Young People’s Blog

Mockery

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews…And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him, and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him” (Matthew 27:29,31).

“And the men that held Jesus mocked Him”
(Luke 22:63).

“And the soldiers also mocked Him” (Luke 23:36).

They gave the Lord a crown, a robe, a scepter, a throne, and a title. But it was all in mockery — a crown made of thorns, the robe probably a cast-off and well worn, a scepter of earthly decay, and a cross of wood. But the title was true! He was the King of the Jews.

Today we bow before Him, not in mockery, but with hearts bowed in worship and a sense of deep awe, as we consider His person and work. Echoing the language of the inspired writer, “To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 25).

Water Ahead

The story is told of some travelers crossing a desert and, being overtaken with fatigue, were thirsty. Some were completely exhausted, while others continued their trek in search of water. Sighting what they thought was water, they were disappointed when it proved to be only a mirage — an atmospheric delusion. Two of them actually found water, and at their cry, “Water ahead,” a long line of hikers pressed forward and were strengthened and refreshed.

“Water ahead” sums up the gospel message. The prophet Isaiah records, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

While here on earth, the Lord gave the invitation: “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink” (John 7:37). As mentioned in last Saturday’s meditation, He said to the woman at the well, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Have you drunk of that life-giving water?

Reward

The Olympic runner competes for the gold medal and the approval of their fellow-man. They run for a flash of glory, worldly fame, and the cheer of the admiring crowd. Their name may appear on the front page of the newspaper or the cover of a sports magazine, and then they are usually archived and forgotten.

Having said all that, the Christian race is very different. The Apostle Paul put it in perspective when he wrote,

“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” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

In living the Christian life, we are to live in view of eternity and the Lord’s approval. Paul tells us, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). A life lived in this way will never be forgotten by the Lord Jesus. On the last page of Scripture, He has promised, “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).

Are you running the Christian race for the world’s approval, or for the Lord’s “Well done” (Matthew 25:21)?

Prayer

Fellowship

“Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ desire our fellowship. Perhaps the simplest definition of prayer is given to us in 1 Timothy 4:5. In connection with giving thanks for our food we are told, “it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.” Or, as another translation puts it, “by God’s Word and freely addressing Him.” In other words, prayer is speaking to the Lord. It may not be with any special need or request, but just enjoying sweet communion, as we would with a dear friend or acquaintance.

Moses enjoyed this companionship with his God. “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Take time each day to freely address God and the Lord Jesus, of course remembering that it must always be with reverence and respect — realizing that we are addressing deity. There is nothing like time spent in His presence, bringing joy to your heart, and certainly joy to His.

The Lord Knows

Another card received today, reads as follows:

The Lord knows you are hurting-

He sees your pain and feels your grief.

He will be near you to comfort you,

give you peace and bring you hope.

He loves you and sees each tear you cry,

because you matter so much to HIM!

It brought to mind the verse that says,

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

The Lord Himself as a man spent less than thirty-five years here in this world. Now as a man, although in heaven, He feels with us everything we pass through. Not only does He sympathize with us as we go through the difficulties and sorrows of the path of faith, but He empathizes as well.

Sometimes we may feel that there is no one who understands what we are going through. However, while there may not be anyone on earth who does, there is always the Man in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t forget that!

By Faith

Today, I received a card of encouragement from some dear friends and fellow-believers in the mail. Here is the message that was on the front:

It’s never easy going through

things that we don’t understand.

But there is comfort in knowing that

the Lord is close, and the Lord is near,

and that we are HIS!

For me it was a good reminder that we will not always have all the answers as to why the Lord allows certain things in our lives. If we had all the answers now, we wouldn’t need faith. Faith believes, trusts, and accepts, not because we understand everything, but because we know that our Lord is doing the very best for us.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

When we get home to heaven we will then understand fully and see the perfection of the Lord’s ways with us. Then, and only then will there be a full explanation. Until then we are called on to

“live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).

Dear Young Christian,

Life can change drastically or come to a screeching halt very quickly. We make plans, we have hopes, we set goals, we have aspirations and dreams. When these schemes fail to work out according to our designs, it is very easy to become frustrated and annoyed. We may even chafe under it and question God’s ways.

Joseph had his life turned upside down the day he went in obedience to his father Jacob to see how his brothers were doing. As a young person, Daniel found himself in Babylon with a complete change in lifestyle. However, both of these young people took their circumstances from their God, profited by them, and were used in great blessing to many.

So it is with us today. If we are willing to accept whatever the Lord has for us, even though it may not have been what we planned or wanted, there will be peace in our souls, and we can be used in blessing to others. You will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Worship

“When they saw Him, they worshipped Him” (Matthew 28:17).

What is it that produces true worship?

It is a fresh and deepened sense of who Christ is! It is to be occupied with Himself, His glories, His beauties, His character. It is to have our minds and our hearts absorbed with Himself!

Open your Bible and read Song of Solomon 5:10-16. Here we have the bride describing the qualities of her Bridegroom, and at the end of it all, she says, “He is altogether lovely” (verse 16).

As we meditate and enjoy the person of Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom, it will produce worship in our hearts, just as the disciples worshiped when they saw the Lord, as indicated in our opening verse.

Someday soon, we will worship as we gaze unhindered upon Him in the Father’s house, as indicated in Revelation 5:14: “And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.”

However, He wants that response from our hearts now.

Will you give Him that honor today?

Living Water

“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst” (John 19:28).

“I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely” (Revelation 21:6).

What a striking contrast these two verses invoke in our minds! First of all, the Lord Jesus suffering on the cross, and instead of water to quench His dire thirst, it could be said,

“They gave Me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:21).

Now for the sinner the invitation goes out to come and take of that “living water” (John 4:10). This divine, endless spring quenches the spiritual thirst of the soul — now and for eternity. Like the woman of Samaria, at Sychar’s well, all you have to do is receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior by simple faith. Then and there the same promise made to the woman that day will be yours:

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Seeing Jesus

“We see Jesus” (Hebrews2:9).

“Looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2).

“I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1).

“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56).

“And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:17).

What vision of enjoyment will you have of the Lord Jesus as you head out for another busy day of activity? Here is a good prayer for us to recite or sing at the beginning of each new day.

Oh fix our earnest gaze
So wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied,
We elsewhere none may see.

C.A. Bernstein (1672-1699)

Although in heaven and hid from our physical sight, He is no less real to the eye of faith.