Month: April 2016

Diligence

The following verses from the book of Proverbs, penned by Solomon so long ago, show how God encourages diligence in every aspect of our life.

“The hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4).

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule”
(Proverbs 12:24).

“The substance of a diligent man is precious”
(Proverbs 12:27).

“The soul of the diligent shall be made fat”
(Proverbs 13:4).

“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness” (Proverbs 21:5).

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29).

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds” (Proverbs 27:23).

Whether it is our personal life, our family life, our school or business life, in practical matters or certainly our spiritual life, God never encourages laziness. No, the way of blessing is always DILIGENCE.

 

A New Family

Maybe there is a reader today whose parents aren’t happy that you are a Christian. They themselves have no love for the Lord Jesus, and are disappointed that you want to follow Him. If you are suffering some reproach from your family, here is a good verse to remember: “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up” (Psalm 27:10).

Remember too, that you have been brought into a new family. When Peter got to thinking about what he left behind, the Lord reminded him, “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

We have a wonderful Heavenly Father, and brothers and sisters in Christ. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ … if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another” (1 John 1:3,7).

 

Dear Young Christian:

Light does not change things, rather it exposes things. The believer in Christ is referred to as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Another Scripture reminds us, “Ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

We are not here to change the world; we are here to shine for Christ and point others to Him. The world is under judgment, and the Bible shows us that things on planet earth are going to get worse and worse, not better and better. We are further told, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

As we start another week, let’s step out into the world again with our “lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord” (Luke 12:35-36). Who knows what a testimony it will be, and the blessing that will result in the lives of others. Light does not make any noise, but it does show the way, and gives comfort and guidance.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Two Words

“He died” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Two words, and yet how profound! Why did He die? One reasons is, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Another is, “He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

What was the motive? The first and greatest motive was love and obedience to God His Father: “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again .… This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18). The second motive was love to us. Paul said, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Stop today and meditate on these two words. “He died.” Such a meditation will produce feelings and expressions of worship, praise and thanksgiving in your heart. It will deepen your appreciation of what took place at Calvary so that you could be saved from your sins, have eternal life, and look forward to heaven. “He died!” What a death! What a result!

 

Mark Twain

“The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:13).

As a boy, I laughed and cried as I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn. I gave little if any thought to the author of these books, until later I studied the life of Mark Twain.

Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, had his share of tragedy. He blamed himself for his younger brother’s death in a steamboat accident at age 20, and for the death of his only son, who died from diphtheria at 19 months. He grieved bitterly over the deaths of two of his daughters — one from meningitis at age 23 and the other from a heart attack at 29.

But instead of turning to God and the Saviour, he became bitter and pessimistic. When he died at age 74, he was desperately lonely, unhappy and hopeless.

Mark Twain had an emptiness that could not be satisfied with money and fame. His success as a writer only increased his misery and sense of loss. His life illustrates the folly of living without God. If only he had trusted Christ for salvation he could have looked to Him for comfort and fulfilment.

 

Influence — Part 2

“For she loved much” (Luke 7:47).

The day following the accident Catherine Lawes body was resting in a casket in her home three-quarters of a mile from Sing Sing Prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of real grief and sadness streaming down their faces. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men. He hesitated, then said, “All right men, you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!” Then, against his better judgment, he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes, the woman who truly loved them. And every one of them checked back in. Every one!

What impact will your life have on others? We read of Abel, “He being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4). Make sure your life has a positive not a negative effect on others. Be a blessing, and you will be blessed.

 

Influence — Part 1

Our lives influence others more than we realize. “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7).

In 1921 Lewis Lawes became warden at Sing Sing Prison, one of the toughest prisons that ever existed in the United States. When he retired 20 years later it had become a humanitarian institution. On retirement Lewis gave the reason for the transformation, He said, “I owe it all to my wife Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”

Catherine Lawes, against all advice from friends and relatives, said, “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry.” She introduced Braille for the blind and sign language for the deaf. She went to basketball games and sat in the stands with the inmates. She visited their cells, and showed love to those who had never known what love and kindness is. Then in 1937 she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work so the acting warden took his place. Almost instantly the prison knew that something was wrong.

Would you be missed if that had been you?

 

Bible Algebra

C+O-S=J

Putting C hrist first in our lives and then serving O thers, while forgetting S elf, will bring the Christian great J oy.

This is really the formula for a blessed, fruitful life as a believer. Anyone who has lived for self, if honest, will attest to the fact that in the end it leaves the heart empty with an aching sense of non-fulfillment.

Here is what Solomon said, after years spent living for himself and absorbed with his own self-interest and self-importance. “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:9-11). Let’s make sure we don’t conclude our lives this way!

 

The Bible

“Thy Word is very pure” (Psalm 119:140).

“Thy Word is true” (Psalm 119:160).

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of Hell closed. Christ is its grand subject, our good is its design and the glory of God is its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. Pray it in. Read it through. Live it out. Pass it on.

 

Dear Young Christian:

I rarely have trouble sleeping! However, once in awhile if I am sick or very upset I do lie awake at night. The other night as I lay awake worrying about something, I thought of a word of advice I had once been given for just such a situation. Here is what it was:

“When sleep does not come, instead of
continuing to count sheep, talk to the Shepherd.”

David, who was a shepherd as a young boy, learned this truth, and could say to the greatest Shepherd of all, “I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6). He was thankful to be able to write, “The Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).

We, too, have a wonderful Shepherd who is awake and ready to listen and help no matter what hour of the day or night. Don’t forget to talk to Him; He is always available!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca