Young People’s Blog

Look Up

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2)

The story is told of a preacher visiting an old feudal castle in England, so old that one of its towers dated back to the days of King John (1167-1216). When the preacher went down to breakfast, he found the young owner of the castle with his family and servants, assembled for morning prayer conducted by the head of the family.

As the visitor lifted his eyes, he noticed overhead a massive beam that spanned the grand old hall and bore in old English script the following inscription:

That house shall be preserved
And never shall decay,
Where the Almighty God,
Is worshipped day by day.

A.D. 1558

For hundreds of years the people of that old castle turned their faces toward God at the beginning of each day. How about you? Do you look up each morning and find your strength and joy in the only true source of blessing?

Dear Young Christian,

I read an article the other day about a Chicago physician who had to abandon the use of dogs in an ulcer research program. The dogs refused to get tense or worry, which are prominently listed as two of the main causes of ulcers. The doctor concluded that, if you inflict an ulcer upon a dog by artificial methods, he will sit down and placidly cure himself by refusing to be bothered about anything.

This rather amused me, and it also made me think. By nature, I tend to be a worrier. I have often thought about the words of David when he said, “Fret not thyself” (Psalm 37:7). What will we worry about this week? Or will we calmly, confidently, be able to commit things to the Lord, knowing that He is in control and working everything for our good? Here is a good verse to take with us as another week of activity begins: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matthew 6:34)

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

His Glory

“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should
taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).

When Queen Victoria had just ascended the throne of England she went to hear “The Messiah” rendered. She was instructed beforehand that as royalty she must not rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. When that magnificent chorus was sung … “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” she sat with great difficulty. However, when they came to the part where the singers with a shout proclaim Him King of Kings, suddenly, in spite of royal protocol, the young queen rose to her feet and stood with bowed head. Any earthly glory and acclaim she might have as sovereign of the realm only paled into insignificance in the presence of the Lord of glory.

May our hearts be truly filled with worship today as we consider the glories of the person of Christ, who loved us enough to die for us so that we can share in His glory in a future day.

No Atheists

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

Amid the loud applause of a crowded audience, an atheist lecturer was laboring to prove the folly of believing in a living God.

When an opportunity was given for discussion, a man stepped forward, and narrated how, from a river bank, he had once witnessed a boat driven down the current towards a dangerous rapid. In it was a man struggling to make the shore. All his efforts failing, frantically he cast away the oar, and cried to God to have mercy upon him. Marvelously, he was rescued from the brink of death in the nick of time.

Imagine the confusion of the atheist when the speaker pointed at him. Amid breathless silence, the speaker said,

“And that was the man who is now before you, attempting to prove that there is neither God nor eternity; neither judgment to come nor the need of salvation.” 

The pretended infidel withdrew, while in solemn silence the audience dispersed.

People may brush the Bible away as fairy tales, but when eternity is staring them in the face, it is often a very different story. There are no atheists in the next life.

At His Feet

“And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart
into a desert place, and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

The disciples were not losing or wasting time when they sat at the feet of their Master and held quiet conversation with Him under the olives of Bethany or by the shores of the sea of Galilee. These were their school hours, their feeding times. These were the times when they could listen, learn, ask questions and share what was on their mind and in their hearts, while learning what His mind was and what His heart was towards them. These were, no doubt, very precious and memorable times with the Lord Jesus.

The healthiest Christian, the one who is fitted for godly living and godly labors, is the one who spends much time with Christ, and feeds on Him the most. Here lies the benefit of Bible reading and secret prayer. The very act of sitting quietly at His table of love has its significance for eternal blessing. Let’s be like the bride in the Old Testament, who said,

“I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste”(Song of Solomon 2:3).

Prayer

Praying in the Holy Ghost

“Praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20).

Praying in the Holy Ghost does not mean superficial or casual saying of prayers. Nor does it mean mere repetition of some words printed on a card, or the repeating of what is commonly called, “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Praying in the Spirit means true spiritual communion with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Our praying is to be motivated by the Holy Spirit Himself. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This is only possible as we “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), that is, living as we ought to live, doing what we should be doing, and saying what we should be saying. Then and only then will we be able to ask in fellowship with the Spirit, and according to the Lord’s will. When we do this, the promise is, “if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Prayer is not getting man’s will done in heaven, but getting God’s will done on earth.

Having Not Seen

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, The Holy War, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, and other works, had a blind daughter who was his constant companion, of whom he was very fond. She never saw his face; she was incapable of reading his pages; she could only dimly recognize his genius. She did not know him visually, intellectually, technically, logically or critically, but if anyone in the world ever knew John Bunyan, it was his little blind daughter. She knew him deeply, intimately and truly as no biographer, historian, or critic knew him.

You and I have never seen the Lord Jesus with the physical eye. Yet we can, by faith, know Him in a personal and intimate way, through His Word and walking in close fellowship with Him every day. The Apostle Paul’s desire in life is summed up in the statement made in writing to the Christians at Philippi —  

“That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10).

Peace

As I sit at my bedroom window in the home I am visiting and look out over the lake, I am moved by the serenity of the scene and the beauty of God’s creation. The surface of the water is like glass; the leaves are moving ever so slightly with a gentle morning breeze, a faint mist is rising from the lake, and the sounds of nature seem all in harmony with one another. How peaceful it all seems, as my lungs fill again and again with the wholesome and refreshing air.

And yet I know that all is not at peace in the world today. “Wars and rumours of wars” (Matthew 24:6) abound on every hand, and the violence and corruption that is reported in the news every hour is a stark reminder that we are living in a world of sin and strife. It’s not getting any better, either.

No, not until the Lord Jesus comes to reign in righteousness, power and glory, will things improve on this planet. It reminds me of the scripture,

“But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in His wings”
(Malachi 4:2).

What a marvelous sunrise that will be!

“Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness”
(Isaiah 32:1).

Dear Young Christian,

Last week, a Christian friend and I were in St. Tropez, a beautiful resort town on the Mediterranean Sea in that part of France known as the French Riviera. The harbor was full of sail boats and yachts for the 26th annual sailing regatta and international racing competition. As we strolled along the waterfront and watched the boats along with hundreds of other spectators, I commented that it seemed that the vessels would surely run into each other, there were so many of them. From my perspective, it looked like absolute chaos. However, a little later we climbed a nearby hill, and from above, looked down on what was perfect order.

It made me think of the way we often view life and circumstances here in this world. From our perspective, it sometimes seems that things are out of control. But, from God’s heavenly point of view, it is quite different. How good it is to know that there is One who has complete charge of everything, and who desires that we “trust in Him at all times” (Psalm 62:8). Let’s learn to trust Him more!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Worship

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

Centuries ago some wise men from an eastern country saw a very unique star in the sky. They must have studied and puzzled over it for some time and then figured out that this star meant that the King of the Jews had been born. They went to Israel to find Him, which they succeeded in after diligent search and inquiry. When they finally came into His presence, they fell down and worshipped the One for whom they had travelled so far.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11).

We can worship that same One today, but not as a young child here in this world, like the wise men of long ago. We worship Him as our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We worship Him as a glorified, exalted Man in heaven. We worship Him because He died to save us.