Young People’s Blog

Thankfulness

“This know also, that in the last days … men shall be … unthankful” (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

Yes, this is certainly a day of thanklessness! It is one of the great proofs that we are living in days just before the Lord comes back. But that is not how it is to be with the believer. Over and over again in the Bible we are challenged to cultivate the spirit and habit of thanksgiving. Here are some encouragements in that regard:

“Be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).

“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).

Most of all, we should be thankful that God sent His Son to be our Savior. Every day we should look up and say, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Psalm 23 — Part 7

“I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

It is the conscious sense of the Lord’s presence with us that drives away all fear. We are passing through a dark world (morally and spiritually), and we have a powerful enemy, called Satan or the Devil. But we need not fear. Our Lord says, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God” (Isaiah 43:1-3).

When the disciples first saw the Lord walking on the water towards them they did not realize who He was. As a result, “they were troubled … and they cried out for fear” (Matthew 14:26). However, He immediately identified Himself by saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (verse 27).

Like David, the disciples, and many others, we can have an inner peace and calm as we walk in company with our Great Shepherd, and follow closely by His side.

Roots

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17).

Roots are what give stability and life to the trees of the forest and the plants in the garden. In the same way, roots are what give stability and vitality to the Christian life. Some folks are really concerned about their ancestry and where they came from. This is sometimes referred to as “our roots,” and often folks will spend a great deal of time, money, and even travel, to trace their heritage.

But the roots of our Christian life are to be in Him, that is, in Christ. He is the source of all life, strength, nourishment, and stability in our lives. Many a believer has been knocked down by the storms of life, and the opposition of our enemy Satan, because they were not well “rooted and grounded.” Let’s be rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ, “Like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season” (Psalm 1:3).

Disposable Culture

“I am the Lord, I change not”(Malachi 3:6).

More than ever, we live in a disposable culture. Consider some of the items we throw away on a regular basis without even thinking about it. Water bottles, paper plates, plastic cutlery, razors, and on and on the list goes. Not only do we dispose of products like this every day, but it seems that nothing in this world is lasting or long-term anymore. True commitment to relationships is almost non-existent, long-term employment seems a thing of the past, and marriage is looked at very lightly.

Thankfully, we have an unchanging Lord, who has an unchanging love. He tells us very clearly, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

He also is living for us as our High Priest, and this never changes or ceases. “This Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood” (Hebrews 7:24). He is faithful and merciful, and this never fails or changes. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 107:1).

Dear Young Christian:

Yesterday, I heard someone make this wise comment:

“Stop worrying about what you don’t have,
and thank the Lord for what you do have.”

Very good advice indeed! So often we are like the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. Instead of thanking the Lord for their deliverance from Egypt and all the things He provided from day to day, such as water from the rock and manna from heaven, they grumbled and complained, and said, “Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic” (Numbers 11:4-5).

This week, instead of complaining and worrying about what we wish we had or think we need, let’s count our blessings and mercies, and remember the promise, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). He has promised to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19), but not necessarily all your “wants.”

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Sacrifice

History is filled with many people young and old who have made sacrifices of one sort or another — some great, some small. Many have even made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives in the service and freedom of humanity. The Lord Himself said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

But the greatest and most consequential sacrifice ever made in this world was the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus when He went to Calvary’s cross. Here is what the Bible says about that supreme sacrifice:

“Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor” (Ephesians 5:2).

“Once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

“This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

It is so good for us to look back today and remember that wonderful event, and to never forget the sacrifice of Calvary.

Reality

The other day I saw a T-shirt with the slogan “Let’s Be Real” on one side, and “Let’s Get Real” on the other. It reminded me of the danger of pretending we are real believers, when in fact we are not. The Bible calls this hypocrisy, and, when on earth, the Lord on more than one occasion exposed those who were mere professors or pretenders. He said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27-28). Yes, we can fool a lot of people into thinking we are real, but we cannot fool the One who looks deep into our heart and soul.

However, thankfully, there is a way to “get real.” It is by being saved and having our sins put away by the blood of Christ. The call is, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). The promise is, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17).

Slothfulness — Part 2

“Much food is in the tillage of the poor” (Proverbs 13:23).

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

The other day, my missionary friend and I were visiting on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. As we were driven across the island, we noticed a billboard which stated:

FARM TODAY OR STARVE TOMORROW!

Yesterday’s verse taught us the sad results of a neglected field and vineyard; no fruit, just weeds and decay. Today’s verse encourages the farmer to work hard, till the ground, plant his seed, and reap the fruit of his labor.

There is a spiritual lesson in all this as well. The Lord never encourages laziness in any aspect of our life. If in natural things we need to be diligent and organized, just so it is in our spiritual life. We cannot expect to have spiritual growth and fruit if we aren’t reading the Bible, and spending time in meditation and study of what we read.

Slothfulness — Part 1

“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster” (Proverbs 18:9).

The other day, my wife and I drove by a farmer’s fields that had been sadly neglected for some time. It brought to mind the words recorded by Solomon, who also passed such a farm. Of his experience he said, “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction” (Proverbs 24:30-32).

Is this true of our lives? Are we “great wasters”? The habits and routines we develop in our day-to-day practical living usually spill over into our spiritual life. A person who is sloppy and disorganized in natural things is often haphazard when it comes to reading their Bible, spending time in prayer, and in their service for the Lord. While it is true we all have different bends to our nature and personality, yet we can all take heed to the exhortation, “Be not slothful” (Judges 18:9; Hebrews 6:12).

Availability

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

Someone has well stated that this verse is not a question of ability, but of availability.

There is an old saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” But let’s put a little different spin on it: “When it’s God’s will, He makes a way.”

Sometimes we may question whether we have the ability or the strength to do this or that. But it is not so much a matter of “Can I do this?” but a matter of “Is it God’s will for me to do it?” If we are available and sensitive to His leading, then He will provide everything that is needed for the task at hand. His promise is, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10). Don’t be afraid to go wherever the will of God leads you or to do whatever task the will of God gives you to do.