Young People’s Blog

Dear Young Christian,

Today we lost an important paper. It had been kept in the storage compartment on the passenger side of our vehicle. My wife saw it yesterday, but today it was gone — vanished. We searched and searched and searched, but to no avail. Finally, we sat quietly, bowed our heads and prayed. One more search of the area and there it was. How thankful we were! It reminded us of the prayer of Asaph: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). And also the reminder, “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

What a tremendous resource we have in prayer! The wonderful thing is, we can use it again and again, and we never run out of the resource. It doesn’t matter how many times, day and night, we need it and use it. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). In every circumstance this week, DON’T FORGET TO PRAY!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Not Here

“He is not here” (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6).

Three times we have these four simple words spoken to those who were early to the sepulcher on the resurrection morning. The rest of the message confirmed the fact that the Lord Jesus had indeed risen from the dead in triumph over sin, death, and Satan. Later on when they actually saw the Lord, it brought peace and joy to their hearts. “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).

So today, it brings that same peace and joy to the hearts of believers around the world as we realize that we have One who is risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of God His Father in heaven. Here is how the Trinity was involved in such a momentous event:

“Whom GOD hath raised from the dead” (Acts 3:15).

“I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from ME, but I lay it down of MYSELF. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17-18).

“Christ…being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the SPIRIT” (1 Peter 3:18).

Questions

“If a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?” (1 Samuel 2:25).

The Bible asks many questions. Question are to get our attention and to make us consider an answer. Many of the questions, like the one asked by the above verse, have eternal and serious consequences. Thankfully, every question raised by God in His living book is adequately answered within the same volume. Here is the Scriptural answer to today’s question:

“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).

The Lord Himself has gone to Calvary to settle the question of our sins, and as a result can entreat for us. Because of that work He can say, “Come unto Me” (Matthew 11:28).

Have you responded?

Fellowship

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ…If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another”
(1 John 1:3, 7).

Of the ancient city of Philippi only ruins remain today. During New Testament times it was a thriving metropolis and was the home of “Lydia, a seller of purple” (Acts 16:14). Although a rich lady, she wanted to please God and sought out the company of other like-minded people who met at a designated spot by the river bank. Later on, she invited Paul and his fellow companions into her home for a time of hospitality and Christian fellowship.

God has made us so that we need fellowship, not only with Himself and His Son, but with fellow-believers as well. When we are together and share what we have enjoyed of Christ and the truth of Scripture, it strengthens our faith and our Christian walk. Read Acts 16:12-15, and you will see that there was a great blessing for Lydia and her household as a result of seeking such fellowship. This can result in your blessing and encouragement as well.

Overcoming

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

We live in a day when, if we do not overcome, we will be overcome. The world, the flesh and the devil are constantly at work to overcome us. While we have been delivered from their power by our Deliverer, we are exhorted to stand firm against the tide of evil flooding the world. We are not only to stand against it but to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We are under constant pressure to give up the “good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). However, the Lord in His Word encourages, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). He, Himself, overcame and encourages us to do the same. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Soon with Him in a future day of glory we will enjoy our eternal portion, for we are assured,

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7).

Our Minds — Part 2

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:5,8).

In this passage of Scripture (including verses 5-9), we have the whole course of the life of the Lord Jesus, from His coming from heaven to the work of Calvary’s cross, and then His return to heaven as a glorified man.

The great truth of these verses is to teach us that the Lord voluntarily humbled Himself in the path of service. Having done this, He is the supreme and perfect example of selflessness and humility for us as we go through life. It has been well said, “All right actions flow from right thinking.” The question then arises, How should we think? The answer is, we need to think like Christ.

We are to have the same mind — the same attitude — our whole way of thinking — like His. We are further told,

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).

If we all had this attitude, how many problems and difficulties it would solve! Or, perhaps they would never occur.

Our Minds — Part 1

How busy our minds are with so many things…school, work, recreation fun, and on and on. Satan also has a host of activity and corruption available at our fingertips. But how busy are our minds with God’s thoughts, His Word — the Bible — and the Lord Jesus Christ?

Here are some exhortations that are good for us to take to heart:

“Have your mindon the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth” (Colossians 3:2 JND Translation).

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think onthese things” (Philippians 4:8).

What these verses are really saying is that we need to be occupied with the person and work of Christ, and occupied with the Lord Jesus where He is now, a glorified man in heaven at the right hand of God. This is what will feed, encourage, and edify our souls.

Dear Young Christian,

Recently I have been going through some old papers and notebooks. Some I am shredding and some I am keeping and rereading.

Today I came upon a page in an old notebook I thought I would share:

“It is easier to suffer in silence, if you are sure someone is watching. The Lord said to the church at Smyrna:

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty… Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer” (Revelation 2:9-10).

Maybe no one else sees or knows what we are going through, but the Lord always does, and because He does we can take it all quietly and patiently to Him as a result.

“The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

He Arose

Today we worship a risen, ascended, and glorified person — The Lord Jesus Christ! Here are some verses that confirm this beyond a shadow of a doubt:

His Resurrection

“He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins…But now is Christ risen from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:4,17,20).

His Ascension

“Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)” (Ephesians 4:8-10).

His Glorification

“O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was…Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (John 17:5; 12:28).

Bowing the Knee

Does the name of Jesus bring any comfort to your heart, or bring any thought of peace and joy? Have you bowed to the authority of that name? Be assured that everyone must bow. The Bible clearly states, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). If you do not bow now in this day of salvation and grace, then those rebellious, stubborn knees must bow and the tongue confess to Him at a time when there will be no pardon or mercy. Then you will be at that event described by the Apostle John:

“And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works…And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-12,15).