Young People’s Blog

Pleasing God

We live in a promiscuous society. Anything goes, and the motto is, “If it feels good, do it!” Young people are told, “Don’t let anyone put limits on you…follow the appetites and desires of your heart…no-one can tell you what to do…we are a free society…”

However the believer in Christ must remember that this is not the way of life for one who is saved. The reminder is,

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

We are not to please ourselves, but the Lord, by living according to the moral standard He has given in His Word. The world has a standard, but it is far below God’s standard.

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

It is said of Enoch, “he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). Wouldn’t you like that commendation as well?

Monthly Scripture Reading

Ruth 2

4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

Self-Occupation

Self-occupation is a great mistake for a Christian. When we learn, like the Apostle Paul,that “in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18), then we are able to turn from self to Christ and find all we need in Him. We then realize that “Christ is all” (Colossians 3:11).

And what a relief this is! Instead of thinking about my feelings, my attitude, my work, my dignity, I can now live in the joy of the Lord and what He has for me. I can allow Him to work in me for His glory and the blessing of others. This is what is meant by the words, “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). In other words, living is Christ!

If we are only thinking of self, we are in danger of one of two things: being a self-important, self-righteous Pharisee, or being miserable and discouraged. To be truly happy, we must turn from self and be daily “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Let Jesus fill your mind and heart,
And give you joy and peace,
Be occupied with Him alone…
From self-absorption cease!

Dear Young Christian,

As you ponder all that is ahead of you this week, do you feel weak physically, mentally, or emotionally? Remember, you have the “Almighty God” (Genesis 17:1), and the “Lord of Hosts” (1 Samuel 1:3), always ready to help you.

The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Counting on this abundance of power and strength, he also declared, “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Experiencing this power in a very real way in his own life, he could then encourage the believers at Ephesus, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

This same limitless supply and resource is available to each of us today and every day of our Christian life. The promise still stands, “I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

“I AM”

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).

There are many glorious aspects of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of them are brought forth in connection with the title, I AM.

Here are just a few:

“I AM Thy Shield” (Genesis 15:1).

“I AM the Almighty God” (Genesis 17:1).

“I AM the Lord” (Exodus 6:2).

“I AM the Living Bread” (John 6:51).

“I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).

“I AM the Resurrection” (John 11:25).

“I AM the Vine” (John 15:5).

“I AM He that liveth” (Revelation 1:18).

“I AM Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 1:8).

“I AM the Root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16).

What a broad and wonderful scope of truth these “I AM”  statements present for meditation and worship!

Cleansing

“I will; be thou clean” (Matthew 8:3).

These words, spoken by the Lord Jesus to the leper, echo His desire for every sinner who comes to Him in true repentance. “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Every person who comes will find cleansing and salvation with the assurance that, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

In the case of Naaman, he was told by the prophet Elisha “Go and wash” (2 Kings 5:10). This simple message and command still sums up the gospel today. Not washing in the river Jordan or any other celebrated river in the world, “but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19).

So the question remains:

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

There is only one remedy for sin, and that is the blood of Jesus. I hope all my readers have availed themselves of it.

Perfection

“I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1).

This exhortation was not given to some celestial being or angel, it was given to a man by the name of Abram, (whose name was later changed to Abraham). Yet today we seem to hear the expression, “Nobody’s perfect.” In fact, calling a person a “perfectionist” is often taken as a derogatory comment. However, God’s will is not for us to excuse ourselves for being immature, worldly, foolish or ignorant when it comes to our Christian walk. No, he wants us to “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). He wants spiritual maturity, which can only develop as we read our Bible, spend time in prayer, and live in the power of the Spirit. While it is true we only “know in part, and we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9), yet the exhortation still stands, “Be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Soon, when we arrive in heaven, we will reach full maturity and understanding of divine things.

“When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away”
(1 Corinthians 13:10).

Prayer

Confession

Confess: to admit or own up to. As Christians, confession begins by admitting to God that we are indeed lost, helpless, hell-deserving sinners.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

In other words, faith in the heart produces confession with the mouth. After we are saved, confession should be an ongoing exercise of soul.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 1:9; 2:1).

This is a child of God coming and confessing those things that they have allowed in their life that are sinful and defiling and not according to God’s holy standard. This brings a moral cleansing to the soul, and keeps us in sweet communion with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Goodness

“Thou art good, and doest good: teach me Thy statutes” (Psalm 119:68).

The inspired writer of Psalm 119 had learned how good God was. As you read this psalm you realize how much he appreciated all that had been done for him and all that his God was doing in his life, even amidst trial and affliction.

The more we grasp the truth of the goodness of God in our hearts, the more we will find delight in Him and a desire to walk and live for His glory. We will be like David, who said: “Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10).

Although David did not have an easy life, and although it seemed like all was against him on many occasions, yet he could say, “The goodness of God endureth continually” (Psalm 52:1).

So for us, as we enter more into the blessedness of God’s goodness in every aspect of our lives, we will be able to “praise the Lord for His goodness” (Psalm 107:8), realizing that,

“Truly God is good” (Psalm 73:1).

A Hope Beyond All Hopes

“The coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8).

The assurance of this verse is the echo of the same promise made by the Lord Himself, just before going to the cross and then returning to heaven. There in the upper room for the last time with His disciples, He said,

“I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Perhaps as young people we don’t always think about the coming of the Lord or the impact it will have when we are suddenly transported into His presence in the Father’s house. For someone who is getting older, like the editor of these pages, it brings more and more comfort and anticipation. This is a hope beyond all hopes! Furthermore it is a hope that is secure in Christ and which cannot fail.

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:19).

When exactly this promise will be fulfilled, we do not know. But one thing is for certain, we are now closer to it than we have ever been before.

“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus”
(Revelation 22:20).