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The World — Part 1

“The God of this WORLD hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them … . God that made the WORLD and all things therein … . He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the WORLD in righteousness … . Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the WORLD … . Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save sinners … . I am come a light into the WORLD, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness … . For God sent not His Son into the WORLD to condemn the WORLD; but that the WORLD through Him might be saved … . He was in the WORLD, and the WORLD was made by Him, and the WORLD knew Him not … . For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole WORLD, and lose his own soul … . I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the WORLD … . I pray not for the WORLD, but for them which Thou hast given Me … . I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the WORLD, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 17:24, 31; John 1:29; 1 Timothy 1:15; John 12:46; 3:17; 1:10; Matthew 16:26; John 17:6, 9, 15).

Youth

“O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth … . Thou hast taught me from my youth” (Psalm 71:5, 17).

Life here on earth is short,
Youth soon will fade and fold;
Your Lord desires you live for Him,
Not wait till you grow old.
Don’t waste your youthful years,
Your best and brightest days:
Your Lord desires to use you now,
In many fruitful ways.

Youth lived for Christ is joy,
Many have proved this truth;
To wholly follow in His ways,
Brings much reward in youth.
We do not know how long,
Our life on earth will be,
We only know we have today –
“Lord let us live for Thee!”

Dear Young Christian:

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Timothy was a young man who had been saved and had a real desire to live for the Lord and serve Him. Paul tells him to be an example of the believers by showing Christ in every aspect of his day-to-day life. He was to be careful what he said and what he did, as well as what he didn’t do, indicated by the word, “purity.” If Timothy’s service and ministry was to be effective, he would have to live his life as a model Christian. Sad to say, many believers, both young and old, mar their testimony through failing to exhibit these beautiful qualities of Christ that are listed in this verse. If what we say does not affect and shape our own lives, how can we expect it to affect and shape the lives of others?

Live for Christ this week, “keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22), and you will be a blessing to others, as well as having the joy and peace of the Lord in your own heart.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

He Laid Down His Life

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

No one else could ever give up their life in this way. Only the divine Son of God could say, “I lay down My life” (John 10:15). He then could further add, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18).

It is a wonderful thing to meditate on the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, and to realize that it was all for the glory of God His Father and for our eternal blessing. It is a precious truth and an awesome reality to be able to say, “He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16). And it is a marvelous thing to be able to echo with the Apostle Paul, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Safe

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

When traveling in the Caribbean, you see all kinds of sayings, and even Bible verses, decorating vehicles. Recently, on the back of a taxi van on the island of Saint Vincent, I saw the following:

Christ’s work makes one safe!

Yes, to be saved is to be safe. Safe from the judgment that is coming on this world, and safe from eternal punishment in hell. It brought to mind the words of a hymn I grew up singing. Here is a part of it:

Safe in Christ, the weakest child
Stands in all God’s favor;
All in Christ are reconciled
Through that only Savior.
Once their sins on every side,
Seemed to tower o’er them;
Christ has stemmed the angry tide;
Been through death before them.

Are you “safe in Christ?”

Monthly Question Page

Q. Can you please explain why in Matthew it says, “They stripped Him, and put on Him a SCARLET robe” (27:28), but in John it says, “a PURPLE robe” (19:2)?

A. The answer is really very simple. There is no contradiction here, and no mistake in translation. There could easily have been two robes in which the Lord was arrayed and mocked at different times during His trial. In keeping with the character of the inspired writers each only mentions the color that is in keeping with their presentation, and aspects of the Lord Jesus which they are called on to record.

Matthew presents the Lord as the Jewish Messiah, the King of the Jews. As scarlet was the Jewish color of royalty, he is the one that records that particular robe.

On the other hand, John writes from the Gentile perspective. Purple being the royal color of the gentiles (particularly the Romans in this case), he records the incident of the purple robe.

In these two robes, as well as other numerous indications, we see both Jew and Gentile united in their rejection of the Son of God. Thankfully, there is a day coming when He will be universally owned as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

Guidance

“The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Psalm 25:9).

I suppose every true believer deep down in their heart desires the guidance of the Lord in their life. However, the above verse shows us that there must be a submissive attitude of meekness and a willingness to give the Lord first place if we are going to be guided and taught according to His way. Meekness is giving Him the preeminence and walking humbly before Him. The perfect example, of course, is the Lord Jesus Himself, who said: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Here are some further verses on the subject:

“For Thou art my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me” (Psalm 31:3).

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul” (Isaiah 58:11).

Monthly Scripture Reading
Numbers 21

4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Wheelbarrow Christians

Down here in the Eastern Caribbean where I spend a great deal of time, they have an expression, “Wheelbarrow Christians.” The first time I heard it I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I finally figured it out.

A “Wheelbarrow Christian” is someone who always has to be pushed, and never takes on more than is placed on them by someone else. In other words, a person with no initiative and one who does no more than is absolutely necessary or expected of them. I know a lot of people like that. They say there is nothing to do for the Lord, they wait for others to ask them to take a Sunday school class or go with them on some venture for the Lord. They don’t see that the chairs need to be arranged for the next meeting, the dishes need to be done after the fellowship meal, or that hymnbooks need to be handed out for the gospel service. They are always waiting to be asked or pushed to do the work of the Lord. Does this describe you?

There is much to do for the Lord today! Don’t wait to be pushed into it. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).

Dear Young Christian:

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians  5:20).

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I am on Union Island in the eastern Caribbean today. It is the southernmost Grenadine island belonging to Saint Vincent. While visiting with a brother in Christ in his little grocery store, we spoke of the need to be thankful for all things and being thankful in every situation as well. As we talked on the subject, he made the following comment: “True gratitude is a result of a proper attitude.” His point was, that we can say we are thankful, and even act like it, but inside we are anything but.

I don’t believe we can be truly thankful in the circumstances of life until we are truly thankful for them. Whatever happens this week learn to take it from the Lord and be thankful in and for everything that the Lord allows.

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland