Young People’s Blog

The Blood

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4).

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

What a contrast we have in these two statements! On the one hand, the blood of the Old Testament sacrifices never put away sin. No, those sacrifices in the foreknowledge of God only pointed forward to the time when the Lord Jesus would shed His blood at Calvary. We are further told, “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11). Those sacrifices only covered that one sin and then they had to bring another, and another, and another…It was an endless round of blood shed from day to day and year to year.

Today we rest our salvation on the blood of Christ and rejoice in the fact that the work of redemption is complete. “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). We are “redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ…a Lamb without blemish” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Forgiveness

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

Doctor Jacob Chamberlain (1835-1908) was a missionary to India for almost forty years. Among other things, he started two hospitals and helped revise the Telugu Bible.

In one of his writings he recounts the story of a man crawling many agonizing miles on his knees and elbows to bathe in the “sacred” River Ganges. Emerging from the polluted water, he still felt the heavy weight of his sin. Depressed, he told Dr. Chamberlain of his guilt, and of his fear of dying unforgiven. With delight, the missionary told him of the saving grace of God through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. The man’s heart was touched, and he rejoiced to know the burden of sin rolled away as God’s love and forgiveness filled His soul.

You may quickly see the foolishness of making a pilgrimage to some so-called “sacred” river or shrine. But have you received the forgiveness of sins through the death and blood of Christ? Can you say,

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7)?

Monthly Question Page

Q. Can you please explain the significance of the cup that the Lord instructed the disciples to drink of in Luke 22:17? Is it different from the cup in verse 20?

A. “And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves…Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.”

There were two cups on the table on this occasion. The first was connected by tradition to the passover. Even though there is no record of it as instituted by Jehovah in the Old Testament, the Lord used it to figure the coming joy of the kingdom in a future day when He will reign as King of Kings.

The second cup figures His blood shed on the cross, and this He connected with the new supper called the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), which He desires every believer to partake of from week to week in remembrance of His death. “After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).

His Name

“They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee” (Psalm 9:10).

Here is an interesting account that was told me recently concerning the manager of a major bank, who described how different names made him react in different ways.

Seeing one name he would say, “I don’t know this person, so I must be very careful.” At the sight of another name he would declare, “I know this individual too well so I must be doubly careful.” But with a third name he would say, “I know this man so well that I could entrust the bank to him if it were mine to give.”

If in the secular world people learn to build trust to that degree, how much more may we have it with our Lord who is always worthy of our confidence and who will never let us down. To know His name is to know HIM, and to know HIM is to trust HIM. We have the Creator of the universe as our confidant. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8).We can trust Him without question. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

Monthly Scripture Reading

2 Timothy 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 ¶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

His Plans

“With Him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13).

One of our great problems as young believers is that we often try to work things out on our own, thinking we are smarter and wiser than our Lord. We often have difficulty accepting the fact that we have limitations and we need to lean wholly on His strength. A life lived in this way is a life of frustration, not realizing that His plans are the best plans.

The Apostle Paul learned this in his experience and concluded, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). A life lived in complete dependence on the Lord, both for guidance and strength, is a life of inward peace and joy no matter what turmoil there is in the world around us. The Lord Himself walked through this world in complete harmony with God His Father, and in spite of circumstances, had perfect peace. We too can have that same peace, as He said to His disciples just before going back to heaven,

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

Dear Young Christian,

To what degree do you know the Lord? I’m not asking if you know Him as Savior (vital as that is). I am asking, are you developing a deeper relationship with Him day by day?

Eliphaz said to Job, “Acquaint now thyself with Him” (Job 22:21).

Hosea gives the key to developing a better acquaintance with Him by saying, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3).

The Apostle Paul said, “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12). He also summed up the desire of his Christian life by saying, “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10).

The Lord wants our fellowship! He wants us to get to know Him better, and this can only be as we follow close to Him and enjoy His company. Walk with the Lord every day this week. Then look back and see how much your relationship has grown. You will be genuinely surprised.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

The Good Shepherd

“Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18).

In dying, the Good Shepherd secured the blessing of the sheep and carried out the Father’s will. The giving of His life was His own voluntary act of devotedness. Here at last was One who had come into the sphere of death with power to lay down His life and power to take it again. No one else ever could nor ever will be able to give up their life in the same way. It was a divine act!

In devotedness to His Father He exercised this power in His service for God and man. He laid down His life in order to take it again. This was so He could not only save His sheep but provide for and serve them forever. Another has said, “His death is neither the exhaustion or extent of His love nor the limit of His work for us. He has served in the lowest depth of suffering on earth; Now He serves on the throne of glory.”

What a glorious Shepherd He is!

It’s Simple

If you are not saved, you may very well have a parent or loved one praying for you, or maybe even a friend or colleague at school or work. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you gave them the joy of being able to honestly tell them that you are now saved?

Salvation is such a simple act of faith, and yet how many refuse to take that step! The gospel is not complicated nor is the way of blessing hard to find. Long ago, the warden in charge of the prisoners in Philippi asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). He was given one of the simplest answers possible: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). The jailor did receive the message with the same simplicity in which it was given, and received Christ as his Savior. The Bible tells us that he “rejoiced, believing in God” (verse 34). Here is another verse that shows how simple salvation really is: “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

Don’t let something so simple keep you from spending eternity in Hell. Salvation is offered today, and by the time you turn this calendar page to tomorrow it may be too late.

Attitude

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”
(1 Corinthians 10:31).

Here is a statement and question worth considering: “Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?”

Each one of us is 100% in charge of our attitude. If we realize that our attitude is not what it should be, we can change our thinking. Every animal in the world has no choice but to do its very best. Every beaver builds the best dam it can. Every eagle flies as high as ever it can. Every deer runs as fast as it can. Only humans can choose to build a strong home or one that will collapse in the wind. Every day we have a brand-new opportunity to live with all our hearts for the Lord.

When you appear to the world today, do they observe you doing your very best for the glory of God, with a cheerful, thankful attitude?

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him…And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:17, 23).