Young People’s Blog

Repentance

“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown….And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not” (Jonah 3:4, 10).

In Bible times, the city of Nineveh — from the king down to the lowliest servant — repented and turned to God in response to the preaching of the prophet Jonah. God spared judgment at that time. Today, the great majority of people have no time, belief or respect for God, and we see little repentance. The Apostle Paul wrote, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

God is about to judge the world, and the Bible warns,

“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Matthew 12:41).

If you have still not repented of your sins do so today before it is too late.

Monthly Question Page

Q. Please explain what a lawyer was in the Biblical sense of the word. For example, “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life” (Luke 10:25).

A. Among the Jews, a lawyer was one versed in the law of Moses, which he expounded in the Jewish schools and synagogues. In other words, he was a teacher of the law — one who explained and elaborated on the Old Testament, especially the Pentateuch. They were the religious leaders of the day. Nicodemus was probably one, for the Lord said to him, “Art thou a master (teacher) of Israel, and knowest not these things?” (John 3:10).

The Lord said of the lawyers that they put heavy burdens on others, but did not touch them themselves; and that in their expositions they took away the key of knowledge, often misapplying or replacing Scripture with the “tradition of men” (Mark 7:8). They did not enter in themselves, and they hindered those who were entering — a solemn description that may, alas, apply to some in this day, of whom the Lord said, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14).

Christian Growth

“Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

“Be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10).

To grow spiritually and be strong Christians is vital to happy spiritual life. In order to do this, we must walk with the Lord every day, read our Bible, pray, and develop a personal relationship with the Lord. We must have Him as our Example, our Guide, and our Friend. The Apostle Paul encouraged the young man Timothy, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

It takes real diligence and grace to stand fast for Christ and His truth in a world of compromise where there are no absolutes, and anything and everything is allowed and tolerated. However, the good news is that we don’t have to do it in our own strength. “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).

Avail yourself of these resources and you will grow to be a strong Christian.

Monthly Scripture Reading

Joshua 5

10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with His sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him, Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14 And He said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my Lord unto His servant?

15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Falling & Rising

“A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16).

It has often been stated that, while there is no excuse for sin in a believer’s life, there is always provision for it. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

The just man who falls seven times rises up again. He may fall into sin, but he hates the sin, and rising up, he is characterized by confession and repentance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). When King David sinned, he got into the presence of the Lord and confessed his sin in true repentance. Read that prayer of confession in Psalm 51:3. Here is part of what he said: “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight…Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:3-4,10).

Someone in commenting on this subject said, “

No one-a-day vitamin will do as much for us as this seven-a-day tonic.”

Dear Young Christian,

“Come with Me” (Song of Solomon 4:8).

In its context, this is an invitation from the bridegroom to the bride. For us, it is an invitation from our Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus, to walk in company with Himself through the ups and downs of life here in this world. Every morning, we need to hear this invitation again: “Come with Me.” In other words, He is saying, “Walk with Me…stay close by My side…talk with Me…abide in My presence today…” This is His desire, His invitation! He truly wants and values our company.

When here on earth, the Lord prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (John 17:24). Someday soon, He is going to have that desire fully and completely fulfilled. He has promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). In the meantime, let’s hear His voice every day this week, saying…“Come with Me.”

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

He Went Forth

“And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified Him” (John 19:17-18).

His mock trial is over, and the Lord Jesus looks out from Pilate’s judgment hall to Calvary. From there, He goes forth with no hesitation on His part. Why? It was the will of God, His Father. He had prayed earlier, “Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27).

He also thought about you and me and knew that there was no other way that we could be brought into blessing and relationship with Himself and no other way that a home in heaven could be secured for us. So He “went forth” in love and obedience to His Father and love for you and me.

“Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-
smelling savor” (Ephesians 5:2).

The realization of this will certainly draw our hearts out in worship, praise and thanksgiving.

Fact or Feeling

“Why do I not feel saved?”

This question asked of me some time ago made me realize that salvation is not so much a feeling as it is a fact. If there has been “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21), then we are saved…Fact! If we have followed the instruction of Paul and Silas to the prison warden in Philippi, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31), then we are saved…Fact!

However, if we are simply going by what we feel, then that is shaky ground at best. Our feelings come and go and change with circumstances. No, what makes us secure is the work of Christ at Calvary and the blood that washes away every sin. If you are truly saved, rely on the Word of God, not your feeling,s when it comes to your eternal security.

Here is a good Scripture to remember in this regard:

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

Despair

“And David was greatly distressed…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God”
(1 Samuel 30:6).

In John Bunyan’s allegory, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” he tells of how Christian and Hopeful, when traveling to the Celestial City, saw a beautiful meadow into which they turned. While sleeping, they were awakened by Giant Despair. He was very angry that they had trespassed on his land, and he locked them up in his dungeon. For three days, they had nothing to eat or drink and were in terrible despair. Then Christian remembered that he had a key called, “Promise.” He tried the lock, and the door flew open. The men rushed out, and Giant Despair chased them. However, he fell down in a fit, and the two men made it safely back to the King’s highway.

Sometimes as believers we get discouraged, and often it is because we go into places where we shouldn’t be. When that happens, remember and rest on God’s wonderful promises. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20), and be like David, who turned to the Lord in his despair and was encouraged to press on and not give up.

Prayer

Praise

We praise a person for what they have done. For instance, a parent may praise one of their children for getting a good score on an exam paper, or a good grade on their report card.

We praise the Lord Jesus for what He has done in coming into this world and accomplishing the work of redemption at Calvary. Praise is always audible. For example:

“He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God” (Psalm 40:3).

“I create the fruit of the lips” (Isaiah 57:19).

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me” (Psalm 50:23).

“Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God” (Psalm 147:1).

“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

When we think of what the Lord has done for us, what He is doing for us, and all that is ahead in that wonderful time when we are with Him in heaven, we should be full of songs to the One “who is worthy to be praised” (Psalm 18:3).