Young People’s Blog

 “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

If you are a true Christian, you will find that there are many in this world who do not want to hear about the Lord Jesus. If you live your life for the Lord, and speak about Him, people in the world may make fun of you, or try to get you to lose your temper. I remember reading about a Christian girl who lived more than 200 years ago, and because her family was poor, she came to school with a large patch on her dress. Her name was Mary Jones, but when a rude boy at her school saw the patch on her dress, he called her “Mary Patch.” Mary could have gotten angry at this insult, but instead she answered pleasantly, “Oh, I sewed that patch on myself.” The boy looked closely at the patch, and noticing the neat stitches, remarked, “My sister is much older than you, but she can’t sew that well!” Instead of making further rude remarks, the boy complemented her on her sewing.

We cannot help what people say to us as Christians, but we can reply in a kind and gentle way, that demonstrates to others that we want to please the Lord Jesus.

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).

Most of us are familiar with harvest time, which in the northern hemisphere usually occurs in September and October. At that time crops like wheat, corn, soybeans, and some fruits such as apples, pears, and grapes are gathered in, before the cold weather comes and winter sets in. Farmers are careful to harvest their crops at just the right time, observing the weather, and measuring such things as the sugar content of corn or grapes, or the coloring of apples. These things are important, so that the particular crop being harvested is of a good quality, and able to be sold.

But are we taking the same care for our soul’s salvation? In Luke 12:16-21, the Lord Jesus told of a rich man who had an abundant harvest, and who even had to build bigger barns in which to store it all. Yet God calls him a fool, for he had made careful preparation for this life, yet never considered the fact that when he died, he must leave it all behind. God said to him, “This night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (verse 20). It is most important to prepare for eternity by accepting the Lord Jesus as our Savior, and then to lay up our treasure in heaven.

“Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness” (Psalm 65:11).

At the beginning of a new year, we can all look back and thank the Lord for His loving care to us during the past year. Yes, this world has been spoiled by sin, and we still see the effects of it all around us. One day the Lord will remove the curse from the earth, but now we still see plants dying, and animals and people suffering.

However, God in His love and grace has kept this world from the full effects of man’s sin, and we see evidence of His goodness in our lives every day. You cannot think of one good thing that you enjoyed today that did not ultimately come from God! This includes things like the good food we eat, the sense of taste to enjoy it, the warmth of the sun, and the pleasure of a hug from a relative or a good friend. All of this is God’s goodness to us. Have we thanked Him for all these things?

More important, have we accepted the most important gift that God offers us — the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ? When God gave His Son to die for us, He gave the greatest gift He could; He could not give more. Have you accepted Him as your Savior?

Forgiven

On New Year’s Eve, a headmaster of a private boys’ school invited the students to a party. When they arrived, they found that he had already lit a huge bonfire in the middle of the playground. After he was sure everyone had arrived, he produced a large book. It was “The Detention Book.” In it were the names of all who had failed to complete their lessons or who had misbehaved in some way or other over the past school term. With great ceremony he held up the book for all to see and then cast it into the flames, saying, “This is the last day of the year; all the past is going to be forgiven and blotted out.”

How wonderful that we can have the forgiveness of sins, and the record of our guilt eternally erased from God’s book, because of the work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, and the blood that He shed there for sinners. When we are saved, the assurance of the Bible is, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17). We also read: “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

As this calendar year ends, we trust and pray that all our readers have experienced God’s forgiveness.

Monthly Question Page

Q. What is the difference between 1 Chronicles 21:13, “Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord,” and Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”?

A. In First Chronicles, King David had sinned and in pride had numbered the people. When he realizes what he has done, he takes full responsibility for his actions and seeks to spare the people from a consequence that he feels they do not deserve. In confessing his sin, he understands that God is gracious and avails himself of that grace, instead of blaming others for his failure.

In Hebrews it is a question of a person who rejects God’s testimony and His offer of salvation. This we see from the context, beginning at verse 29. It is indeed a fearful thing to reject God’s grace and salvation, especially for those who have made a profession of being saved and pretend to be believers but are not real. There will be judgment for such!

So, for a child of God to fall into His hand is to count on His grace, mercy, and wisdom. But to fall into the hands of a holy God having rejected His grace and mercy is the most dreadful thing of all.

Necessity of Prayer

“Praying always” (Ephesians 6:18).

Are you a prayer warrior or a prayer worrier?

It is interesting to see how much of the Bible is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in providing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26). Then, just as we are about to close the Book, the “Amen” of an earnest supplication meets our ear: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

In God’s Word, we find Daniel who prayed three times a day and David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elijah; in the prison dungeon we see Paul and Silas, and many more. All are men of prayer!

These examples teach us the importance and necessity of prayer. We may be certain that whatever God made prominent in His Word, He intends to be conspicuous and prevalent in our daily life. He has said much about prayer, and this is because He knows that we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Monthly Scripture Reading

Ephesians 4:23-29

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Lonely

Have you ever been alone? I mean, really lonely? I suppose all of us from time to time, even in our Christian experience, have felt alone.

But this need not be the case. There is One who is always with us. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He has promised, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). Later in Scripture, He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The next time you feel that you are all alone, just remember what the Psalmist said: “Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:23-24). Nothing can change that! We need never feel lonely!

I often feel lonely,
When I forget the Lord:
When I neglect my Jesus,
And fail to read His Word.
But when my heart remembers,
And hand in hand we walk,
I never then feel lonely,
With Jesus I can talk.

Dear Young Christian,

I realize that quite a few of my readers are on holiday this week. Maybe some of you are attending a Bible conference, special meetings, or even a Christian youth camp. Whatever you are doing, remember, we should never take a holiday from following the Lord, reading our Bible or spending time in prayer. Let’s be like David who said, “I have set the Lord always before me” (Psalm 16:8). Every day, he sought to have one goal and object: to have the Lord as his focus and to live a life pleasing to Him. Sometimes he failed, got discouraged and allowed sin in his life. But when this happened, he soon came back to the realization that he needed to confess his shortcomings. He needed to refocus on what really mattered, what truly satisfied his soul and brought happiness and peace of mind.

The year is fast drawing to a close and this is the last personal letter I will write to our readers this year. If the Lord hasn’t come by the new year, we look forward to continuing in fellowship with Him next year as well.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

The Lord’s Day

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).

The Lord’s day, referred to in this verse, is the same day of the week the Lord rose from the dead.

“Jesus was risen early the first day of the week” (Mark 16:9).

It is also the day when He appeared to His disciples with a message of assurance and peace.

“The first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you” (John 20:19).

It was on this day that the Lord ascended back to heaven, and this day when the early believers in the city of Troas met for breaking of bread, fellowship and to hear the preaching of the Apostle Paul who was visiting at that time.

“Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them” (Acts 20:7).

What does the “Lord’s day” mean to you? John saw and heard wonderful things concerning the person of Christ because he was in tune with the Spirit of God on the first day of the week. Will this be your experience today?