Young People’s Blog

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

“And His name [the Lord Jesus] is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 JND).

When people are not sure of what to do in a difficult situation, they often ask a number of people whom they respect for their advice. According to our first verse today, this is a reasonable thing to do, but if you consult a number of people, they may not all give you the same advice. Then you have to decide whose advice to take.

Our verse in Isaiah 9 tells us that the Lord Jesus has a number of names, although they are all summarized in one singular noun—His name. One part of that name is Counsellor. When we get advice from the Lord, it is always right, and we do not have to decide whether someone else’s advice is better. His counsel is always the best. Do you and I always consult the Lord about decisions we have to make in our lives?

“My son, if thou receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-5).

When I was in high school, senior students were often asked to read the scripture portion for the day over the PA system, and then lead the whole school in saying the Lord’s prayer. I remember being asked to do this in my senior year (1961), and these verses were what I was given to read. Sadly, times have changed, and schools are no longer allowed to do this. However, it was a good thing for everyone to hear the Word of God, and to pray, before classes started.

Today, you will have to read the Bible for yourself, but as I have often said before, it is good to read it every morning. It should be as important to us as eating our breakfast!

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings” (Proverbs 5:21).

You are I are God’s creatures, for He created man in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Because we are His special creatures, the Lord is very interested on us, and how we live our lives. The word “ponder” comes from a Latin word which means a weight, or to weigh something. In English it means to consider something carefully before making a decision.

When we realize that the Lord carefully considers our ways, it ought to make us think carefully about how we live. Many people today think that since God has so many things about which to occupy Himself, He is not really interested in individuals like you and me. But even though there are about eight billion people in the world today, God is interested in each one. He is especially interested in those who are truly saved, for through the death of His beloved Son, God paid a high price to redeem us. He wants to see us living our lives for Him.

“Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?” (Acts 7:27).

“This Moses…the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer” (Acts 7:35).

If you read about Moses in the book of Exodus, he first tried to be a ruler and judge, and it did not work. The Israelites did not want him in that character. Then, forty years later, he came as a ruler and a deliverer, and God used him greatly in delivering the children of Israel from Egypt.

In the same way the Lord Jesus did not come to this world as a Judge, but rather as a Deliverer. When they tried to make Him a judge, He would not accept that position. Yes, someday He will be a Judge, for God is holy. Today He is a Deliverer, and He went to Calvary’s cross in order to be able to do that. How precious it is to remember that on this day—the Lord’s day.

“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9).

I was saved when I was very young, and I am thankful that even at a young age, my parents taught me that whenever I earned some money, or someone gave me money, I should be willing to give some of it to the Lord. It was a good start in doing what our verse today says, and since I got used to doing this as a boy, it was easy to continue to do it all my life.

In the Old Testament, under the law, the Israelites were compelled to give one-tenth of all that they received, but in Christianity we do not have any definite percentage named. It is all a matter of our hearts, and our love for the Lord. If we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, it ought to give us great joy to use some of what we have specifically for Him, for it is He who gave it to us in the first place. The Lord really values the response of our hearts to His love!

“And I [the Apostle Paul] will very gladly spend and be spent for you” (2 Corinthians 12:15).

Paul was glad to “spend and be spent” in the service of the Lord. To “spend” means to use our resources—money, time, etc. in service, but to “be spent” means more. It means to give up our own desires and ambitions, and to “give of ourselves” in order to serve others. The Apostle Paul certainly did this in his life of service for the Lord.

Today’s date reminds me that this is an anniversary that probably none of you remember. It is the anniversary of the ascension of the late Queen Elizabeth II to the throne of England, back in 1952. Her father King George VI died of lung cancer that day, and his daughter Elizabeth automatically became queen. One of her mottos was, “To serve is not a burden, but rather an honor.” I do not know whether she was saved or not, but she certainly heard the gospel.

The Lord Jesus served while He was down here, and will remain a servant forever. What an example for us!

“And now I [Gamaliel] say unto you…if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought” (Acts 5:38).

While Gamaliel was the one voice that brought some common sense into the Jewish counsel, everything he said was not strictly true. What he said about God’s work not being able to be overthrown was true, but everything that is “of men” does not always “come to nought” (nothing). Men have started false religions, such as Buddhism and Islam, and both have flourished in this world. Both religions have many followers today. Violent and immoral men have risen to power in this world, and have managed to prosper. In His ways with this world, God sometimes allows wrong things to go on; they do not always fail.

However, we know that in the end, truth will triumph, for God is over all that goes on in this world, and will eventually deal in judgment with sinful men. But for the moment, evil may go on, and God may not immediately interfere.

“And now I [Gamaliel] say unto you…If this counsel or this work…be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply [perhaps] ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39).

At this time in the early church, the Jewish leaders were determined to prevent the apostles from preaching in the name of the Lord Jesus. But God had worked some outstanding miracles, including the healing of the crippled man in the temple, and then sending an angel to let the apostles out of prison. Although there is no record that Gamaliel was a true Christian, he had some common sense, and realized that God’s power was working with the apostles. He realized that the Jewish leaders might be fighting against God, and counseled them to leave the apostles alone.

Although we may not see such remarkable miracles today, yet God is still working with His people, and His work cannot be overthrown. God’s purposes will always be accomplished, for His power is behind them. There are some today who want to overthrow God’s work in this world, but God will see to it that this does not happen.

“Verily, verily, I [the Lord Jesus] say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life” (John 6:47-48).

“As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me” (John 6:57).

Throughout man’s history in this world, bread in some form or other has been a staple of food. During World War II, one of the large cities in Russia was surrounded by the enemy, and many people were starving. One woman said, “If only I could have one piece of bread and butter, I would be happy.” She wanted some bread more than anything else.

The Lord Jesus presents Himself to us as the “bread of life.” First of all, He gives us new life in Him, but then, after we are saved, that new life needs food. Once again, the Lord Jesus is our bread on which we should feed continually. We feed on Him by reading His Word and learning more about Him. Did you read your Bible today?

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

During a recent trip that we made, we had the opportunity of sitting in a number of airports, watching the people walk by. Quite a few wore T-shirts with slogans printed on either the front or back of them. Some of these read, “I’m NOT sorry,” “Born for greatness,” or “I need my space.” All of these slogans conveyed a message that the person wanted to communicate about himself or herself.

But then, on one occasion, we had arranged to meet a Christian young man whom we had not met before. When he approached us in the lobby of the hotel, his T-shirt had a Bible verse across the front. We knew instantly that he was the person we were supposed to meet. His “slogan” did not give a message about himself, but rather about his Savior—the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we are baptized, we put on the name of Christ. In our everyday lives, do we give others a message about Christ, either by what we wear, or how we act?