Young People’s Blog

Counsel and Guidance — Part 2

“Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being His counsellor hath taught Him?” (Isaiah 40:13).

Here are some further ways that our Great Counselor, the Lord Jesus, guides us through life:

• In judgment: “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Psalm 25:9).

• Into all truth: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

• Continually: “The Lord shall guide thee continually” (Isaiah 58:11).

• Unto death: “For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death” (Psalm 48:14).

What a wonderful Savior and guide we have! Are you following His counsel and guidance in the days of your youth? Don’t wait until you are older. If you do, you will have much to regret later on. Follow the Lord while you are young, and you will be preserved from many things. Remember, He knows what is best, “With Him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13). Listen, and heed His counsel at all times!

Counsel and Guidance — Part 1

“His name shall be called … Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6).

There are different ways that our Great Counselor, the Lord Jesus, guides us through life. Here are just a few:

• With His counsel: “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel” (Psalm 73:24).

• With His Eye: “I will guide thee with Mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

• With His hands: “He … guided them by the skilfulness of His hands” (Psalm 78:72).

• Like a flock: “And guided them … like a flock” (Psalm 78:52).

• On all sides: “The Lord … guided them on every side” (2 Chronicles 32:22).

• By springs of water: “For He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them” (Isaiah 49:10).

• Into peace: “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).

Dear Young Christian:

I heard recently of a young person who decided to give her father a Bible for his birthday. The problem was what to write as a dedication. Undecided, she went to her father’s study and took a book from the shelf. On the title page she read, “Dedicated by the author.” And that is what she ended up writing.

When her father opened his gift and recognized the handwriting he became thoughtful. Who is the author of the Bible? Is it really God? As a result, he started to read it, and it soon became clear that the Bible was not written “by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

Do you read your Bible? If you do, is it just because it is a historical record or great work of literature? Or is it because you know and love the author, and because it reveals His Son, your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ? And do you realize that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16)?

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

His Head

“And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His HEAD” (John 19:2).

“And they smote Him on the HEAD with a reed” (Mark 15:19).

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His HEAD, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).

“Then cometh Simon Peter following Him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about His HEAD, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:6-7),

O Head! once full of bruises,
So full of pain and scorn,
‘Mid other sore abuses
Mocked with a crown of thorn;
O Head! e’en now surrounded
With brightest majesty,
In death once bowed and wounded
On the accursed tree.

– Bernard of Clairvaux

Who Are You Counting On?

Sandy was a patient in a suburban Chicago hospital with a very serious lung disease. When the nurse went into her room to administer medication, she saw that she had a Bible on her table. The nurse asked if she had read it. She stated that she had not. When asked if she knew where she would spend eternity, she said she wasn’t sure but that many people were praying for her recovery. When asked if she knew she could have eternal life and her sins forgiven by accepting Christ as Savior, she said, “Nobody ever told me that before.” Three days later, Sandy was in the intensive care unit; the last thing she said was, “I’m counting on you guys.” She shortly after had a heart attack and died.

Who are you counting on? You know that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). But is He your Savior? Or are you counting on the prayers of others or your own good works? The one and only means of eternal blessing is through Christ as your personal Savior. Instead of risking eternity in hell and counting on the prayers and efforts of others, why not come to Christ now? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Inspiration

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).

The believer is not called upon to define inspiration. How the Scriptures were inspired has not been revealed. It is enough to know that by them God is made known, that holy men of God testified by “the Spirit of Christ which was in them” (1 Peter 1:11), and that they minister Christ to our soul. Our Lord, too, when speaking of us to the Father said, “I have given them Thy Word” (John 17:14). After that, we read that the apostles and brethren prayed that “with all boldness they may speak Thy Word” (Acts 4:29). The result was that “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). Believers knew that ministry in old times, and also by our Lord and His apostles, was the ministry of “the Word of God,” and that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Suffering for Christ

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

“Unto you it is given, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29)

Most of us don’t know much about physically suffering for Christ. However, in the measure in which we reflect Christ in our lives there will be reproach connected with it. It is not that we go out and look for opportunities to suffer, but if we are true to Him, we will have plenty of opportunities. The young man Timothy was told, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Or as another translation puts it, “Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

The real secret to suffering for Christ is to have the heart’s affections centered in Him.

• The more I love Jesus, the closer I shall walk with Him.

• The closer I walk with Him, the more faithfully I shall imitate Him.

• The more faithfully I imitate Him, the more I shall suffer with Him.

As you can see, it all flows from love to Christ.

Just for Show

“Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6).

I am not really into antiques, but I am told that an increasing number of old, leather-bound books are being purchased for their covers and not so much for their content. Interior designers buy them by the linear yard and use them to create atmosphere in the homes of affluent clients. Of prime importance is whether they match the room’s decor. I read of one wealthy businessman who purchased 13,000 antique books he will never read just to create a library look in his newly renovated home. These books are just for show.

Focusing on outward appearances can be a pleasing way to decorate a house, but it is a dangerous way to live. The Lord reprimanded many when He was here on earth because they did not practice what they preached. He said, “All their works they do for to be seen of men” (Matthew 23:5). Let’s be sure that we are real on the inside. When living for Jesus, our content is far more important than our cover. We are here for more than show. Remember, if the Lord controls you on the inside, you’ll be genuine on the outside. As our verse indicates, He wants “truth in the inward parts.”

Jesus My Lord

Jesus, my Lord, I need Thy grace today,
Trials and problems seem to flood my way;
Give me the strength to trust Thee for each hour,
This is my one and only source of power.
I know Thy love has planned each moment here,
I need not worry, fret, complain, or fear;
All will be well, My Lord is in control,
Preserving my whole spirit, body, soul.

Jesus, my Lord, give what I need today,
Help me to cope amidst life’s busy fray;
Give me to lean on Thee…Thy mighty arm,
Wisdom I need or else I’ll come to harm.
Resting, relying, counting Thy love,
Until I hear the “shout” and soar above;
Then I shall see Thee in that glorious land,
And know how perfectly my life was planned.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Dear Young Christian:

The question is often raised, How can we tell if we are going the right direction? In the desert or at sea the stars are a reliable guide. In more populated areas, landscapes can be a help — such as rivers, mountains, and other landmarks — as long as we have a good map or GPS.

In the absence of those things, with the stars overclouded, no map, or no reliable GPS, we need a good guide, and preferably one who has been that way before.

Thankfully, for the journey of life, we have a sure guide in the Lord Jesus. As we move along life’s road, we need to listen for His instruction. To the listening ear He says, “This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). The promise is, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). We need to pay strict attention to His instructions. This is essential to a happy, fruitful life. I trust you will have an ear tuned to His voice this week and follow in the way He has planned for your good and blessing.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland