16, 2022

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Fret

“Fret not” (Psalm 37:1, 7-8; Proverbs 24:19).

Here is what the dictionary states as to the word “fret.”

Fret: To be constantly or visibly worried or anxious…feel uneasy, be distressed, be upset, upset oneself, concern oneself…agonize…brood.

One of the most clever devices of our enemy Satan is to get the believer to fret. This he did with Hannah concerning her not having had children. “And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret” (1 Samuel 1:6).

However, instead of letting the Devil have his way and being constantly worried and anxious, there is an antidote. It is contained in Psalm 37 as well.

“Trust in the Lord” (verse 3).

“Delight thyself also in the Lord” (verse 4).

“Commit thy way unto the Lord” (verse 5).

“Rest in the Lord” (verse 7).

“Wait on the Lord” (verse 34).

These five things will keep us from fretting and make us happy, worry-free Christians.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

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Prayer

Requests

As we come to this next segment on prayer, I am sure that many of my readers have been wondering when we would arrive at this subtitle — “Requests.”

Yes indeed, we all have many requests, and it is a wonderful thing to be able to bring them to God our Father and to the Lord Himself. We are heartily invited to do so again and again.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

This we can do with perfect confidence knowing that He never tires of our coming, no matter how many requests and no matter how many times a day. The invitation is always open, and we are encouraged,

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

This is not to say He gives us everything we ask for, but it does mean that He answers our requests according to what He sees is best. When we realize this, it gives us the grace, peace, and submission to accept whatever His answer is.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

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My Rock

Knowing I wasn’t feeling well, Robbie came to visit me and brought his young son, Shane. During the visit, Shane reached into his pocket and presented me with a special rock as a gift. While there seemed nothing outstanding about this black and white speckled specimen of about 4 inches in circumference, yet it has since been a reminder of my Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some of those reminders:

My Salvation: “The Lord liveth; and blessed be MY Rock; and exalted be the God of the Rock of MY salvation” (2 Samuel 22:47).

My Protection: “The Lord is MY Rock, and MY fortress, and MY deliverer” (2 Samuel 22:2).

My Confidence: “MY Rock; in Him will I trust” (2 Samuel 22:3).

My Confidant: “Unto thee will I cry, O Lord MY Rock” (Psalm 28:1).

My Guide: “For thou art MY Rock…for Thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me” (Psalm 31:3).

And so many more…

I am so very thankful for that solid, unchanging, eternal Rock. And that by grace, I can claim Him — MY ROCK!

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

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Practical Holiness

“Follow…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

I am convinced that the Lord has called each of His own to a walk of practical holiness in every aspect of our lives. This applies first of all to holiness in our personal lives. We are then to be holy in our family lives. And holiness is to be what characterizes us in each facet of our public lives as well. “As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (way of life)” (1 Peter 1:15). We are then told why we are to live a life of practical, consecrated, holiness: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

While this may, to the unbeliever — or even the careless believer — seem as a life of dull, mundane routine, yet the truth is it is a life of supreme happiness and fulfillment, full of rich rewards and the immense joy of walking in communion with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a life of fruit and testimony and the sense, at the end of the day, of His approval. As the Apostle Paul could say,

“We labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Monday, September 12, 2022

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Dear Young Christian,

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you” (Luke 17:5-6).

My wife has been making homemade pickles and relish the past couple of days. One of the ingredients needed is mustard seed, and it took her several stores before being able to purchase it. When she finally did, I asked her if she had the faith to go with it.

In the above verses the disciples asked the Lord for more faith. However, the Lord answered them to show that the way our faith grows is to put it in operation. Likening it to mustard seed indicates that what He wants is living faith. When exercised in this way it will grow. We also learn that it is not the amount of faith that is so important but who that faith is in. The disciples were also told, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Sunday, September 11, 2022

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Save Thyself

“And they that passed by railed on Him, wagging their heads, and saying…Save Thyself, and come down from the cross” (Mark 15:29-30).

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If Thou be Christ, save thyself and us” (Luke 23:39).

In mockery they implored the Son of God to save Himself, and not only so but one of the malefactors wanted Him to take Himself down, and the thieves with Him. What a wonderful rescue that would have been…or so he must have thought.

But why could the Lord not save Himself?

1. He would not have been able to accomplish His Father’s will. “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again” (John 10:17).

2. He loved us too much. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

3. There was no other way we could be saved. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24).

Saturday, September 10, 2022

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Tragedy

Tragedy struck again last night and flashed on my laptop this morning. A shooting in Dayton, Ohio, leaving several dead and many injured. At the same time a shooting at a Wal-Mart in El Paso, Texas, with the same result — death and injury.

Yes, it is the last days and days parallel to those in Noah’s time just before the flood, of which we read, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).

We shake our heads at such horrific goings on and wonder at the awfulness of men’s hearts. But let’s bring it a little closer to home and suppose you had been one of the victims of either of these mass shootings. Where would you be right now? There are only two options — two places — two scenarios.

1. “Absent from the body, and…present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

2. “In hell…being in torments” (Luke 16:23).

Now is your opportunity to repent and be saved. Will you take advantage of it? Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

“Be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22).

Friday, September 9, 2022

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Love

Love never asks, “How much must I do?” but, “How much can I do?”

True love serves untiringly, without thought of self or personal gain.

“Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

Real love works for the Lord with genuine joy in self-sacrifice. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).

Love knows no limit. “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Love turns a request into that which has the power of a command. “If a man love Me, he will keep My words” (John 14:23).

“And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 JND Translation).

Thursday, September 8, 2022

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Our Conscience

This morning there are the lines of an old song running through my head. One of those lines, though not a verse of Scripture, has a rather poignant message:

“Whatever you do today,

You’ll have to sleep with tonight!”

When Adam sinned by eating the fruit from “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17), he received a conscience. This conscience, which all of us as descendants of Adam have inherited, pricks at our minds when we do something wrong. Sadly, many believers live in the shadow of a bad conscience a good deal of the time. The Apostle Paul strove to keep a good conscience and could affirm, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).

A good conscience is maintained by keeping close to the Lord and by confessing and judging sin and those things that we have allowed to come between us and the enjoyment of His company. The writer of Hebrews expresses this in asking his brethren, “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18).Don’t let a bad conscience keep you from having a good, peaceful sleep tonight.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

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A Future — Part 2

“In My Father’s house are many mansions…I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).

A heavenly future waiting,
The Father’s happy house,
Where all the saved shall gather,
And we the Lamb’s fair spouse;
The bride, then with her Bridegroom,
The marriage supper spread,
With untold praise and worship,
My soul forever fed.

An endless future waiting,
No time, no day, no night;
Just everlasting sunshine,
While walking in Christ’s light:
Oh come, yes come, Lord Jesus,
My longing heart says, “Come.”
I’m waiting, watching, listening,
For that sweet word, “COME HOME.”

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

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A Future — Part 1

“Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation” (Psalm 107:6-7).

A glorious future waiting,
Beyond this world of sin;
Beyond its restless masses,
Beyond its constant din:
There quiet rest awaits me,
I now anticipate,
That home, that land so tranquil,
That fixed and blissful state.

A joyful future waiting,
The promise is secure;
And to this promise clinging,
I can all things endure!
No matter what the hour,
Bright, dark, or sunshine fair,
I hasten on in triumph,
And all things gladly bear.

Monday, September 5, 2022

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Dear Young Christian,

Today we lost an important paper. It had been kept in the storage compartment on the passenger side of our vehicle. My wife saw it yesterday, but today it was gone — vanished. We searched and searched and searched, but to no avail. Finally, we sat quietly, bowed our heads and prayed. One more search of the area and there it was. How thankful we were! It reminded us of the prayer of Asaph: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). And also the reminder, “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

What a tremendous resource we have in prayer! The wonderful thing is, we can use it again and again, and we never run out of the resource. It doesn’t matter how many times, day and night, we need it and use it. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). In every circumstance this week, DON’T FORGET TO PRAY!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Sunday, September 4, 2022

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Not Here

“He is not here” (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6).

Three times we have these four simple words spoken to those who were early to the sepulcher on the resurrection morning. The rest of the message confirmed the fact that the Lord Jesus had indeed risen from the dead in triumph over sin, death, and Satan. Later on when they actually saw the Lord, it brought peace and joy to their hearts. “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).

So today, it brings that same peace and joy to the hearts of believers around the world as we realize that we have One who is risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of God His Father in heaven. Here is how the Trinity was involved in such a momentous event:

“Whom GOD hath raised from the dead” (Acts 3:15).

“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” (John 10:17-18).

“Christ…being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the SPIRIT” (1 Peter 3:18).

Saturday, September 3, 2022

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Questions

“If a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?” (1 Samuel 2:25).

The Bible asks many questions. Question are to get our attention and to make us consider an answer. Many of the questions, like the one asked by the above verse, have eternal and serious consequences. Thankfully, every question raised by God in His living book is adequately answered within the same volume. Here is the Scriptural answer to today’s question:

“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).

The Lord Himself has gone to Calvary to settle the question of our sins, and as a result can entreat for us. Because of that work He can say, “Come unto Me” (Matthew 11:28).

Have you responded?

Friday, September 2, 2022

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Fellowship

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ…If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another”
(1 John 1:3, 7).

Of the ancient city of Philippi only ruins remain today. During New Testament times it was a thriving metropolis and was the home of “Lydia, a seller of purple” (Acts 16:14). Although a rich lady, she wanted to please God and sought out the company of other like-minded people who met at a designated spot by the river bank. Later on, she invited Paul and his fellow companions into her home for a time of hospitality and Christian fellowship.

God has made us so that we need fellowship, not only with Himself and His Son, but with fellow-believers as well. When we are together and share what we have enjoyed of Christ and the truth of Scripture, it strengthens our faith and our Christian walk. Read Acts 16:12-15, and you will see that there was a great blessing for Lydia and her household as a result of seeking such fellowship. This can result in your blessing and encouragement as well.

Thursday, September 1, 2022

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Overcoming

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

We live in a day when, if we do not overcome, we will be overcome. The world, the flesh and the devil are constantly at work to overcome us. While we have been delivered from their power by our Deliverer, we are exhorted to stand firm against the tide of evil flooding the world. We are not only to stand against it but to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We are under constant pressure to give up the “good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). However, the Lord in His Word encourages, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). He, Himself, overcame and encourages us to do the same. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Soon with Him in a future day of glory we will enjoy our eternal portion, for we are assured,

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7).