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Young Christians Calendar

A daily meditation for young Christians

July 2023

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Monday, July 31, 2023

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“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
Sometimes, when we do something for people, they take it for granted, and do not even bother to thank us. My wife and I often send a wedding present to a newly married couple, and occasionally they do not send us a thank you note, or even let us know that they received it safely. On another occasion a woman and her teenage son had a flat tire in front of our home, and neither of them knew how to change a tire. I happily did it for them, but again, they just drove off and did not bother to say thank you.
This verse tells us that when we do something for a fellow Christian, it is really done for the Lord, and He will not forget. Even if the other Christian does not say thank you, the Lord will remember it, and will reward us in a coming day. God has already done so much for us by sending His Son to die for us, but then He rewards us for any little thing that we do for Him. What a gracious God we have!

Sunday, July 30, 2023

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“Among the chief rulers also many believed on Him [the Lord Jesus]; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him… for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).
These are very sad verses to read, for we see that many of the rulers of the Jews were convinced of who the Lord Jesus was, and wanted to follow Him. However, they were afraid of the Pharisees, and did not want to be put out of the synagogue. As it says in verse 43, they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
The same thing can happen today. Some people really want to believe the gospel, but are afraid of the laughter and criticism of their friends. They would rather risk going to hell than to put up with the disapproval of other people. But as someone has said, “Friends can laugh you into hell, but they will never laugh you out of it!” How much better it is to value the praise of God instead of the praise of men!

Saturday, July 29, 2023

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“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
It takes energy and effort to get together with other Christians at meetings such as a prayer meeting, or a reading meeting. Perhaps we think that we can simply read and pray at home, and it is important to do this. But we need one another, and we should be a help to one another. We can do this when we come together to pray, or to read the Word of God.
The day which is approaching is the day of judgment for this world, and the more we see things going toward that day, the more we need to get together with one another. The world is getting worse, and we are seeing that day of judgment getting closer. Let us remember the importance of meeting together with other believers!

Friday, July 28, 2023

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“For he that is entered into His [God’s] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works” (Hebrews 4:10).
Some of us like to have everything in perfect order in our lives, whether in our personal life, our home life, our school life, or our work life. There is nothing wrong with leading an orderly life, but if we expect everything to go perfectly smoothly in our life, we will find that the Lord continually allows something to disrupt that perfection that we want. Why does He do this? It is because He wants us to enter into His rest.
God’s rest is not down here, in a world of sin. No, His rest is up there in heaven, where the Lord Jesus is sitting on His Father’s throne. When the Lord Jesus comes for us, we will go to be with Him, and enjoy that heavenly rest. God does not want us to settle down and become too comfortable here, for it is not our rest. He wants us to enjoy His rest, by faith, and to rise above our problems down here.

Thursday, July 27, 2023

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“The word of God is quick, and powerful…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
When we read the Word of God, we find that it reaches into our hearts, and shows what our thoughts are in the sight of God. The word translated “discerner” could be also translated “critic,” for the Bible is able to show whether our thoughts and intentions are good or bad. This verse certainly speaks to those who are not saved, for it brings them into the presence of God. However, this verse is also needful for us as believers, for the Word of God points out things in our life that we need to confess and get rid of, so that we can enjoy better communion with the Lord. At first, we may feel uncomfortable when this happens, but when we deal with sin that is exposed, and confess it to the Lord, we are freed from it, and we will be much happier. The Lord exposes our sin because He loves us!

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

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“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).
There is one time in our lives when it is not right to pray. If I have sinned, and the Lord has brought it to my attention, then He wants me to confess it and be restored in my soul. If I think I can simply ignore the sin, and continue to go to the Lord in prayer, I will find out that the Lord will not hear me, as we read in this verse. It is not that the Lord does not know I am praying, for He knows everything, and hears everything. But He will not answer, and we will not have the sense in our souls that we are praying according to His will, for we are deliberately going on with unjudged sin in our lives.
Perhaps we can explain it this way: If I have spoken disrespectfully to my father, will I feel comfortable asking him some time later if he will help me fix a problem with my bike? No, my father will expect me to say I am sorry and make it right with him for speaking disrespectfully to him, before asking him for something. It is the same with the Lord; He wants to enjoy our company, and loves us too much to allow us to go on in sin.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

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“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
After reading yesterday’s verses, we might think that it does not matter whether we pray intelligently or not, because God will always answer according to His perfect will. But it does matter, for if we pray continually in a wrong way, then we are often disappointed in the way the Lord answers. We are not really walking with the Lord, and may even think somehow that the Lord made a mistake. I remember a Christian woman many years ago who became so angry when the Lord did not answer her prayer in her way that she would not go out to the meetings and would not remember the Lord. This was a very serious way to react, for she was really saying that she knew more than the Lord did!
It is a wonderful honor to be able to pray, for as someone has said, prayer is based on the immense privilege of our having common interests with God. This means that we really want the Lord’s will, whether for ourselves or for others. When we pray intelligently, we are encouraged as we see how the Lord answers our prayers.

Monday, July 24, 2023

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“We know not what we should pray for as we ought…but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us…He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
Many times in our lives we do not know exactly what to pray for. Perhaps we are in the middle of a big problem, and our first thought is to ask the Lord to take us out of the trouble. Or perhaps we pray earnestly for something, such as a new job, that seems to us to be just right. I well remember praying that I might get a certain job one summer, and I did not get it. Was I ever disappointed! But a few days later another job opportunity came along, a much better one, and I got it! The Lord knew about that better job, and made me wait for it. I was very thankful that the Lord had done this, and thanked Him again and again.
When we pray in an imperfect way, the Spirit of God intercedes for us. That means that He pleads before God for us, but according to the will of God. Then what happens? God answers our prayer according to His perfect will, and not according to our limited knowledge of what is good for us. This is very comforting and very reassuring! We can pray in the confidence that the Lord will always answer according to His perfect will.

Sunday, July 23, 2023

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“Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name” (John 12:27-28).
It is truly an awesome thought to realize that the Lord Jesus, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, was so troubled that He prayed to His Father in this way. On the one hand, He shrank back from being made sin, and going into death. Yet He knew that there was no other way that our sins could be washed away. One simple expression stated it — “Father, glorify Thy name.” Whatever glorified the Father’s name was what He would do. Because of this, Jesus went ahead to the cross, and suffered for sin.
This is a good lesson for us too. Sometimes, when we do not know what to do in a particular situation, we should ask ourselves, What will glorify the Lord? Usually the answer is simple, and we can go ahead and do what would bring honor and glory to God.

Saturday, July 22, 2023

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“Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
Prayer was not generally the privilege of people in the Old Testament, although we know that some in the Old Testament did pray. Moses was close to the Lord, and asked directly for certain things. Women like Hannah prayed, and her prayer is recorded for us. David, Solomon, Elijah and Elisha also prayed. However, most people in the Old Testament did not know how to pray. That is why, when the disciples saw the Lord Jesus praying, they asked Him to teach them to pray.
Now, since the beginning of Christianity, it is the privilege of every Christian to pray. True prayer is when we do not want our own will, but rather want God’s will. Yes, it is all right to pray for something we want, but sometimes we want things that would not be good for us. God always answers our prayers, but sometimes He says, “No,” because it is not His will. We will speak more about this tomorrow.

Friday, July 21, 2023

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“God…hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2).
God has spoken to this world by His Son, the Lord Jesus, by sending Him into this world as a man. He had spoken in the Old Testament by prophets, but now He has sent His Son. God has in His purposes, first and foremost, the honor and glory of His Son. When we spoke about the Trinity a few days ago, we pointed out that the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, is always the One who carries out the purposes of God. For this reason, He was the One who created this world, as we see in our verses today.
But what is more wonderful than that is that God has appointed Him to be heir of all things (the One who inherits everything) and we notice that this is mentioned first. The Lord Jesus was appointed heir of all things back in a past eternity, before He made the worlds. And when He takes this place, we will be associated with Him. We have a wonderful Savior and a wonderful future.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

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“And which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus” (Hebrews 6:19-20).
An anchor always has a strong chain or cable attached to it. In years gone by, often a larger ship would have a “forerunner” — a smaller boat that would carry the anchor to shore and attach it to something very solid. Then the larger boat could simply follow the anchor and arrive safely in the harbor.
In our verses today, our anchor goes “within the veil.” In the tabernacle in the Old Testament, and later in the temple, God dwelt behind a heavy veil, in a place called the “holy of holies.” Only the high priest could go in there, with blood, once a year. In our verse, it simply means that our anchor is in the very presence of God. It can never move.
But who has been our forerunner? The Lord Jesus, for He has gone before, and now our anchor is safely in God’s presence. We have simply to follow the forerunner, and we will arrive safely home. What a wonderful security is ours!

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

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“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19).
An anchor holds a ship firmly in place, and is especially important during a storm. The larger the ship, the stronger and heavier the anchor must be. Also, when the anchor is dropped into the water, it must be set into something that will hold it firmly. If a storm were fierce, the anchor might not hold the ship, and then it would drift, perhaps onto rocks. Before the days of motors, heavy anchors on sailing ships had to be lifted by a number of men who went round and round for hours, pushing against large wooden poles stuck into a round device on the deck called a capstan.
As Christians, you and I have an anchor of the soul, and it will never move. According to our verse today, it is “sure and steadfast,” because it “entereth into that within the veil.” No matter what happens in our lives, that anchor will hold, and we can never lose our salvation. Also, that anchor holds us steady in faith during difficult times that seem like storms in our lives. We will say a little more about this tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

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“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).
In years gone by, when more of the world was ruled by kings, it was a serious thing to approach the king on his throne. He held absolute power, and with one word could send people to prison, take away their property, banish them from the country, or even send them to their death. Those who approached the king never knew how he might react to them, and there was often real fear in the king’s presence.
In our verse today we are reminded that when we approach the throne of God in prayer, we come to a throne of grace. We do not have to fear, for He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. We have already obtained mercy when we were saved, and if we have needs now, we can approach that throne confidently. Even if we have done wrong, it is a throne of grace, and we will obtain mercy.

Monday, July 17, 2023

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“Let your gentleness be known of all men. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5 JND).
Sometimes we can learn something from watching the way animals act. We have a large bird feeder outside our window, and many different birds come. Among them are blue jays, who tend to be rough, aggressive, and ready to fight with one another. They tend to come three or four at a time, and often chase one another away from the feeder. They chase other birds away too.
But then there are the pretty yellow finches, who are just the opposite. They usually come later, and eat at the smaller cylindrical feeder that contains their food. Often we see a male and female eating quietly together, one on each side of the feeder. They are so peaceful and gentle.
When we go to school or to work, we should remember to be like the finches, and not like the blue jays. According to our verse, “the Lord is near.” This means that He is close at hand, observing all that we do. We should always act as if the Lord Jesus were standing close to us, and looking at us.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

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“Christ also suffered for us…who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21, 23).
The Lord Jesus is God, and did not have to submit Himself to all the insults that man heaped upon Him. However, He did not answer back, threaten them, or use rough words with them. He committed it all to His Father, for those wicked men would be judged in a coming day. We are told to do the same thing, for we follow a rejected Christ.
However, the Lord Jesus did speak to men’s consciences all through His earthly ministry, and He spoke to those who ill-treated Him too. He reminded the Jewish leaders that “hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power” (Matt. 26:64), and He reminded Pilate that “thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). But He did not defend Himself.
We are called to act the same way. It is good to reach the consciences of those who oppose us, but we are to accept reproach from this world; it is a normal thing for a Christian.

Saturday, July 15, 2023

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“Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice” (John 18:37).
When we hear something, we like to be sure that we are hearing the truth. Yet we live in a strange world today, for some people talk as if there can be more than one truth about a particular subject. Supposedly you can have your truth, and I can have mine, even if they contradict each other. Others would say that there is no absolute truth today; it is all relative. That means that we “make up” the truth, depending on the situation. But by definition, the truth excludes everything that is not true. A judge in a courtroom would not allow two witnesses to say opposite things about the same event, and then say, “Well, I guess they can both be right.”
If we wish to know the truth about any moral or spiritual subject, we must read the Word of God, and learn about Christ. He could say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and the Lord Jesus reminded Pilate that He was the truth. When we know Christ, and walk with Him, we have the truth about everything that we see in this world, and on every moral and spiritual question.

Friday, July 14, 2023

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“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
As Christians, we should be different from people of this world, for we have a new life in Christ. Our lifestyle should be noticeably different from those who have no hope beyond this present world. Sometimes those who are not saved may ask us why we live the way we do, and we should be ready to give them an answer. When I was young, sometimes I did not have an answer ready, and it was a bit embarrassing. We should be able to quote verses from the Word of God, and explain briefly what it means to be a Christian.
However, we need the Lord’s help in this, and that is why it says at the end of the verse, “with meekness and fear.” We should not be confident in ourselves, but rather depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us in what we say. Meekness does not mean weakness, but rather is strength that is under control. It means that we do not trust in ourselves, but in the Lord. He will give us the right words to say, if we ask Him.

Thursday, July 13, 2023

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“He that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul” (Proverbs 8:36).
When we sin, we often cause harm to others. Also, we certainly do wrong to the Lord, for God hates sin, and it causes Him pain when we sin. In fact, all the sin in this world causes pain to God, and we read in Psalm 7:11 that “God is angry with the wicked every day.” He sees all that goes on in this world, and it makes Him angry.
However, we read in our verse today that when we sin against the Lord, we really wrong our own soul most of all. We may think that we are getting pleasure out of the sin, and yes, there is pleasure in sin, but it lasts only a short time. Then afterward, sin has a sting in it that often lasts a long time. If someone does something bad to us, our natural tendency is to do something hurtful back to them. But in reality, we are hurting ourselves more than the other person.
Let us remember this, and avoid allowing sin in our lives. It is not worth it!

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

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“Those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).
In this chapter of Proverbs, wisdom is spoken of as if it were a person — a woman. She makes herself easily available to anyone who wants wisdom. In the beginning of the chapter, she cries “at the gates” of the city, and “standeth in the top of high places.” She is easy to see! Later in the chapter, we find that wisdom is Christ Himself, for Christ is the wisdom of God for our pathway in this world. Also, we find that Christ takes a real interest in us, for He says, “My delights were with the sons of men” (Proverbs 8:31).
However, we must do our part too, for we must want to get wisdom from God. It is important to seek this wisdom early in our lives, as today’s verse teaches us. God makes it available to us, but He does not force it on us. But those who seek for wisdom early will find her and get the benefit of her guidance. We need guidance from God today, more than ever before.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

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“Put them in mind…to be ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1).
In James 4:4 we read that “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” We should not be part of this world, so that they consider us to be “one of them.” However, when someone is in trouble, we Christians ought to be the first ones to come and help. Some years ago, there was a severe earthquake in the state of Gujarat, in India. Many Christians from all over India came up to help with food, water, shelter, blankets, etc., and also to help them rebuild their homes. It was a good testimony, and those Christians were able to share the gospel with many of those people who were suffering.
If our neighbors and others whom we know are in any need, let us be ready to help. But let us remember that we do not help just because we are part of the community. We help because we belong to Christ. When we speak to people, it is important to give the Lord the credit for what we do.

Monday, July 10, 2023

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“In all things affording thyself [showing yourself] as a pattern of good works…a sound [good] word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8 JND).
The character of the Cretian people had been rather bad for hundreds of years, and Paul mentions this in Titus chapter 1. This tendency was hard to overcome, even when some of them got saved. But it was important for the Christians on that island to be good examples of Christ, and especially in the way they talked. This world is watching us, and will quickly notice something in our talk that is not right. They will take every opportunity to find something wrong and use it to oppose us.
But if we are careful, and ask the Lord to help us, then we can avoid saying wrong things. The result will be that unbelievers will be ashamed of themselves, when they cannot find something with which to accuse us. The world may not like us, but we should not give them a chance to say evil things of us.

Sunday, July 9, 2023

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“He shall see of the travail [hard work] of His soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11).
Have you ever spent a lot of time making something, but then were not satisfied with it? Or have you ever spent a lot of money buying something you really wanted, only to be disappointed in it? I have done both of those things at different times in my life. I wished I had never bothered to make some of the things I thought I could make, and I wished I had not spent my money on some of the things I bought. But when the Lord Jesus has us up there with Him in heaven, and sees us in the perfection that He has made us, He will be totally satisfied.
It cost the Lord Jesus all His suffering in the three hours of darkness on the cross, in order to have us up there with Him. We will never be able to understand all that He suffered. Yet in that day He will say, “It was all worthwhile!” How great His love is!

Saturday, July 8, 2023

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“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14).
This verse is also speaking about the Lord Jesus, but it is not talking about the creation of this world in Genesis 1. Yes, the Lord Jesus was the Creator of this world at that time, but here it is speaking of new creation. What do we mean by that?
The present creation has been spoiled by sin, and continues to suffer under sin. But eventually sin will be completely removed from this entire universe, because this universe will be burned up. Then God will make a “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). The Lord Jesus is the beginning of all this, for it is because of His suffering on Calvary’s cross that sin will be eventually removed from this world.
You and I, if we are truly saved, are already part of that “new creation,” for we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 JND, “So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation.” We look forward to the time when the new creation will be complete, and sin gone forever.

Friday, July 7, 2023

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“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1).
This beginning brings us to the time when the Lord Jesus became a man, and was born into this world. It was a wonderful beginning, for man could see, hear, and touch the Lord Jesus. He was a real man like us, only without sin, but He was God too. He was God and man in one Person. When He came into this world, it was the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the word gospel means “good news.” At last there was some good news for sinful men, for God was going to accomplish a work through His beloved Son that would enable us to be saved. It was indeed a wonderful beginning!
Men like the Apostle John, the Apostle Peter, and the other disciples, had all seen, heard, and touched the Lord Jesus. They were able to write about that wonderful beginning, for they had seen it all.

Thursday, July 6, 2023

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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 JND).
Here we have another beginning, when the universe, including this earth, was created. We do not know how long ago this was; it could have been millions of years, or even more.  God has not told us. But He has told us that He created this universe; that means He made it out of nothing. Yet He specially marked out this earth as a place in which to work out His purposes, and to honor His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus.
It is interesting and helpful to notice that the word used for God in this verse is the Hebrew word for God in plural — that is, more than two. However, the verb “created” is in the singular. This shows us the truth that God is a Trinity of three Persons, yet acting as one God.
Later in Genesis 1:26, we read, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Here is the Trinity taking consultation within itself, when the important question of making man came up. For that reason it says, “Let us make.” How accurate the Word of God is!

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
“Our Lord Jesus Christ…dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto” (1 Timothy 6:14,16).
“After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13).
Before we go on to another beginning, I would like to explain the word “trinity” a little. This word does not appear in the Bible, but it is a good word to know, for it describes what the Bible teaches about God being three Persons in one — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three Persons of God are distinct, yet always work together in perfect harmony. God the Father is the One who starts the purposes, God the Son carries them out, and the power to do so is the Holy Spirit. Every action of God is like this, whether creation, redemption, resurrection, judgment, etc.
This was not made clear until the New Testament, when the Lord Jesus came down into this world as a Man, and revealed the Father. He also spoke of the Holy Spirit, and we know that it came down and rested upon Him, as we get in Matthew 3:16-17. Since this wonderful revelation, we as Christians now know God as our Father, Christ as our Savior, and the Holy Spirit as the One who lives within us. It is wonderful to live at a time when we can know all this!

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2).
The Bible talks about a number of beginnings, and I would like to look at some of them over the next few days. The beginning in our verses today goes back the furthest, for it is a beginning that was before anything else that had a beginning. God uses the word “beginning” because it is impossible for us, as humans with limited minds, to wrap our minds around the thought of eternity. But these verses teach us that God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is called “the Word” in these verses, existed from a past eternity. He had no beginning, but was a distinct divine Being, was “with God,” and was God.
Sad to say, there are those today who deny these precious truths. But God’s Word tells us the truth, even though we cannot totally understand it. We accept by faith what God says, and enjoy it.

Monday, July 3, 2023

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“The truth which is after godliness” (Titus 1:1).
“The doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Timothy 6:3).
In these verses we have both doctrine (teaching) and truth, and they are said to be “after” or “according to” godliness. This means simply that good spiritual teaching, and the truth of the Word of God, will result in godliness in our lives. If we listen to good teaching, learn the truth of God, and then apply it in our lives, it will make us more like Christ. Also, it will honor God, and bring glory to Him. Bad teaching always results in sin and takes away from God’s glory.
There is a simple test we can apply to any kind of spiritual teaching — does it honor God, or does it honor man? If it honors man it is always bad teaching, for good teaching and God’s truth always honor God.
Many of those to whom Timothy and Titus were sent came from bad backgrounds, and even as Christians they needed to be reminded not to allow bad teaching to spoil their Christian lives. We need to be on guard for this too.

Sunday, July 2, 2023

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“He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).
While He was here on earth, the Lord Jesus was the “Man of sorrows,” for He experienced sorrow and suffering in many different ways. He saw the ruin that sin had brought into His creation, and He really felt the heartache and pain that He saw all around Him in the lives of people. His love made Him feel this even more, for we feel it very deeply when those whom we love are suffering.
There was suffering in His own Person too, for He knew how to be tired, hungry and thirsty, as well as feeling the rejection of those whom He loved and came to save. But the greatest sorrow was when He bore the judgment of God on the cross, and in this He “carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4). Those who know Hebrew tell us that the word for “carried” in verse 4 is the same word as is translated “bear” in verse 12, where it says, “He shall bear their iniquities.”
We may have sorrow in our own lives, but it is nothing compared to His sorrow!

Saturday, July 1, 2023

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“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled [unclean or impure]” (Titus 1:15).
If you are truly saved, you have a new life in Christ that wants to please the Lord. If we allow that new life to display itself in the way we conduct ourselves, our mind will be kept pure. But in our everyday lives we meet unbelievers, and we will often find that they seem to turn everything that is said into something impure. I remember working one summer in a plant that built school buses, and there was one man who worked there who always seemed to find something impure to say in the lunchroom. His mind and conscience were defiled, and it was painful to hear him.
We cannot always stop this kind of talk, but we should avoid it if we can. If we ask the Lord, He will give us something to say that perhaps will reach their conscience, even though it is defiled.
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