Month: May 2016

Remember

“There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man” (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15).

This account illustrates very beautifully the following verse: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The “great king” is a picture of Satan. The “little city” is a picture of the world, and the “poor wise man” is the Lord Jesus. He was once rejected and nailed to a cross. Through that work there has been a great victory won over sin and death and Satan. Yet, for the most part, He is despised and forgotten. However, by a few He will be remembered today in the breaking of bread. Will you be one of those? He has requested, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

 

Substitution

Ed Leonard, an employee of a Canadian mining company, was working in Columbia South America, when he was captured by rebel soldiers in 1998. In an unprecedented move, Norbert Reinhart, the owner of the company, secured Leonard’s release by taking his place. Reinhart was then held hostage for 94 days.

Centuries ago the Lord Jesus took our place by becoming our substitute. The Bible states, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Although He was sinless, Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, took our punishment on the cross. With sin’s penalty paid, He rose from the grave and offers forgiveness to all who will accept it.

Just knowing these facts, though, doesn’t mean that we are forgiven. We must admit that we are helpless, lost sinners, turn from our sins, and in faith receive Christ and His offer of pardon. Then He truly is our Saviour and our Substitute. We can then say with the Apostle Paul, “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2).

 

Fellowship

The following story illustrates that which should be the desire of the heart of every child of God.

A father, at his desk in his study one evening, was deeply engrossed in his work, when he heard a soft tap on the door. When the door opened, he asked his son, who was hesitatingly standing in the doorway, “What do you want?”

“Nothing, Father,” was the reply, I just want to be with you.” Permission was granted and the son sat quietly beside his father until his work was completed.

Do we enter the presence of God our Father, not only to present a list of needs and requests, but just to enjoy His love and company? The Apostle John wrote, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

True fellowship with the Father is the enjoyment of His presence and His Son. This is accomplished in the quiet of His presence. Remember, He desires our companionship — do we truly desire His?

 

Jacob’s Twelve Sons — Issachar

We know nothing from Scripture of Issachar’s personal history except that he had four sons. “And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron” (Genesis 46:13).This tribe contained 54,400 fighting men at Sinai. “Of the children of Issachar … all that were able to go forth to war; Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred” (Numbers 1:28-29). After the entrance into Canaan, this tribe was one of the six which stood on Gerizim during the ceremony of the blessing and cursing. “These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin” (Deuteronomy 27:12).

It was said of his descendants that “the children of Issachar … were men that had understanding of the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32). In other words they were men of spiritual discernment who knew how to act wisely according to their present circumstances. This is something we should all seek to be. It is one thing to know the truth, it is another to apply it in a proper and practical way.

 

Three Essentials

How predictable we are!

When things go well we rejoice — but forget to pray.

When things get rough we stop rejoicing — but suddenly remember to pray.

Too often we forget to give thanks in either situation. Let’s remember the three exhortations of Paul in writing to the believers in the city of Thessalonika:

“Rejoice evermore” (1Thessalonians 5:16).

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

These are three essential elements for a happy Christian life and walk with the Lord. We are not immune to problems and difficulties but we have a wonderful and full resource in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we can truly rejoice, pray and give thanks, no matter what happens — not just once in awhile, but all the time.

 

Guidance

“Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy
days, so shall thy strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25).

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

Here is another short article from a young peoples periodical published around the same time as the one we noticed yesterday:

“Everyday brings its own perplexity. How sweet to feel that the guidance of the Lord is continual. If we choose our own way, we cast off the Lord’s guidance. But if we abstain from self-will, then He will direct our every step. If we will be guided we shall be sure of the enjoyment of His presence with us to give His peace and joy to our hearts and to be ‘our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1).”

Even in these troubled times we can have the assurance of power for our pathway and wisdom for the problems of life. The Lord has promised, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

 

Dear Young Christian:

As I write this Monday morning note, I have before me on my desk a short excerpt from a young people’s periodical published close to a hundred years ago, and yet with a timely messages for young and old even today.

“A scoffer asked an elderly man, ‘How do you know Jesus rose from the dead?’

The old believer answered, ‘I had an hour with Him this morning.’

It is a wonderful thing to know, on the authority of the Word of God, that the Lord Jesus lives for us now at God’s right hand, but it is still more wonderful to enjoy sweet, personal and intimate fellowship and communion with Him.”

Make sure you spend time with the Lord every morning this week. Be like King David who “sat before the Lord” (2 Samuel 7:18), spending quiet and quality time with His God.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

The Lamb

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

“The Lamb of God” is one of the most unique titles given to God’s Son. The Apostle John saw the Lord Jesus coming towards him and cried out in a spontaneous tribute, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:36). In so doing he drew the attention away from himself and focussed solely on the “Lamb of God.”

Someone else has said, “One word … Lamb, sums up four things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ:

The love of Christ.

The sacrifice of Christ.

The sufferings of Christ.

The triumph of Christ.”

John recognized that this Lamb alone could effectually deal with the sin problem and take away our guilt. As we read later on in the New Testament, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever then that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).

How thankful we are for the sacrifice of the Lamb.

 

The Gospel

“And there they preached the gospel” (Acts 14:7).

The gospel has been faithfully preached by many, since the early days of Christianity. The following will give some of the characteristics of the gospel and its results:

The gospel is good news:

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things”
(Romans 10:15).

The gospel concerns the Lord Jesus:

“The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

The gospel is for all:

“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

The gospel is powerful:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16).

The gospel is to be believed:

“Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

HAVE YOU BELIEVED?

 

“I Know”

We live in a world where there is great uncertainty, and in spite of the unmatched accessibility of information and knowledge, there is still much that is uncertain and unknown. Thankfully the Bible gives us certainty and answers, and the following are some verses telling us of some of the things that we know for sure.

“For I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Job 19:24).

“I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75).

“For I know that the Lord is great” (Psalm 135:5).

“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the
afflicted, and the right of the poor” (Psalm 140:12).

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth,
it shall be for ever” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

“I know that it shall be well with them that fear God” (Ecclesiastes 8:12).

“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).