Month: January 2018

Our Occupation

Self-occupation will only discourage and dishearten the believer. It will lead to self-pity and will cause you to become dissatisfied as well as weary and fainthearted. You will miss the path of faith and following the Lord, and you will have an empty ache in your soul.

On the other hand, occupation with Christ will satisfy your soul, refresh your spirit, and spur you on in the path of faith. The world will lose its appeal and mean nothing to you. Heaven will be your goal and Christ will be the prize. We see this exemplified in the life and experience of the Apostle Paul as we read what he wrote to the Christians at Philippi: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ … Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:7-8, 13-14).

Saints

“Fellowcitizens with the saints” (Ephesians 2:19).
“Called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

For the believer we came into this world as sinners; but we shall leave it as saints! What a marvellous tribute to the super-abounding grace of God: “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). We are saints by the sovereign and gracious calling of God, which came to us by the gospel: “Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14).

Saints by calling is an indisputable truth, regardless of what men may conceive or practice, for it cannot be merited, nor can it be conferred by human agency. Such practice robs God of His glory, and undermines the work of Christ, the ground on which God “might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). God’s calling, and our believing can never be separated, for the called must respond by faith in order to be made saints. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8).

Dear Young Christian:

Have you ever had times when you felt your heart bursting with joy, love, praise and thanksgiving? King David had those times in his life, as the following statements indicate:

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart” (Psalm 4:7).

“My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation” (Psalm 13:5).

“Therefore my heart is glad” (Psalm 16:9).

 In spite of many trials and tests he was certain that God was leading him, even though his circumstances were not comfortable, or what he would have chosen. He couldn’t explain the problems and detours of life; but he was certain God was in control. Above all else he wanted to please the Lord and follow his guidance. This filled his heart with joy and gladness. What a good example this is for us.

Our hearts will only happy be,

Lord Jesus as we follow Thee;

And walking closely by Thy side,

We in Thy love and peace abide.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Breaking Bread

“Upon the first day of the week … the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).

As did the early believers, so we still have the privilege of gathering together in the Lord’s name on the first day of the week to commemorate the Lord’s death, till He come. In obedience to His command we give thanks and partake of two simple tokens:

 The bread, the symbol of His body given. “And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

The wine, reminding us of His precious blood shed for our redemption. “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20).

What a privilege is ours to be there, for our Lord Himself promises to be there in the midst of those that meet in obedience to His Word. The promise is, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them”

Law and Grace

“And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).

The Law requires good from a sinner, and as a consequence does not find it. The conclusion of the whole matter is, “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-13). The Old Testament Law therefore works wrath, and condemns and curses the sinner.

On the other hand, graceworks to produce good in the sinner, by imparting something to him, not requiring good where it is not to be found. Consequently, instead of condemning and cursing the sinner, it puts away his sin. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

What is your standing before God? Can you say with many others, it is “grace wherein we stand” (Romans 5:2)?

Monthly Question Page

Q. Who was Heth and is there more references to him in the Bible, besides Genesis 23?

A. Heth was the second son of Canaan, and hence a descendant of Ham. “And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth” (Genesis 10:15). He was the ancestor of the Hittites, often referred to as “the children of Heth” (Genesis 23:5, 7, 10, 18; 49:32). We learn from the 23rd chapter of Genesis that they dwelt in the vicinity of Hebron, and it was from them that Abraham purchased land as a burial site. “The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife” (Genesis 25:10).

When Israel went in to posses the Land of Canaan the Hittites were some of the inhabitants that God promised to drive out before them. “And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite” (Exodus 33:2). We too have many enemies that seek to keep us from enjoying our heavenly blessings. However, in the strength of the Lord we can overcome, and enjoy all that we have in and through Christ.

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

A Hold

A young Christian was often bothered by people telling him that he might be lost after all. “If you don’t hold on you will be lost,” they would say.

“You are mistaken,” he would answer. “I have learned that when I was saved, two got hold of each other. I got hold of Christ, and Christ got hold of me. I’m sure of one thing; if I let Him go, He’ll never let me go! He loves me so much that He died for me. I cost too much for Him to give me up.”

The sinner who believes on Christ becomes one of the sheep of Christ, who is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), and in John 10:27-29, he says seven things about them.

“My sheep hear My voice.”

“I know them.”

“They follow Me.”

“I give unto them eternal life.”

“They shall never perish.”

“Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

“My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.”

Monthly Scripture Reading

Hebrews 13

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

12 Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.

13 Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.

Twelve Baskets

“And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full” (Matthew 14:19-20).

Not only did the twelve baskets indicate the super-abundance of the Lord’s provision, but each disciple would have a basket for himself. Remember, the Lord is always mindful of those who serve Him, and although the rewards are not always obvious at the times of service, He will always honor those that faithfully perform any task for Him whether great or small. He has said: “Them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30).

The Bible also talks about a “full reward” (2 John 8).Notice that there were not only twelve baskets, but that they were “full.” The Lord is certainly no man’s debtor, and if you have done anything for Him, it will be amply and fully recompensed.

Dear Young Christian:

Here are three challenging questions we can ask ourselves at the beginning of a new week:

If today were my last day on earth, is there any act of kindness that would be missed tomorrow?

Is there anything which others have that would remind them of my selflessness?

Would others that remain know and remember that my life was a life lived for Christ?

Dorcas was a sister in Christ in the early church. She was such a blessing to others that when she died we read, “And all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them” (Acts 9:32).

Let’s see what good you can do for others as you head out for another round of work, school, and the daily routine of life this week. Of the Lord Jesus, during His life on earth, we read: “Who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). There is no shortage of opportunities to do good!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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