Month: October 2018

Cold Snow

“As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters” (Proverbs 25:13).

In ancient times snow was used in Palestine, very much like we use ice today. In winter it was carefully put away and stored in insulated places so as to be available for cooling drinks in the heat of summer. When we realize this, the comparison is very easy to understand. As cold snow refreshed the reapers in the warm harvest days, so does a dependable messenger refresh the soul of those to whom they are sent. A few verses later in this same chapter we read, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25).

Every believer should have a message from God for the spiritually parched and thirsty. It may be the good news of the gospel to the lost, or it may be a word of refreshment to a fellow-believer. If we are storing up the Word of God in our own souls and for our own refreshment, then there will be something to share with others who need to be refreshed as well.

Talking

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

Several years ago there was a political cartoon in a major US newspaper of one of the ex-presidents of the United States with his mouth wide open and footprints across his tongue! He had said things and made statements without thinking of the consequences, and it got him into a great deal of trouble. We sometimes say of a person like that, they put their foot in their mouth.

There is a lesson to be learned from this in the context of the above advice given to us in the Word of God by King Solomon. Consider before you speak. Think about what you will say before you say it. They say talk is cheap. However the after-effects can be very costly. Once our things have been said, they cannot be taken back. This is why we need to be “slow to speak” (James 1:19).

Another aspect of the verse teaches us not to make promises or commitments (vows, if you will) that you can’t keep or wish very much that you’d never made. This too can have devastating consequences we may regret for a long time.

Dear Young Christian:

Another week is before us, and another chance to go out into normal everyday life and serve the Lord. I was thinking this morning of how the Lord wants happy servants. We are told “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2).

When the Queen of Sheba came and observed the glory of the kingdom of Israel under Solomon, she noted the very commendable attitude of his servants. She said: “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom” (1 Kings 10:8). Not only does the Lord want faithful, willing servants, but He wants us to have a song in our heart and a smile on our face as we go about whatever little work He graciously gives us to do.

A smile can heal a broken heart,

And lift a weary soul,

And happy service to our Lord,

Should always be our goal.

Have a happy week! We have every reason to rejoice!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Thy Voice

“Let Me hear thy voice” (Song of Solomon 2:14).

These words, spoken by the Bridegroom to his bride, have a very real significance, and meaning for us today. Our Heavenly Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus, desires to hear our voice in praise and song. He says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me” (Psalm 50:3). Let’s open our mouths and give Him the joy and privilege of hearing our voice. In our verse in the Song of Solomon the Bridegroom further adds, “For sweet is thy voice.” It doesn’t matter how well we can sing by the world’s standard; if it comes from the heart, it is sweet to Him.

It is true, He wants to hear our voice in prayer when there is a need or request. But more than that He wants to hear our voice in praise and thanksgiving. We are told, “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” (Hebrews 13:15). When you are together with other believers today, remember this verse: “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints” (Psalm 149:1).

The Day of Judgment

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand”? (Revelation 6:15-17).

Riches, and what may have seemed like sound investments, will not profit in that awful day of judgment! Silver, gold, or precious stones will not obtain deliverance. Self-righteous rags will never do. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).Social standing and class distinction will not hold up. The great and the mighty, the rich and the poor, shall fall.

Who then shall be able to stand in the day of judgment? Only those that have been washed from their guilt in the blood of the Lamb. Only those who can say, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

Monthly Question Page

Q. Could you explain what the “apples of gold” and the “pictures of silver” typify in Proverbs 25:11?

A. Let’s first of all notice the context, which is always so important. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

Notice the verse has to do with what we say. Apples would typify fruit, and gold is often a picture of divine righteousness. A picture is something that tells a story or conveys a certain image or message. Silver is invariably a symbol of redemption.

So, at least one lesson we learn from this proverb of Solomon is that our words, spoken in the right time and in the right way will produce divine fruit, for the salvation and blessing of those to whom it is spoken.

Fruit for God in our Christian life is the result of the Holy Spirit within us, and when it is displayed on the beautiful picture of redemption, by our words and conversation, it is indeed a beautiful thing, by which others can view that which is true of every believer in Christ. “In whom we have redemption” (Ephesians 1:7). “Made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

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

Live Simply

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12).

An unsolicited email conveyed a simple yet thought provoking message. It just said “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

When I thought on this, I realized that the only guide and ability to carry out such sentiments could be the Lord Jesus Himself. These characteristics were exhibited constantly and consistently by Him in His earthly pathway during His thirty-plus years of life on planet earth.

He says to each of us, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Paul in writing to the Corinthians, exhibited, “the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:1).

It is incumbent on every believer to seek to imitate and radiate the traits of our Saviour, so that others may be helped, blessed and encouraged.

Monthly Scripture Reading

Joshua 1

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

A Traveler’s Guide

A young traveling man, who was a Christian, was packing his suitcase in the presence of a friend. “I’ve still a little corner left,” he remarked. “I’m saving it for five more items…

A guidebook, ‘Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel’ (Psalm 73:24).

A lamp, ‘Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet’ (Psalm 119:105).

A mirror, ‘For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass’ (James 1:23).

Some letters, ‘And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.’ (Hebrews 13:22).

A sword, ‘The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God’ (Ephesians 6:17).”

“Ridiculous!” his friend exclaimed. “You can’t possibly get all those things in that small space.”

“Yes I can,” the traveler replied. Then he placed his Bible in the empty space.

What value do you place on the Word of God?

Dear Young Christian:

I read a quote this morning, and the practicality of it rather struck me. Here is what it said:

“LOVE IS THE DOOR THROUGH WHICH WE PASS FROM SELFISHNESS TO SERVICE.”

Paul when writing to the Early Christians put it this way: “By love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

By nature we love to be served, and that is why companies who are trying to solicit our business in one way or another will advertise that their service is superior to any other. They understand human nature, and that we appreciate good service.

However, Christianity has given us a life and a motive to serve others. What the Lord desires is self-sacrifice in serving Himself and others. Like the godly couple that Paul mentions and commends when he says, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks” (Romans 16:4).What sacrifice of selfless service will you make this week?

  Your Christian Friend,

          Jim Hyland

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