Young People’s Blog

Daily Bread

Yesterday while driving in Trinidad we passed the Daily Bread Bakery. Their advertising slogan on the outside of the building read as follows:

WELL FED

WITH DAILY BREAD!

It reminded me of how the Lord daily fed the children of Israel every day for forty years in the wilderness. We read, “So He fed them according to the integrity of His heart” (Psalm 78:72). It also reminded me of how the Lord desires to feed us day by day with Himself, the Bread of Heaven. He said, “I am that bread of life … he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. This is that bread which came down from Heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (John 6:48, 57-58).

Have you been well fed with daily bread today? Have you read your Bible and fed on the person and work of Christ? If not, don’t let the sun go down without satisfying your spiritual appetite. How can you hope to be a spiritually healthy Christian if you don’t feed on the Living Bread?

Monthly Scripture Reading
Romans 5

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

Hold Fast

Recently some Sunday school children in Morvant, Trinidad were asked what it meant to hold fast. There were several simple but legitimate answers. Here are just two of them:

“Don’t let go!”

“Hang on tight!”

These definitions brought to mind several things from the Word of God that we are told to hang on tight to and not let go:

“Hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“Hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13)

“Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Hebrews 3:6).

“Hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14).

“Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23).

It takes real energy of faith and dependence on the Lord to hold fast and be faithful to Him and His Word. But He gives us all the power and spiritual fortitude we need and encourages us to not let go until He comes. “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come” (Revelation 2:25).

Dear Young Christian:

“Brethren, pray” (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

This week I had the privilege of visiting an elderly sister in Christ, who lives in Morvant, Trinidad. Sister Williams told me that she is now over ninety years of age, and although still in her own home and still helping with a Sunday school class, she cannot do many of the things she used to do for the Lord. “But,” she said, “I can still pray.”

I wonder if we who are younger really appreciate older ones who spend time in prayer, and who are praying specifically for us? Maybe they can’t get out to the meetings or be involved in work for the Lord like they used to, but they are home praying, and no doubt this is one reason why the Lord has spared their life … to pray for those of us who, sad to say, don’t take time to pray like we should.

When I get to Heaven, I am sure that I will find out that I was preserved from many things because I had elderly believers praying for me. We sometimes call them “prayer warriors,” and I am very thankful for them.

“Finally, brethren, pray” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

Waste

“There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head, as He sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?” (Matthew 26:7-8).

The disciple considered this act of devotion a waste. But the Lord valued it very much and rebuked them by saying, “Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon Me” (verse 10).

Today is the “first day of the week” (Act 20:7). Many may think it is a waste of time, energy, and resources if you meet with other believers for worship, prayer, or Bible study. Others may think it is a waste to be involved in gospel outreach or visiting believers who are not well or in trying circumstances. But be assured that the Lord values any response and expense we may give to Him. If you have the liberty to use this day for the Lord, do it! He takes account of every sacrifice you make, and in the end will attach His commendation to it. Sometimes, like the women with the precious ointment, you may even be reproached and criticized by other true believers. Never mind, it is the Lord’s estimation and approval that really counts.

Obey the Gospel

“What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17).

It was Sunday school in Morvant, Trinidad, and Mr. Seymour was giving the young people a simple gospel message on the subject of obedience. He asked the youths to give him a definition of the word OBEY. There were several suggestions, but the simplest, and — to me — the best answer was, “To do what you’re told.”

This may seem elementary, and yet it is profoundly true. We are told that “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).

God gives us some simple commands. Here are just three examples:

“Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

“Flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31).

These are simple, easy-to-be-understood statements. The question is, have you obeyed … have you done what you are told?

A Good Commendation

“The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth … . For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth” (3 John verses 1, 3).

Wouldn’t we all like a commendation like that? When others give an account of your actions what do they say? Can they give a good report? Can they testify that we are walking according to the Word of God and living a godly life?

Here is what it says about Timothy: “Well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:2).

Of Apelles we read, “approved in Christ” (Romans 16:10).

Of course, our first motivation should be the Lord’s approval. Paul said, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). However, we further read, “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men” (Romans 14:18).

Young People of Scripture
Jonathan

Prince Jonathan was the son of King Saul and was a valiant warrior and a man of faith. He won some great victories for Israel, sometimes single-handedly, but in reliance on the Lord, as seen in the first few verses of 1 Samuel 13.

It seems that Jonathan was David’s best friend and even sheltered David from the malice and hatred of Saul. He proved his love and loyalty in that, though he was heir to the throne, he agreed that David should be king, and he would be next to him (1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20:1-42; 1 Samuel 23:16-18).

Nevertheless, Jonathan was not willing to suffer reproach with David and remained with his father, rather than with the one who was anointed by God to be His king, and with his father he perished. David wept for his friend, and said, “Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful” (2 Samuel 1:26). Jonathan never got to sit next to David when he became king. Are we willing to suffer reproach for Christ now during the time of His rejection, knowing that we will share in His glorious reign in a future day? Remember, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12). “If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17).

Missionaries — Part 2

How often do we say, “I’m bored,” or “I have nothing exciting to do”? And yet there is so much that we can do or could be doing for the Lord and for the advancement of the gospel and the truth of God.

Young people, there is no shortage of needs and opportunities to serve the Lord and help His people. As we have already indicated, it does not mean that we all pack up and leave for the foreign mission field. But it does mean looking around us for needs and open doors every day, at school, office, shop, factory, neighborhood, or wherever you operate from day to day. There is much that can be done to help those who are distributing and preaching the Word of God on a full-time basis. It may not always be exciting, but if done for the Lord it will be rewarding. The next time you find yourself wondering what to do, or how to fill your time, say to the Lord, “What wilt Thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6). If you truly mean it, you will find He has plenty for you to do.

There’s lots to do for Jesus, go work for Him today!
You’ll find a real blessing, a joyous, rich repay.
Go work today for Jesus, so loving, good, and kind;
Of things to do for Jesus, no shortage you will find.

Missionaries — Part 1

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15).

This is a word to every one of us who belong to the Lord, but, as we said yesterday, not necessarily telling every one of us that we need to head out to the foreign mission field or some remote corner of the planet. But we can all be missionaries. When I was a boy in Sunday school, we used to sing that familiar children’s song:

Jesus bids us shine
With a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle
Burning in the night;
In this world of darkness,
So we must shine,
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.

Let’s preach by our actions and by our words, in whatever corner of the world the Lord has put us in today. And if He chooses to send us to another corner of the world tomorrow, let’s be ready to go where He leads, as His messenger, like the prophet who said, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).