Author: BTP

Rough Flight

“We fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

I was on a Bahama’s Air flight from Freeport to Nassau. In the seat beside me sat a young boy who looked to be about nine or ten years of age. He was evidently an unaccompanied minor, and had a pouch around his neck with his necessary documents.

We took off in a thunder storm, and, in all the years I have been flying, I have never been so sure that we weren’t going to make it. We were tossed about like a cork on the sea. People were screaming and crying. However, the youth beside me never said a word. He just reached over and put his hand on my arm for comfort, gritted his teeth, and hung on. When we finally landed in Nassau, he drew a great sigh of relief, turned to me, and said, “We reach.”

The journey of life is like that too. It’s not all sunshine, blue skies and smooth flying. There is plenty of turbulence and rough times. God hasn’t promised a smooth flight, but He has promised a safe landing. Someday soon we will, “fly away, and be at rest” (Psalm 55:6). In the meantime, we have One who is in full control, and will bring us safely through the ups and downs, and the storms of life.

Psalm 23 — Part 6

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4).

Often, we apply “the valley of the shadow of death” in connection with a believer passing from this world to the presence of the Lord. This is certainly a good application and has been a great comfort to many. However, in its context, I suggest it has a more relevant application to the believer on a daily basis. Every one of us is walking through this valley every day. It is the world stamped with death and under the curse of sin. It is the world where Satan is the god and prince and we see the sad results around us every day. Someone has said, “The valley of the shadow of death is this world with the shadow of the cross hanging over it.”

Of course, David, who was used to pen these words, did not understand the full import of what he wrote. He did understand that this world is a world of sin, sorrow, and death. He saw thousand slain on the battlefields, he knew what it was to lose family members and his own children in death, and he sometimes feared for his own life.

 Until we reach the Father’s house of light and love we won’t be done with the “valley of the shadow of death.”

Be Careful

“Be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8).

We are always being warned to “be careful.” From the time we can remember, our parents have warned us to be careful about this or that … where we go … what we say … how we act … what we do … and on and on the list of “be careful” goes. The Bible tells us to be careful as well. As our verse today encourages, we are to be careful to keep doing good works. Not good works to obtain our salvation, or even to maintain our salvation, but good works because we are saved. Here is some further instruction in this regard: “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Titus 2:7). We are also told to be “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

What good works will you perform for the Lord and for the blessing of others today? Good works are to characterize us as we go about our daily routine of life. Be careful to maintain this deportment and behavior at all times. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Asking

The following verses show the importance of prayer, in its aspect of making requests.

“Ask, and it shall be given you”(Matthew 7:7).

“Ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2).

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

King Solomon was told to ask of the Lord what he desired in connection with ruling God’s people. “The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5). Here is what he asked for: “Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people?” (verse 9).

God granted him his request:“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said … Behold, I have done according to thy words” (verses 10-12).

Often, we limit the Lord by not asking. Do you have a request today? Ask!

Dear Young Christian:

The following statement from Scripture is still the world’s attitude toward Christ: “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). Doing His will and owning His authority is the farthest thing from their mind. They would rather be under the authority of the Devil who is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), and also “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).

Someday, this world will have Christ to reign over them, and what a wonderful day that will be. “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness” (Isaiah 32:1). It will be the fulfilment of the angels’ announcement at His birth, “On earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).

In the meantime, those of us who know Him as our Savior should gladly own Him as Lord. He has said, “Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am” (John 13:13). How true is it in your life? Go forth this week owning Jesus as your Lord and Master, like Thomas who said, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

One Offering

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12).

In the Old Testament, there was never a seat for the priest, either in the tabernacle in the wilderness or the temple at Jerusalem. This was to indicate that their work was never done. It was an endless round of daily and yearly sacrifices. The Israelites understood that when they brought a sacrifice it only atoned for that one sin, and then they had to bring another, and another, and another.

But thankfully the work of atonement is finished and complete in the death of Christ on Calvary. “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). God will never require another sacrifice for sin. The fact that “He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20), is a proof that God is satisfied with the work of His Son, who has “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26).

Heaven’s Wedding

“Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9).

We all like to be invited to a wedding, and we enjoy seeing a happy couple united in marriage. What a wonderful day it’s going to be when the Lord Jesus Christ is united with His bride for all eternity. That is going to be a marriage supper that surpasses all others.

Lately, I’ve noticed that the dress code for weddings has become very casual — even to the point of wearing clothes that, a few years ago, would have been unacceptable at a wedding. But those at heaven’s wedding will be required to wear wedding clothes. You can’t get in without them. They can only be obtained by accepting the Lord as your Savior, as illustrated in the parable of the king who made a wedding feast for his son. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:11-13). Are you ready?

The Sea of Life

“For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven” (Psalm 107:25-30).

I have been on some rough seas and travelled on all kinds of boats. Like the Lord’s disciples, I have been concerned on more than one occasion as to the outcome of the voyage and whether we would make the intended shore or not.

The sea of life is like that too. Sometimes things go very smoothly, and sometimes things are rough. There are calm days and stormy days. But, thankfully, there is One who is in full control of every wave and every blast of wind in our lives. Over the roar of the storm, He says, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Read the whole account in Matthew 14:22-33.

Home — Part 3

“And he shall go no more out” (Revelation 3:12).

Mrs. Trench’s hymn continues:

Oh what a home! there fullest love
Flows through its courts of light;
The Son’s divine affections flow
Throughout its depth and height.
And full response the Father gives,
To fill with joy the heart —
No cloud is there to dim the scene
Or shadow to impart.

Oh what a home! But such His love
That He must bring us there
To fill that home, to be with Him,
And all His glory share.
The Father’s house, the Father’s heart,
All that the Son is given
Made ours — the object of His love,
And He, our joy in heaven.

For those of my readers familiar with the Little Flock hymnbook this is #127

Home — Part 2

Mrs. Trench was born Janetta W. Taylor on January 31^st, 1843. In 1866, she married John Alfred Trench. Mrs. Trench died June 14^th, 1925. Here is how, in one of her several hymns, she expressed the thought of HOME:

How blest a home! the Father’s house!
There love divine doth rest;
What else could satisfy the hearts
Of those in Jesus blest
His home made ours — His Father’s love
Our heart’s full portion given,
The portion of the firstborn Son,
The full delight of heaven.

Oh what a home! The Son who knows,
He only — all His love;
And brings us as His well-beloved
To that bright rest above,
Dwells in His bosom — knoweth all
That in that bosom lies,
And came to earth to make it known,
That we might share His joys.

“And so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).