Young People’s Blog

Dear Young Christian,

There may be many duties and tasks that are pressing this week, and you are wondering how you are going to get it all accomplished. Just remember that, in between all the necessities of life, the Lord is inviting and entreating, “rest a while” (Mark 6:31). In today’s language we would say, “Stop and take a deep breath.” We need to pause during the crazy, busy fray of life’s activities and be sensitive to the Lord’s presence and nearness. Talk to Him, listen to Him speak to you, enjoy His love, feel the warmth of His presence. This will enable you to carry on with spiritual energy and purpose. It doesn’t mean everything will be perfect, but problem solving will be much easier, your day brighter, and life’s road smoother. There will be a joy and song in your heart and a smile on your face.

We are encouraged, “Be still” (Psalm 46:10). Most of us have heard or read this verse before, but do we really take it to heart? Try it this week, and I know you will find it a real blessing and help.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

His Father’s Will

“Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7).

The will of God His Father was paramount with the Lord Jesus. He said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work…For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 4:34; 6:38).

Not only was the Father’s will His one great objective, but it was His joy. He could say, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart” (Psalm 40:8).

In Gethsemane, when in an agony as He anticipated the cross, He said, “Father…not My will, but Thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Later on we read, “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

That joy was the joy of returning to the Father and sitting down at His right hand, knowing that all had been done according to His will. He could say with confidence, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4).

No Exit

When we visit a public building of any kind, we are thankful for well-marked exit signs. Often, these are lit up with large red letters, and with back-up batteries, stay lit even when the power goes off. I have been in situations where everything went dark, but we were able to exit due to the well-marked sign over the door.

However, there are no exit signs in hell. Listen to the plight of the rich man the Lord told about:

“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off…And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me…But Abraham said…between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:23-26).

There was no exit and no one able to come to him and bring relief. This is indeed a serious warning to any who have had opportunity to receive God’s offer of salvation through the work of His Son at Calvary’s cross. The invitation today is, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved” (Isaiah 45:22). There are no such invitations in hell.

David Brainerd

“He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

David Brainerd (April 20, 1718 – October 9, 1747), was a pioneer missionary to the North American Indians. While living and preaching among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey, he wrote the following:

“I care not where I live or what hardships I go through, so that I can but win souls for Christ. When I am asleep I dream of these things; as soon as I awake, the first thing I think of is this great work. All my desire is the conversion of sinners, and all my hope is in God.”

Here are some further quotes:

“The all-seeing eye of God beheld our deplorable state; infinite pity touched the heart of the Father of mercies; and infinite wisdom laid the plan of our recovery.”

“Never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on Him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace.”

“If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world.”

No wonder that during his short life he was used mightily in the blessing and salvation of so many. Would that we all had that same desire and fervency.

Prayer

Worship

We worship God the Father and the Lord Jesus for who they are. Here is how the Concise Bible Dictionary states it:

“The worship of God has been described as ‘the honor and adoration which are rendered to Him by reason of what He is in Himself, and what He is to those who render it’…The Father and the Son are known, the Father’s will is that the Son should be honored as revealing the fountain of love, and the Son leading the hearts of the many sons into the Father’s love. Worship is thus distinguished from ascriptions of praise and thanksgiving; it is the homage of love.”

The Bible teaches that it is only deity that is to be worshiped. Twice John tried to worship the angel who had been sent to guide him during his vision, but was told, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God” (Revelation 19:10).

True worship must be guided by the Spirit of God according to the Word of God. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This He desires from us above all else!

Rebellion

In the city of Regina Saskatchewan, in western Canada, there is a tattooing shop with the following name:

HOUSE OF CUSTOM REBELLION

Shocking isn’t it? And yet, perhaps they are more honest than we give them credit for. And, in a certain aspect, it sums up the spirit and attitude of the present age better and more accurately than we realize.

The dictionary defines rebellion as “Open resistance against established authority.”

Here is what the Bible has to say about rebellion:

“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23).

“An evil man seeketh only rebellion” (Proverbs 17:11).

God has given us His standard and principles for living in this world. The problem is that rebellion against God and authority on every level is preached and practiced in modern society. Everyone wants to do their own thing with no one to stop them. But God does not look lightly on such a course. The way of blessing and happiness is found in obedience to the Lord and His Word. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17).

An Encounter With Jesus

“And they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him…where dwellest Thou?”
(John 1:37-38).

John the Baptist had just pointed his disciples to the Lord Jesus. Two of these men, when they saw the Lord, had their interest awakened and desired to investigate the truth of John’s report — so they turned to follow Jesus. This action did not escape the notice of the Lord, and turning to them, He asked the question, “What seek ye?” There were a number of answers they could have given, but above all,  they desired to dwell where He dwelt. In other words, their hearts were so attracted to Himself that they wanted nothing less than to be in His presence and experience more of His ways, words, and company. Theywere then rewarded by His invitation, “Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour” (John 1:39). An encounter with the Lord can be just as possible and meaningful today as it was when He was here on earth. Seek that encounter today and you will not be disappointed.

Dear Young Christian,

Today I came across a quote I had jotted down in my notebook some years ago: “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”

How true this is, and especially when it comes to the truth of God’s Word. We may choose to read it, we may choose to ignore it, we may even choose to disobey it, but that does not change the facts! The Old Testament prophet states clearly and unequivocally, “The Word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). The Psalmist echoes, “For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). The Apostle Peter confirms, “The Word of God…liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).

I hope all my readers not only read the Word of God, but also believe it and obey it. The Bible stands as a whole. If you disbelieve or ignore part of it you really bring into question all of it. Here are three simple steps to follow when it comes to the Bible:

Read it! Believe it! Obey it!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

His Pierced Side

“When they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced” (John 19:33-37).

Our meditation today is taken from Hamilton Smith’s commentary on John’s Gospel, a book I highly recommend.

“The scruples of the Jews and the brutality of the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves, and pierced the side of the Savior. How little they realized that they were sending a believer to paradise, and drawing forth the witness to the purifying and saving grace of the work of Christ, while fulfilling the Scriptures that say not a bone of Him shall be broken, and ‘They shall look on Me whom they pierced’ (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20; Psalm 22:16-17; Zechariah 12:10).”

Take time to look up the references referred to. It will be profitable to your heart and soul.

Believe

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36).

What does it really mean to believe? Sometimes we say things like, “I believe that it will be good weather tomorrow.” Or, “I believe the economy is going to improve this year.” However, that reduces believing to mere supposition, an assumption of the truth, a longing, or a hope. In this way the word believe loses its true force.

There is a much deeper significance to the concept. It is absolute faith, complete trust and confidence in someone or something. It is unrestricted acceptance of the reliability of that person or thing.

When John Paton (1824-1907), the Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific, was translating the New Testament into the language of the natives he found it hard to come up with a word for believe that would fit their way of looking at things. Then he came to Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” He translated it, “Lean your full weight on Him.” Have you leaned your full weight on Him for salvation?

“Believe on Him” (Philippians 1:29).