Young People’s Blog

Sinned

“I have sinned” (Luke 15:18, 21).

These words were spoken by the young man we often refer to as, “The Prodigal Son.” He first spoke them in his heart while in the pigpen feeding the pigs and trying to satisfy his own hunger with the pig food. He then spoke them to his father, as he returned home to meet his father, who came running to greet him and welcome him back. To be back in the father’s presence and the father’s house, it was necessary that the son come to the realization that he was a sinner. There could be no kiss, no robe or ring, no shoes or fatted calf, no music and dancing, and no communion and fellowship with the Father until there was true repentance.

So it is with every person who receives God’s salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of Calvary. There must be the realization that we are helpless, guilty sinners, deserving nothing but judgment and hell. The way of blessing is through “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Then, and only then, can grace bring us into the joy of all that God the Father has provided for us.

Prayer Answered — Part 2

“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

As we walked on toward the parking garage, we decided to cross the busy street at a crosswalk, and continue on down the hill. Just after crossing the street, my friend looked down, and a moment later I saw him stoop and pick something up. To my amazement, it was a parking ticket! I said to my friend, “It can’t be ours.” But it was ours! As we stood there amazed, we looked around, and realized that an hour or more before we had stopped at that very spot to take a picture with his phone, and that it was then that the parking ticket had fallen to the ground. In the meantime, hundreds of people had passed by, and the Lord had kept the ticket safe, allowing us to return to that very place, look down, and find the lost item!

We went on our way marveling at the ways of the Lord, with thankful hearts that He had answered our prayer…not as quickly as we would have liked, but in His time and way, and to teach us valuable lessons, such as learning to trust and “wait on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). We were also glad that we did not have to pay for a full day’s parking.

Prayer Answered — Part 1

“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee”
(Jeremiah 33:3).

Yesterday I was in Monaco, that tiny kingdom on the Mediterranean Sea, tucked between France and Italy in the area known as the French Riviera. My Christian friend and I had driven over early that morning from Frejus, France, where I was staying, and parked in an underground parking garage so that we could walk around the country and see the sights. I remembered when he took the parking ticket from the kiosk that he put it in the case of his smart phone, and I was a little concerned as he pulled his phone out to use it from time to time during the day.

Returning to the car later that afternoon, my worst fear was confirmed: the parking ticket was gone! My friend remembered taking a picture with his phone a few minutes before, and while I waited and prayed, he retraced his steps, only to return with a disappointed look and the news that he hadn’t found the tag. We concluded that it was carelessness on our part, and, to some degree at least, submitted in our hearts that this was a lesson in the school of God and that we would have to pay for a whole day of parking which would amount to about €30, or around $40, US currency.

Continue

The Christian life is a life of continuance. It takes constant exercise and perseverance to live for the Lord on a daily basis. Here are seven exhortations to continue in that which has been provided for us by God, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Continue ye in My love” (John 15:9).

“Continue in His goodness” (Romans 11:22).

“Continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).

“Continue in the grace of God” (Acts 14:43).

“Continue in My Word” (John 8:31).

“Continue in prayer” (Colossians 4:2).

“Continue in the Son” (1 John 2:24).

Read the Bible

“The Scripture which he read” (Acts 8:32).

I recently saw a picture of an open Bible and the question asked, “Did you read me today?” Underneath the question were the words “yes” and “no” and a box to check beside one or the other.

What answer would you have to honestly give to such a question? Suppose this were posted on your pillow every night as you turned back the sheets — embroidered on your pillow case perhaps — and you had to answer it truthfully before God? What would you say — what could you say? Would it make a difference? Why does it seem so hard to find time for even just a few verses of God’s living Word?

I suppose one reason is that our enemy, Satan, does not want us to be spiritually fed and encouraged. But don’t let him rob you of the nourishment and refreshment you need for your soul every day. You will never be sorry for letting something else go, and taking time to read your Bible. Let’s be like the believers at Berea.

“They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Dear Young Christian,

“He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36).

Is this true in your life? Is Jesus Christ really “Lord of all?” Sometimes there are things in our lives that we want to keep for ourselves, and certain corners of our hearts where we don’t want the Lord to intrude. We want to own Him as Lord in some areas and aspects of our lives — maybe even most — but not in all. When I was a young person I heard it said, “If He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” The Lord wants our whole hearts, and devoted obedience to Himself.

When growing up, we often sang a well-known hymn by Jennie Evelyn Hussey. The first verse went like this:

Lord of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

What a good prayer this is as we start another week of school, work and the daily grind of life!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Worthy

“Who is worthy?” (Revelation 5:2).

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory
and honor and power” (Revelation 4:11).

“Thou art worthy…for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor,
and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).

Yes, the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, is indeed the worthy One! Worthy of our worship, worthy of our adoration, worthy of every note of praise that our hearts can give Him.

Worthy Lord Jesus Christ our Lord,
Of every note our hearts afford:
Worthy of worship, worthy Thou,
Of all that we can give Thee now!
And in that day of glory bright,
We’ll own Thy worthiness aright.

Save Me

A book in my library describes a marshal in Napoleon’s army who was completely devoted to the emperor. One day, the marshal was mortally wounded in battle. As he lay dying, he called for Napoleon, who soon came. The officer thought that the emperor could save his life, but Napoleon just shook his head and turned away. The book describes the tragic scene:

“As the dying man felt the cold, merciless hand of death drawing him irresistibly behind the curtain of the unseen world he was still heard to shriek out, ‘Save me, Napoleon! Save me!’”

In that hour of death, that soldier discovered that even the great Napoleon could not rescue him.

Similarly, when a person seeks deliverance from spiritual death, he finds that no human has power to save — no minister of the gospel, no priest on earth, not even those who are great prayer warriors. Only Jesus can save a soul!

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Thy Country — Part 2

“What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew” (Jonah 1:8-9).

Jonah was exceedingly more than just “an Hebrew,” true as that was in itself. He was one of the people of God. He belonged to Israel. His occupation was that he was “Jonah…the prophet” (2 Kings 14:25).* That is, he was God’s messenger. Sad to say, he was in such a bad state of soul that when the mariners in the ship put these questions to him, he seemed to forget for the moment who he really was and that he had a commission from God.

What testimony are we going to give to the world today? What will we say if someone, in so many words, says to us, “What is thy country?” The believers at Philippi were reminded through the writing of the Apostle Paul,

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

*Jonah was one of only three writing prophets in Israel, the other two being Hosea and Amos. All the rest were from Judah.

Thy Country — Part 1

“What is thy country?” (Jonah 1:8).

This is a very interesting question, and one of greater significance than perhaps we think. If someone were to ask me this question at a customs or immigration desk, I would truthfully answer, “I am a Canadian.” Some of my readers would answer, “American,” while others would give a variety of nations from around the world, and, I would add, this would be the wise way to answer in such cases. To government officials, we need to give straightforward, honest answers. Jonah, when asked, affirmed, “I am an Hebrew” (Jonah 1:9). This was certainly true.

But I am far more than just a Canadian. And you too, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, are far more than just the nationality indicated on your birth certificate or passport. Whatever flag or government we live under, believers have one thing in common — we are citizens of heaven.

Here is how the Apostle Paul explained it when writing to the believers in the city of Ephesus:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).