Young People’s Blog

Obey

The Lord never asks us to do something that we cannot do. No, He provides all the resources that are needed for whatever task is at hand or whatever test or trial we may be called to face. Our responsibility is to obey and leave everything else with the Lord and to His discretion. Here is what the prophet Samuel had to say on the matter when rebuking King Saul: “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).

As we read the Bible, we see the blessing of obedience in the lives of many men and women, young and old. We also learn the folly and sorrow of disobedience. Here is what Moses had to say on the matter: “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). Let’s learn to be obedient followers of Christ and let Him take care of the resources and details. He assures us, “them that honor Me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30).

Our Object & Joy

John Nelson Darby died in Bournemouth, England, on April 29, 1882, at the age of 81. As his life was ebbing away he made this statement in summary of his time on earth as a believer: “Christ is my object for life, and my joy for eternity.” What a wonderful testimony from a man who had spent most of his life serving the Lord. At the end, he had no regrets and a bright future ahead in the Father’s house.

The Apostle Paul expressed the desire and goal for his life by saying, “That I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Brought before the council, he affirmed, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). In his last epistle, near the end of his life, he could confirm, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). What a testimony to the grace of God and a life lived in the fear of the Lord!

If you knew you were about to leave this world, what testimony would you give? Would it be with the satisfaction of a life lived for Christ and the joy of anticipating being with Him? Or would it be a testimony of apologies and regrets? We only have one life to live. Live it for Christ!

Understanding the Bible

“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (2 Timothy 2:7).

Myles Coverdale (1488 – January 20, 1569) was an English reformer chiefly known as a Bible translator. He made the following suggestions for the reading and understanding of Scripture.

Consider well …

1. What was actually stated?

2. Who said it?

3. To whom was it addressed?

4. How is it said (with what words)?

5. When was it said?

6. Where?

7. Why and to what intent was it said?

8. What were the circumstances?

9. What led to the circumstances?

10. What consequences follow or are prophesied?

11. How does this apply in all aspects of my life and of those I associate with?

12. Above all, remember that God never meant for us to read His Word without help. Ask Him for it, and thank Him for it.

What We Need

Recently I was walking through Khan Al-Khalili, the famous and crowded bazaar in Cairo, Egypt. On every hand, someone tries to sell you something by assuring you that they have the best product at the best price. As I passed one of the vendors he shouted out, “I don’t know what you are looking for, but I have what you need.”

It made me think of the multitudes of people in this world who are searching for something to satisfy the needs of their souls, but don’t really know what they are looking for or what they really need.

However, the Bible tells us what it is we need, and God has it available to everyone who comes to Him in true faith and repentance. That need is the need for salvation, and it is only through the Lord Jesus and the work of Calvary. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

There is only One who can fill and satisfy the soul, and that is God Himself. “For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9).

Dear Young Christian:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23).

George Müller (1805-1898) was a Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. In commenting on the above verse, he read it this way: “The steps (and stops) of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”

Yes indeed, I am slowly learning this as I write this calendar page propped up with pillows and a blanket, still recovering from major surgery. I prefer action to inactivity, but I am thankful to know that all is ordered — steps and stops both — by the One who knows best and has it all worked out according to His plan for my life.

The writer of the 119th Psalm said, “Order my steps” (verse 133). This is a good prayer for all of us, and I might add a postscript to this prayer … “Order my stops as well.” Let’s learn to follow our Lord as He orders our steps, and have patience to stop when He orders those needful stops.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

Breaking of Bread

“And upon the first day of the week … the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).

Having been sick and in the hospital recently, I was not able to be out at the Breaking of Bread meeting for several weeks. When I was finally able to attend again, I realized how much I had missed the wonderful privilege.

It was so good to be occupied with the glories of Christ and the great sacrifice of Calvary. Many hymns were sung bringing those glories and beauties before our hearts, and there were Scriptures read concerning the sufferings of Christ and the wonderful results of those sufferings. One Scripture read was, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). There was worship, praise, and thanksgiving. It was all a very precious time.

Yes, to remember the Lord in the breaking of bread is a needful reminder and a blessed privilege. We are told, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The Lord has specially encouraged us, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

Salvation Is for Sinners

At a funeral recently the speaker made the following statement during the service:

“Salvation is not earned by the righteous, it is a gift to the sinner.”

How true this is! The Lord Himself confirmed it when He said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). He also said, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick” (Luke 5:31).

I hope that there are no readers of this calendar that think they can work their way to Heaven or earn salvation through good works. The Bible clearly states, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).

No, it is only by the grace of God and as a result of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross that we can be saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is a free gift, not a paycheck for good works!

Stillness

I have often heard the expression, “Sometimes the Lord puts us down so that we can look up.” However, I have experienced the truth of this in the past few weeks. Recently, normal life was brought to a sudden standstill. Lying in a hospital bed for eight days, as well as recuperating at home for several weeks, made me realize the truth of what David said, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2).Often the Lord has to “make” us stop and “lie down,” so that we take time to meditate and enjoy a special sense of His presence and love.For some of us this is perhaps more difficult than for others. Here are some exhortations in this context:

• “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

• “Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14).

• “Their strength is to sit still” (Isaiah 30:7).

• “Sit still … until thou know how the matter will fall” (Ruth 3:18).

If the Lord brings us to a point of stillness in our lives, the only happy thing is to accept it and to use the time for further enjoyment of Himself and to learn His wonderful ways.

God’s Perspective

“For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings” (Job 34:21).

It is important to see things through the eyes of God our Father, and to have His perspective on what is going on in our lives. In the above verse, Elihu brought this before his friend Job, who had been going through severe trials. It was not until Job realized that God knew best and had a perfect plan for him that he began to get peace. Once He saw things from God’s perspective there was submission and blessing.

This is a hard lesson, and recently my wife and I had our summer plans radically changed. Flights cancelled, weddings missed, Bible conferences unattended, and naturally speaking, life turned upside down. Instead, we had doctors’ appointments, medical tests and scans, and eventually major surgery from which I am still recovering. As disappointing as all this is, we realize that our Lord has a plan of wisdom and love behind it all, and we are reminded of the verse, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Wanderers

My wife and I were driving through Brockville, Ontario, the other day, when we noticed a billboard with the following thought-provoking message:

“Not all those who wander are lost.”

It made me think of young people (and those not so young), who are truly saved, and will never be lost. Yet they have wandered away from the Lord and the path of faith. While it is true that their eternal security is sure, and they will be in Heaven, yet they are missing out on the blessing and joy of living for Christ while here in this world.

If there is a reader of this page who is in such a condition at this point in your life, the good news is that there can be full restoration. David wrote: “He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). The Apostle John wrote, “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). Turn back to the Lord, confess your sin and failure, and start living the happy, fruitful Christian life once more.