Author: BTP

Ten More Minutes

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 2:2).

Prince Napoleon, son of Napoleon III, served with the British army in Africa. One day he left camp with a troop of soldiers on an exploratory mission. Far from camp they stopped to rest and eat. It was a dangerous area and one of the men said uneasily, “We had better turn back, and if we don’t hurry we may be overtaken.”

Prince Napoleon’s reply was, “Just ten more minutes.”

However, before ten minutes were up they were overtaken and overpowered, and the Prince lost his life.

Upon receiving the news of his death, his grief-stricken mother exclaimed, “It was a great weakness from childhood. He never wanted to go to bed on time, or get up when he should, he always wanted ten more minutes.”

Prince Napoleon died because he believed he had ten more minutes. But there are many who are going into a lost eternity because they believe they still have time. We have no promise of any more minutes, but this present one — this fleeting NOW! The Bible says, “Make haste, and come…” (Luke 19:5).

 

Monthly Question Page

Q. When we pray, who are we to address? Is it always God the Father?

A. “And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you” (John 16:23). This verse teaches that we usually address the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Lord was on earth the disciples could come directly to Him and make request, but after His ascension they would have the privilege of going directly to the Father.

However there are times when it is appropriate to address the Lord in prayers as well. For example, He is “the head of the body” (Colossians 1:18). As such we look to Him as members of His body, for guidance and direction, and those things that affect the body of Christ (His people here on earth) as a whole.

Another time we address the Lord directly is in connection with His being Lord of the Harvest. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

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Guidance

“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name” (Psalm 86:11).

Discerning the Lord’s mind is largely a question of the state of soul. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.” (Psalm 25:14). Is my eye single? Do I desire only His will? Am I not blinded through self-interest or self-will in some way? Do I refer all to the Lord, and wait on Him, to know His will? If so, He will guide. We do not expect any revelation, or anything extraordinary, but He, by laying on the mind what is pleasing to Him, or by some providential way, will indicate His will. This may be so distinct that it virtually amounts to a certainty in the mind, though we may not be able to prove it to another. The great thing is nearness to the Lord and a subject mind, with the desire, “Teach me Thy way” (Psalm 27:11). He sets before us an open door, with something to indicate that we may enter. We see His hand in it, recognize it, and act accordingly.

This is something we have to learn experimentally. It is not easy to teach it to another, because it is not a mere mental or intellectual operation.

 

Monthly Scripture Reading

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

 

Peace and Love

“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Just when we feel that the turmoils of life cannot get any more desperate, our God brings peace which passes all human understanding.

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“The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19).

Just when our loneliness seems too much to bear, the Lord Jesus comes with love that passes all human knowledge.

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How often we forget Him, and selfishly neglect Him, but He is always exceeding abundant above all that we — feeble humans that we are — could ever ask or even think. Let’s learn to rest in Him no matter what happens, and thank Him for all that He faithfully does for us, in us, and with us. Remember, even when we are unfaithful, He remains the same. “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself” (1 Timothy 2:13).

 

Dear Young Christian:

Many decades ago a man by the name of John Nelson Darby made the following statement: “If our hearts are not close to Christ, we are apt to get weary of the way.” It made me think of the Israelites when they fought with Amelek in the wilderness, and what it says about those who were farthest from their captain, Joshua, a picture of the Lord. “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary” (Deuteronomy 25:17, 18). If we follow the Lord at a distance and save corners of our heart for ourselves we are going to be weary, faint and discouraged in our Christian warfare.

This week make sure you keep your heart close to Christ, and you will be kept by His love and power. Be like the Apostle John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper” (John 21:20).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to [email protected]

Gave Himself

The Lord Jesus “gave Himself,” and the Epistle to the Galatians gives us two great reasons why.

The first one was our great need. We were sinners and part of a world under judgment. There was no other way that we could have deliverance. Thus we read, “Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” Galatians 1:3-4).

The second reason was His great love. So the Apostle Paul declares, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

These two reasons put together are a wonderful source of meditation, and can be traced all through the Word of God. Think about them today, and it will cause worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

“Our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14). This was total and complete commitment!

 

Loss

“Beware lest thou forget the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:12).

If you meet me and forget me it is no great loss. (In fact it might not be such a bad thing). However, if you meet Christ and forget Him, it is eternal loss.

Many have attended gospel meetings, been handed gospel tracts, heard about the Lord Jesus from their parents, friends, family, or coworkers, and gone their way and forgotten about it. Someday they will remember the Lord and the time and way that they were introduced to Him, but sad to say, it will be too late. They will remember the One they forgot with remorse and anguish as they realize that they are doomed to eternal ruin in the lake of fire.

Perhaps there are some people we would like to forget, but the Lord Jesus is not one of them. His acquaintance and the salvation He offers are vital to our happiness in this life and the life beyond. The Lord through His prophet had to declare of those in the Old Testament, “Therefore have they forgotten Me” (Hosea 13:6). Have you met the Lord? Make sure the relationship is firmly established for time and for eternity.

 

Shine Out

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

You could not prove it by me, but an electrician once told me that it takes more power to make a small electric light work than it does to make a loud buzzer. Whether that is true or not, I know that in my life it is easier to “sound off” than “shine out.”

Keeping in constant, close, contact with the Lord Jesus Christ will make us “shine” for Himas bright lights in this dark work. This will result in blessing to our own souls, as well as testimony and blessing to others. We can only be a true light and witness as we walk in His company, drawing on Him as our source.

Here is the Lord’s desire for each believer: “That ye may 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).

 

Minor Prophets — Amos

Here is what Amos himself tells us about his background: “Then answered Amos, and said … I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: and the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto My people Israel” (Amos 7:14-15).

The practical lesson we learn from this is diligence and obedience. God always chooses people busy at their everyday task to do His work. Amos was obedient to the call of God and used to deliver a message to His people.

His prophesy is one of rehearsing the patience of God, and yet the ultimate judgment due to a lack of response on the part of His people. There is, however, the promise of a remnant being blessed, “That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by My name, saith the Lord that doeth this” (Amos 8:12).

Both Israel (the ten tribes), and Judah are addressed. “O children of Israel…the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt” (Amos 3:1).

Amos, Hosea, and Jonah were the only writing prophets of Israel; all the rest were from Judah.