Young People’s Blog

Monthly Question Page

Q. Could you please explain the following verse? “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

A. The perfect love of God removes all fear as to the present as well as the future by bringing us to see that we are seen in all the perfection and loveliness of Christ. As believers we are completely clear from our sins and the judgment those sins deserve. When we appear before the judgment seat of Christ, we shall have our glorified bodies and be like Him; but, even now, while we are in this world, we are as clear from our sins as we ever will be. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We do not need to look at our own hearts to see if we are clear of judgment; we look to Christ and the work of Calvary. Thus perfect love casts out fear. Delivered from the fear of torment, we are made perfect in love, our love being drawn out by His great love to us. As the next statement indicates, “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It is the enjoyment of His perfect love that gives us peace and confidence in His presence.

Love

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

When it comes to Christian love and loving one another, we are given a very high and lofty standard. We are to love one another as Christ loved us — no less love will do!

So now we ask the question, how did Christ love us? It was a love that loved us when we were sinners at complete enmity against God and His Son. His was a love above every barrier — a love that proved superior to every hindrance.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

As we consider this, and it gets a hold on our hearts, it will be the springboard to love our fellow-believer with the same intensity of divine love that we are loved by.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God”
(1 John 4:7).

Monthly Scripture Reading

Galatians 4

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Strength

At 73 years of age, John Wesley (1703-1791) wrote the following in his journal:

“I am far abler to preach than at 23. Ten thousand cares trouble me no more than ten thousand hairs upon my head. I feel grief, but fret nothing.”

This is quite a testimony for one who spent most of his days in rigorous travel, denying himself the comforts of life so that he could preach the gospel and minister to believers.It made me think of Caleb, who, after the wilderness journey, said, “I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (Joshua 14:10-11). This doesn’t mean that if we follow the Lord we won’t get old and feeble and have burdens and cares. But it does mean that there is an inner spiritual strength and satisfaction that comes only from the Lord. Many older Christians do not feel this, because they wasted their youth and did not live for the Lord when they were younger. Let’s covet and strive for the commendation given to Caleb at age 85:

“He wholly followed the Lord” (Joshua 14:14).

Dear Young Christian,

During a recent illness, I have lost all sense of taste. Other than texture and the difference between hot and cold, you could feed me almost anything blindfolded and I would not know what it was.

However, I am thankful for spiritual taste, and the sweetness of two things. First of all, the person of Christ: “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Secondly the sweetness of His words — the inspired Scriptures. “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103)!

I trust we never lose our taste for those two things. If we do, it is very likely the result of allowing sin or spiritual dullness in our lives. Or, we may be neglecting reading and the enjoyment of our Bible, or perhaps our prayer time. Maybe we are not walking in close communion with the Lord, or any number of other reasons. When this happens, confess it and get back on track. Have your appetite refreshed, and taste again the sweetness of Christ and His words.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Excellent

We often use the word EXCELLENT in connection with many things that really aren’t very EXCELLENT. There is only One who is completely EXCELLENT in character and purpose, council, and activity.

Here are some examples of His EXCELLENCE:

• “Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is EXCELLENT in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice” (Job 37:23).

• “O Lord our Lord, how EXCELLENT is Thy name” (Psalm 8:1).

• “How EXCELLENT is Thy lovingkindness” (Psalm 36:7).

• “Let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is EXCELLENT; His glory is above the earth and heaven” (Psalm 148:13).

“Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His EXCELLENT greatness” (Psalm 150:2).

• “His countenance is as Lebanon, EXCELLENT as the cedars” (Song of Solomon 5:15).

• “Sing unto the Lord; for He hath done EXCELLENT things” (Isaiah 12:5).

Saved

“We are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).

“Be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22).

A person can get saved anywhere! We don’t need to be any special place or in any special position to come to Christ as a repentant sinner. When the Lord was here on earth, people young and old received blessing and forgiveness of sins in many different places. Some at night, some during the light of day, some in their homes, others by the road side, and some by the sea. In the book of Acts we find similar situations…some in an upper room, Saul of Tarsus on the open road, a jailer in a prison in Philippi, and on and on the list goes.

I was saved in the back seat of my parent’s car as a young boy coming home from a gospel meeting in Montreal, Canada. I know of others who knelt by their bedside, were driving their car, or were simply walking down the road.

Now I ask, “Are you saved?” Not that you have to give a specific time, date, or place, but “Are you saved?” If not, the time, date, and place can, and should, be RIGHT NOW! Don’t wait another moment or there may not be any more times, dates, or places. “Behold, NOW is the day of Salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Prove Him

“Prove Me” (Malachi 3:10).

Two simple words, but what a great challenge they offer!

Are you willing to take up the challenge today? Are you ready to prove the Lord in every aspect of life — practical, emotional, and spiritual? If you are, you will find that, unlike earthly supports, He will never let you down and is always worthy of your trust.

As you prove Him in the little, everyday things of life, you will find that your faith in Him grows. Reading the accounts of those in Scripture who proved Him will also help to increase your confidence. Take for instance the stories of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Nehemiah, and Queen Esther, just to name a few. And of those “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions…” (Hebrews 11:33).

Now it’s your turn. He is the same Lord that they had, and the promise in the rest of the opening verse is, “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).

Prayer

Groanings

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

Have you ever been so burdened or confused about something that when you prayed about it you couldn’t even put it into words? I have! In cases like that I have been very thankful for the assurance of these verses. In other words, by the time my groanings reach the ear of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit has taken them and molded them perfectly so that what I could not express in human language has been graciously presented in perfection.

It has been well said, “It is wrong to murmur and complain but not wrong to groan.”“For we that are in this tabernacle do groan” (2 Corinthians 5:4). Don’t be afraid to come to the “Throne of Grace” (Hebrews 4:16), with your groanings.The Lord will hear and answer!

His Face

“And they shall see His face” (Revelation 22:4).

“Then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

We often think about heaven and what it will be like to be there. We picture in our minds all the beautiful things that will comprise the Father’s house and the grand chorus of praise and worship that will arise from the heart and tongue of every redeemed person gathered around the Lamb.

However, as wonderful as all that will be, yet I believe that one look into the face of the Lord Jesus Christ will eclipse everything else, and whatever else we are occupied with will be in relation to that glorious person.

The Lord Jesus, when introducing this subject for the comfort of the disciples just before going to the cross, did not dwell on all the fine things that no doubt will make up the Father’s house, and no doubt we will be aware of. No, instead he said, “That where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). We often say “Four walls and fine furniture don’t make a home, but the presence of those who live there.” This is certainly true in regard to the Father’s house. What will make heaven is the presence of the Lord Himself.