Young People’s Blog

Fame

Two famous athletes were being questioned by a sports writer as to their legacy and accomplishments. Ted Williams pointed to his success in baseball. Michael Jordan noted his achievements in basketball. How sad! A lifetime quest for fleeting fame and the applause of this world. Here is what the Bible has to say on the matter: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26). Athletes strive for a prize that is corruptible at best. Their names come and go from the sports pages and news casts of society.

In contrast, the Apostle Paul had the best goal of all, declaring, “For to me to live is Christ … I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:21; 3:14). What are you living for? Is it a flash of glory and fame in this world, or is it for Christ and eternal consequences?

Complaining

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard” (Numbers 11:1).

“Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not His word: But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord” (Psalm 106:24-25).

Instead of enjoying the blessings of God and all His care and provision for them, the children of Israel despised His goodness and, sad to say, for the most part, disregarded His word. Privately in their tents they complained and murmured, thinking perhaps that no one else could hear them. But little did they realize that the One who hears our cry when we are in distress is also the One who hears our voice of discontent and complaint. Remember, when we complain, the problem may be with us and not with others or concerning our circumstances. Also, remember, that when we grumble and complain we are really in the end blaming God, and that is a serious thing. Whether in secret or publicly, the Bible never condones complaining. “That there be no complaining in our streets” (Psalm 144:14).

Not an Easy Road

While traveling by car through the jungle of Guyana, South America this morning, on our way to preach the gospel at a village by the name of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, I couldn’t help but think about the following lines of a hymn, writer by J. W. Peterson, that we used to sing as young people.

It’s not an easy road we are travelling to heaven,
For many are the thorns on the way;
It’s not an easy road but the Savior is with us,
His presence gives us joy every day.

No, no, it’s not an easy road,
No, no, it’s not an easy road;
But Jesus walks with me and
Brightens my journey,
And lightens every heavy load.

The road we were driving on was indescribable and there were times when I really wondered if we would make it.

Isn’t that the way it is with the road of life sometimes? And yet, when we trust the Lord, and walk with the consciousness of His presence with us, He always brings us through. He has promised, “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:5).

Troubled

“Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1, 27).

These words were spoken twice by the Lord Jesus just before He left the disciples to go to the cross and then return to heaven. He was going to leave them in a troubled world, but He assures them that they need not be troubled in their hearts, as He would continue to be their resource, strength, and peace, and that they could still trust Him for every circumstance, no matter how bad things got. He exhorts them, “Ye believe in God, believe also in Me … Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:1, 27).

It is easy to be like Martha, of whom the Lord said, “Thou art careful and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41). We become troubled with the current events of a world full of war, terrorism, and turmoil. We become troubled with school, work, and life in general. We become troubled about the future, family, friends … and on and on it goes. The Apostle Paul said, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed” (2 Corinthians 4:8). That’s because His joy and confidence was in the Lord.

Dear Young Christian:

“Ye have need of patience” (Hebrews 10:36).

I never seem to have much of that precious commodity. Part of the problem is, there is only one way to learn it. “Tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3). That’s why you should never pray for patience. Grace, yes, but not patience. If you pray for patience you can expect tribulation.

As I sit here and impatiently wait for my delayed flight from Chicago to Ottawa, I wrote a little rhyme to help pass the time: I’ll share it with you.

Patience is a virtue, a trait I don’t possess,
I always want it right away, I openly confess.
But graciously, my Father, is teaching me what’s best. . .
To learn to wait upon Him, and in His wisdom rest.

Patience has a value, and we must pay the price,
Much tribulation is the cost, which does not sound so nice.
But gently, softly, kindly, my Father, works it out,
And so I wait, and pray, and trust, His love I cannot doubt.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

Offering & 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).

We might well ask, what is the difference between an offering and a sacrifice? The answer is really very simple: the offering is what is given — the contribution, and the sacrifice is the cost.

• The Lord Jesus offered Himself:

“Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14).

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

• The cost was His life and the shedding of His blood:

“He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16).

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Three Categories

A friend of mine recently made this observation in connection with salvation:

“There are three categories of people:

1. Those who are saved.

These are those who have come in faith and repentance and receive Christ as their Savior. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).

2. Those who pretend to be saved.

These are those like Judas Iscariot, who was outwardly a disciple of Jesus, and fooled everyone but the Lord Himself, who said, “Ye are clean, but not all … And none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 13:10; 17:12).

3. Those who think they are saved.

These are those who think that their good life or charitable works will gain them favor before God. However, the Bible is clear, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).

Which category are you?

Monthly Question Page

Q. Could you give some insight on the Lord’s statements in Luke 12:8-9?

A. “Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.”

The great question is, are we willing to confess Christ before men? It is one thing to own Christ in our hearts, but what about publicly? The disciples would face opposition after the Lord returned to heaven and they went forth with the gospel. So He gives special encouragement, telling them that there is a blessing in openly confessing His name. Knowing that there was a commendation in heaven would spur them on in spite of persecution and reproach on earth, which the Lord knew they would suffer for their testimony.

So today, if we are willing to confess Christ openly in this wicked world, there is a special commendation in heaven, and the same power that was available to the early Christians in the book of the Acts is available to us today. Let’s not be like Joseph of Arimathea, of whom is says, “a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38).

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland1959@gmail.com

The Most Important Thing

Wedged on the crowded boat from Parika toSupenaam, Guyana today, I noticed some words painted on a beam just above my head. Here is what it said:

Prayer is the most important thing—DO IT!

Several of us were crossing the Essequibo River (the third largest river in South America), in a wooden speedboat called a water-taxi. We were going to deliver some Bibles and Christian literature to some believers on the other side. The words on the beam made me smile, as we cut through the rough waves and swift current of that mighty river, for some forty-five minutes. The size of the boat, the number of people on board, and the conditions of the river seemed to punctuate and give credence to what I thought was certainly a timely reminder.

But no matter where we are or what the circumstances, prayer is an important and essential part of our daily Christian life. We are reminded: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). DO IT!

Monthly Scripture Reading

Acts 28

1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.