Author: BTP

Discontent!

Some time ago there appeared in a newspaper a cartoon showing two fields divided by a fence. Both fields were about the same size and each had plenty of the same kind of lush green grass.

In each field there was a mule, and each mule had his head through the fence eating grass from the other mule’s pasture. All around each mule, in his own field was plenty of grass, yet the grass on the other side of the fence seemed greener or fresher, although it was harder to get. Furthermore, in the process the mules were caught in the fence wires and were unable to disentangle themselves. The cartoonist put just one word at the bottom of the picture — “DISCONTENT!”

Does this describe you? The Bible tells us, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

The key to contentment is really to be enjoying the company of the Lord Jesus each day. So we read, “Be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Is He enough to satisfy no matter what our circumstances? Indeed He is!

Watch & Pray — Pray & Watch

In the Bible “watching” is often connected with prayer. In the following verse we are to first “watch” in order to keep out of our lives those things that would hinder an effective prayer life. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). David realized this when he penned the words, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). We need to always be on our guard that we do not allow sin, or worldliness to dull our affections, chill our souls, or lull us into spiritual complacency. These things will hinder “effectual fervent prayer” (James 5:16).

However in the following verses you will notice that the order is reversed. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).  This is the thought of persevering. Persevering in prayer would imply, not only turning to God in some special need, but the habitual attitude of dependence upon God. “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray” (Psalm 55:17). However prolonged the trial, though the answer may be delayed, we are to “persevere in prayer,” and then to give thanks for whatever the answers are.

Dear Young Christian:

There is a strong tendency among Christians to allow human reasoning to replace Scriptural principles, thus making ourselves wiser than God. The secret of Daniel’s life was that he took his instruction from the Living God. He could say, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His … He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Daniel 2:20-21). The real challenge is that our reliance on human wisdom is difficult to detect and we often don’t even realize we are doing it. But clear divine instructions set aside in favour of the reasoning of men will always leave us cold and disappointed. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain” (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). Take your wisdom from the Lord through His Word the Bible, and you will have good instruction in your path of faith for the Lord this coming week.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Calvary

“And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him” (Luke 23:35).
“And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads” (Matthew 27:39).
“And sitting down they watched Him there”
(Matthew 27:36).

There at Calvary there were many who passed hurriedly by, others who stood and lingered, and some who even sat down and watched the Lord suffer on the cross. While there were some observers who truly loved Him, such as Mary His mother, the Apostle John, Mary Magdalene, and others, yet for the most part the crowd was composed of scoffers, and those who hated Him “without a cause” (Psalm 69:4).

Today we look back to Calvary and remember the sufferings of Christ and the great sacrifice of Himself.

With adoration, worship, praise, we look to Calvary,

And see the One who gave Himself,

From sin to set us free.

We also look up, by faith, and “see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour” (Hebrews 2:9).

No Other Saviour

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

“I’ve got my own religion.”

“Whatever you believe is alright.”

“Everybody has their own beliefs.”

“Just so you believe something.”

These are sayings you will hear from many people today. They sound nice, and help to make people feel good, since their own beliefs are said to be as valid as those of anyone else. “After all,” some say, “can you really know anything for sure?” People who claim to have “the truth” are looked down upon as being arrogant and intolerant. For some reason, people can accept the idea that any religion is valid as long as it doesn’t claim to be the only true religion! Do you know why? It’s Satan’s way of getting people to believe anything but the one thing that will remove his grip on their souls. It is not true that all religious beliefs are of equal value. It is not true that “Whatever you believe is alright.” The very fact that “Everybody has their own beliefs” shows what God says is man’s biggest problem — we’ve exchanged His truth for our beliefs, and as a result, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).

Monthly Question Page

Q. Could you explain the significance of the colors of the four horses in Revelation chapter six? (Part 2).

A. “A white horse” (verse 2). The white horse symbolizes a judgment involving conquering and victory for the rider. Later in Revelation when the Lord comes to reign, we read, “Behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war” (Revelation 19:11).

“Another horse that was red” (verse 4). With the coming of this horse, peace is take from the earth, there is killing, and there is war. The red horse, no doubt speaks of bloodshed, this being the result of the white horse and its rider.

“And lo a black horse” (verse 5). This horse figures mourning, consternation, and famine. As a result of conquest and bloodshed, there will be scarcity and want, and the masses will be deprived of the necessities of life.

“Behold a pale horse” (verse 8). The pale horse has the name of Death stamped upon the rider. It signifies that pestilence will follow famine. Hell (Hades) follows as it swallows up its victims. What awful judgments are coming on this world!

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

Not Ashamed

“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).

After his remarkable conversion on the way to Damascus, Paul never lost sight of the gospel of Christ.

He always had a readiness to preach it.

He always had a desire to defend it.

He had a lifestyle to promote and commend it.

He had a joy in suffering because of it.

He had a willingness to die for it.

He felt he had an enormous responsibility to bring the gospel to all people. There is no question; he was not ashamed of the gospel. He knew its transforming power, and what it had done for him in turning his life around. As a result he wanted everyone to hear, to know, and to experience it for themselves. Near the end of his life he could encourage a young man named Timothy “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8).

What an example for us to share the gospel with others!

Monthly Scripture Reading

Luke 5

3 And He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken.

Sighing or Singing

“The children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage” (Exodus 2:23).
“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord” (Exodus 15:1).

There is really no song to sing until the burden of sin is removed. The Israelites never sang in Egypt while they were slaves to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, a picture of Satan and this world. All they could do in Egypt was sigh! Only after they experienced redemption and deliverance and were safely on the Sinai side of the Red Sea could they sing the praises of the Lord.

 The unsaved world tries to make music but often it has a rather despondent tone, and the words are usually hollow and empty. Not so with the believer. For the one who knows Christ as Saviour, he can truly say, “He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God” (Psalm 40:3). A Christian may not be the greatest singer, but they have the privilege of opening their mouth to “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 100:1).

Are you a sigh-er or a singer?

Dear Young Christian:

Are you a worrier like me? Here are some interesting definitions of worry that I came upon while browsing through an old book from my library shelf:

Worry is the advance interest you pay on troubles that seldom come.

Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

My problem is, I tend to worry about things that I think are going to come about in the near or distant future, and then when the time comes, they never even happen. The Lord had to say to Mary’s sister, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41). To us He says: “Be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). In other words, “Don’t be full of care. Don’t worry about a thing.” We can leave everything in the hand of the Lord this coming week. No matter what may happens, He is in full control.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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