Young People’s Blog

Service

“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind” (Acts 20:19).

Today, as I walked the streets of Bridgetown, Barbados, I noticed an advertising slogan for one of the downtown retailers. Here is what it proclaimed:

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

It brought to mind what the Apostle Paul said when writing to the Christians in Galatia. He exhorted them, “By love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

So often we do something for someone thinking that it will bring some reward to us. Maybe it is simply recognition or a pat on the back, or maybe even some monetary gain. However, the Lord wants selfless, self-sacrificing service done out of love to Himself and to one another. When Paul wrote to the Ephesians on the subject, he said, “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6-7). There are many opportunities to serve one another. Ask the Lord to give you the right motive, and above all, “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Dear Young Christian:

One of our favorite greetings in North America is, “What’s new?” We are somewhat like those of ancient times, of whom we read, “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21). Yet, amazingly enough, the best news never changes. The truth of God’s message, the Bible, weathers all time, endures every social and economic change, supersedes governments and regimes, invasions and defeats, and outlasts everything that is “built to last.” It is wiser than the world’s wisdom, potent and compelling beyond all power, simple and straightforward enough for even me to embrace, and strong enough to never let me go. The Apostle John wrote, “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning” (1 John 2:7).

What value do we place on this unchanging, inalterable, living book we call the Bible?

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

The Lamb of God

“And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering” (Genesis 4:4).

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it” (Revelation 22:3).

One of the most precious themes in the Bible is the subject of THE LAMB OF GOD. It brings before us, in so many aspects, the death, shedding of blood, and the full glorification of the Lord Jesus. It is pictured, in type, beginning with Abel’s sacrifice, all through the Old Testament. It takes us from John the Baptist’s declaration, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), to that future day when He will be the center focus of Heaven and earth, and all will recognize Him as worthy, because of who He is and what He has done in offering Himself as that great sacrifice.

It is the Lamb that we will be occupied with in Heaven and for all eternity. Today, He is the blessed theme for our hearts and occupation with Him will produce true praise and worship. He is indeed worthy, “to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).

Jesus the Savior

Just

Everlasting

Sinless

Unfailing

Savior

Here are some verses that confirm this acronym of the One who desires the blessing and salvation of every person.

“That He might be JUST and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

“Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given … And His name shall be called … The EVERLASTING Father” (Isaiah 9:6).

“In Him is NO SIN” (1 John 3:5).

“He will NOT FAIL thee” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

“The Father sent the Son to be the SAVIOR of the world” (1 John 4:14).

I hope every reader of this page can truly say that Jesus is their just, everlasting, sinless, unfailing, Savior.

Provision Provided

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanting to buy food for his sick and wounded men. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, “Colonel, just ask for it!” A smile broke over Roosevelt’s face. Now he understood — the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely.

Just so it is with the wonderful resources that we have from God through Christ. Every provision is provided and paid for through the work of Christ both past and present.

As a result of the work of the cross, we have salvation and a future home in Heaven. As a result of the Lord’s present life for us now, we have all the power and resources we need to live the Christian life.

Reproach

“I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors” (Psalm 31:11).

Reproach is an expression of disapproval and ridicule. If we truly live for the Lord and reflect Christ in our lives we can expect reproach from the unbelieving world. The Lord said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).

But there is another source of reproach that is even harder to take, and that is reproach from those who are closest to us. David noted this in the second part of the above verse. Maybe you have close family who do not appreciate the fact that you are saved or who do not understand some of your exercises in following the Lord. Remember, the Lord felt reproach from those He came to bless and from those who were closest to Him during His time here on earth. He could say, “The reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me … . Reproach hath broken My heart” (Psalm 69:9, 20).

His Preeminence

“And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

There is no place in this Scripture for pride, no standing room for hypocrisy, no seat for self-occupation, and not an iota of space for personal elevation. Christ sits on the throne of God, and the day is coming when we, by grace alone, shall share His throne with Him, as promised in the letter to Laodicea: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

However, we must never forget that before He sat down in Heaven as a glorified Man, this world rejected Him, cast Him out, and said, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him” (John 19:15). The Man Christ Jesus, who was so dishonored on earth, nailed to a cross, and given the lowest place possible, is now seated at the highest place in Heaven. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). May we honor Him with worship today!

Our Conversation

“Speaking things which they ought not” (1 Timothy 5:13).

As a follow-up to yesterday’s meditation, I wonder, do we really give enough thought to the impact of our conversation during the course of a day? How many words do we speak? How much of our conversation can be termed purposeful and profitable speaking?

I have seen some percentage estimates that suggest that maybe up to 75% of conversation is negative. That may be a rather high estimate, but even if we reduce it considerably, it still warrants some serious consideration.

A good question to ask ourselves is this: “Has the greatest percentage of conversation today contributed to the blessing, encouragement, and help in some way of the people I have met and interacted with?”

David must have had a concern about this when he prayed: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). That approach will assure a confidant manner of life, a positive attitude, and encouraging conversation.

Dear Young Christian:

Someone has said,

“ ‘Truth’ is like surgery: it hurts, but it heals.”

“ ‘A lie’ is like a painkiller: it gives instant relief, but has side effects forever.”

There are several exhortations in the New Testament in regard to lying. Here are two examples:

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth” (Ephesians 4:25).

“Lie not one to another” (Colossians 3:9).

The first recorded sin after the church was formed on the day of Pentecost was a lie, in connection with Ananias and Sapphira. “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost … thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:3-4).

God does not look lightly on lying, and even though we may not be struck dead like this couple in the early church, yet lying is just as serious today as it was back then. We need to be upright and truthful in all our dealings, whether at school, work, home, or with other believers.

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

Objects to Love

“The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was … . Then I was by Him, as One brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men” (Proverbs 8:22-23, 30-31).

Before a planet or moon hung in space, before the sun warmed the earth, or an angel served in Heaven, before any created thing, there was God — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Son was the delight and joy of His Father from a past eternity.

Then came creation. However, even in creation, there was something missing — objects to love. So the Godhead took counsel, “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). The Lord Jesus wanted those He could share fellowship with, those He could manifest His love to, and those that He could have as companions to share in His glory for eternity. What grace and love has been shown to sinners like you and me! He is so worthy of our praise and worship today, and every day!