Author: BTP

Slings & Stones – Part 2

The missionary went on to say:

“But is that not rather cruel discipline for one wayward sheep? That last stone went so close that it almost struck it! Yes, almost, but not quite! And it brought the sheep right back to the place where the shepherd wanted it.”

Sometimes The Good Shepherd disciplines and deals with us in a way that may seem harsh and rough. But it is because, like the foolish sheep, we go our own way. Then, He proves His “everlasting love” by allowing circumstances that, like the slings and stones, cause us to return to the very place where our caring Shepherd wants us to be.

One thing is for sure, the Shepherd wants us by His side, and enjoying the cool waters and green pastures of spiritual refreshment and sustenance that He has for us. These things can only be enjoyed as we are near to Him. Remember too, that the nearer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the enemy. “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

 

Slings & Stones – Part 1

“As a Shepherd seeketh out His flock in the day that He is among His sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day” (Ezekiel 34:1).

At a Palestine Exhibition in London, a missionary, dressed in native shepherd’s costume was telling about shepherding in the Middle East.

He said:

“You may wonder why the shepherd carries a sling and stones. It is not so much to defend from wild beasts. A wandering sheep, nibbling the grass, leaves the flock. How to get it back? To send a dog would perhaps drive it further away. As the sheep browses heedlessly, crack goes a stone against the rock beyond. The startled sheep jumps, turns, and looks towards the flock. Crack! Another stone, now close behind. Scared, the sheep begins to run towards the flock. The volley continues; the cracks of the stone against rock, always behind the sheep, afford sufficient stimulus to bring the wanderer safely home.”

Continued…

 

Dear Young Christian:

Are you praying about something special this week? I was encouraged by reading about some young men who were taken directly from school to the National Service training camp. Life became tough. The only bright spot was on Lord’s Day mornings when the Christians were able to meet together to encourage each other in the Lord. Then came the shattering blow — a new commanding officer. “No more religious services in this camp,” he shouted on his first Monday on duty. The young men took the matter to a higher authority — THEY PRAYED! Before the end of the week the Lord had this godless officer transferred — he lasted only a week, but the Lord’s Day gatherings continued without a break.

If you are praying about something that seems insurmountable, remember God our Father is greater and higher than any problem you encounter. “The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will” (Proverbs 21:1).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

The Cross

“He bearing His cross went forth” (John 19:17).

“Who for the joy that was set before Himenduredthe cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

“He…became obedient untodeath, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

“Having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).

“Thepreaching of the cross…is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

I love the cross of Jesus,

For there my Saviour died;

For there His blood, so precious,

Flowed from His spear-pierced side.

The cross is all my glory,

In nothing else I boast;

It made me fit for heaven,

With all the ransomed host.

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

 

The Future

We often remark that we can’t predict the future, and that we never know what the next moment may bring. The course of life can change very quickly, and the unexpected happen momentarily.

However, we do know what is ahead in eternity. For the ones who know Christ as their Saviour there are no uncertainties when it comes to their future eternity. The Father’s House is our final destination — no question about it!

David said, at the end of the Shepherd Psalm, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). What a wonderful certainty he had.

There is also a certainty regarding the future to the one who rejects Christ. We read of a man who lived for himself with no thought of God or the next life in Luke’s gospel. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:23).

We spend so much time preparing for the future as far as this life is concerned, but how many there are who neglect to prepare for the future concerning the next life.

 

Shortest Verses

The two shortest verses in the English Bible stand in sharp contrast to one another.

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

“Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

The Lord Jesus was the “Man of Sorrows” here in this world so that we could rejoice for all eternity. We read of Him, “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared” (Hebrews 5:7).

Now we can rejoice because of what we have in Him, and both He and we will rejoice together for all eternity. Again we read of Him in a future day, “He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). The Man of Sorrows will become the Man of Joy when He has His own around Himself forever.

 

Plain But Wholesome

“Beauty is vain” (Proverbs 31:30).

Colorless is an adjective applied to some people. Mushrooms are colorless compared with the brilliance of many toadstools, but give me a dish of mushrooms every time. We need to beware of the flashy highly colored, for though it may have sensual appeal it may also hide a deadly poison.

Satan knows how to attract by the brilliant and spectacular, and has allured many to destruction by glitter and glamour.

The prophet wrote of Christ “there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2).

Call to remembrance the wearied Saviour making His painful way to Calvary, bleeding and battered, to be crucified. Not an attractive sight.

Yet He it was who said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever” (John 6:51). Here is wholesome food.

 

Practice

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).

I was quite impressed by reading about how a Christian in a Korean village learned the whole of the “Sermon on the Mount” by heart, and then tramped 100 miles over rough terrain to recite it to the resident missionary who was living and working in that area. When he had finished, he was exhorted to put it into practice.

“But that is the way I learned it,” he replied. “At first I tried simply to commit it to memory, and it would not stick. So I tried this plan: I would learn a verse, and then go out and find a heathen neighbor and practice that verse on him. Then I found it would stick!”

Wouldn’t it be good if we all learned the Word of God in that way. It certainly would make it stick, and it would certainly make it real in our personal lives and in our testimony to others. Let’s be like David who prayed, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth” (Psalm 86:11).

 

In Everything

In everything give thanks!

At all times give Him praise!

Thank Him for all His love and care

And wisdom of His ways.

In everything give thanks!

At all times give Him praise!

Rejoice in Him forevermore,

Through bright or dismal days.

In everything give thanks!

At all times give Him praise!

No matter what the circumstance,

A cheerful anthem raise.

In everything give thanks!

At all times give Him praise!

Now, in this life, as soon above,

When on His face we gaze.

“In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

 

Dear Young Christian:

I saw this quote recently and thought it was worth passing on.

“Feed on the Word, not the World.”

It shows how one letter can change a lot of things. So, the question is “what are you feeding on?” Are you feeding on the world or the Word of God? One will feed your lust, the other will feed your soul. One will lead you to spoil your spiritual appetite, the other will encourage you in the Lord.

As this week begins, why not make a conscious effort to feed on the Word of God more, and the things of the world less? And when you come home at night and you have had to hear, read and see things that are defiling all around you all day, make sure you feed “the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10). At the end of the week you will be spiritually healthier as a result.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca