Month: February 2019

Restraint

Human nature does not like restraint of any kind.

One thing I personally don’t like is the restraint of seatbelts. I know that they are a good thing, and that they often save lives when there is an accident. But, I still don’t like them, even though I buckle up because it is the law and I don’t want to have to pay the fine.

Today, many are going their own way, casting off restraint of every kind, living for themselves, and as they say, “Pleasing number one.” It is a day like the book of Judges describes: “In those days … every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).

But this is not the way it is to be for a believer. We are to recognize that we belong to the Lord, and to own His authority and Lordship in our day-to-day life. “What know ye not that … ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are also exhorted to be, “temperate in all things” (1 Corinthians 9:25). Temperance is simply self-control or restraint. To live a life of unrestrained self-indulgence never brings true happiness. To live for Christ under His loving restraint is always a blessing.

Our English Bible — Part 2

“Thy commandment is exceeding broad”
(Psalm 119:96).

Here are some more interesting facts regarding our English Bible:

• The smallest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117, the longest chapter is Psalm 119 and the middle chapter in the Bible is Psalm 118. The middle verse in the Bible is Psalm 118:8.

• The longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8:9.

• The shortest versesare Exodus 20 verses 13, 14, 15, John 11:35 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17.

• The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book in history, with almost 1,670 languages. The works of Lenin come in a far second at 200, and, even the well-known Shakespeare has only been translated into 97 languages. Since the invention of printing, more than 6 billion copies of God’s Holy Word have been printed.

• What a wonderful book we have! Do you read it and value it?

Our English Bible — Part 1

“How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Psalm 119:103)!

Here are some interesting facts regarding our English Bible:

• The Bible has 66 books. There are 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. It has 1,189 chapters: 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New Testament. It has about 31,193 verses: 23,325 in the Old Testament and 7,058 in the New Testament. In the original, it has 430,938 words containing over 3,000,000 letters.

• The smallest book in the Old Testament is Obadiah, with one chapter. In the New Testament, the smallest books are Philemon, 2 John, 3 John and Jude, also with only one chapter.

• The smallest chapter in the Old Testament (not counting the book of Psalms) is Esther chapter 10 with 3 verses. The smallest chapter in the New Testament is Revelation 15, having 8 verses.

• It is God’s message to us, read it each day!

A Christian — Part 1

“The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

Are you a happy Christian,

Rejoicing in the Lord?

Is He your daily portion,

And by your soul adored?

The heart that’s full of Jesus,

With gladness overflows,

And nothing there can spoil,

The joy that Christian knows.

Are you a prayerful Christian,

Committing to the Lord?

Is He your daily guidance?

Neglect you can’t afford!

The heart that looks to Jesus,

Each moment of each day,

Will find in Him resources,

And light for faith’s pathway.

Continued next month …

Dear Young Christian:

“For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah. (Psalm 54:3).

As we look on amazed at the deterioration of society on every side, it is good to remember what is at the root of things. A man without God is God-less. This certainly clarifies and helps us to understand why people do what they do today. They have neither a Christian world-view nor a Christian conscience.

David lamented the intentions of godless men in his day who were trying to harm him, and we may ask ourselves, “Why are Christians persecuted?” The answer is simple. The unsaved, “have not set God before them.” Society is becoming more godless every day. As we suffer undeserved reproach or harassment of the same types that David faced, let’s respond with the same insight he did. And as the Lord instructed His disciples, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28).

 Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.

Send your comments and questions to jhyland@primus.ca

Exalt His Name

“Let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3).

The dictionary states the word “exalt” means: “To praise and regard very highly … to raise to the highest rank or position … to extol one’s virtues.”

To “exalt His name” is to make everything of the person and work of Christ, who He is, what He has done in glorifying God here in this world, where He is now as a glorified man, and all that is ahead when He has his rightful place in this world, and is owned as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

Here are some further encouragements in the Psalms as to giving the Lord that place of exaltation in our hearts and lives today:

“Exalt ye the Lord our God … worship … for He is holy” (Psalm 99:5).

“Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly” (Psalm 107:32).

“Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee” (Psalm 118:28).

Will you “exalt His name” today?

Lasting Joy

“A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

Remember that real lasting joy is not dependant on your circumstances. Some of the world’s most miserable people are those whose circumstances seem the most pleasant and enviable. People who reach the top of the ladder career-wise are often surprised to find emptiness and, often, real loneliness awaiting them. True joy comes only from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Solomon tried all that this world had to offer at the time. Here is his conclusion of the matter: “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 2:10-11). Only the One who made us can satisfy us. He is offering lasting joy today. Don’t refuse it for the fleeting “pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25).

Value

“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God” (Psalm 84:3).

What a picture this is of the welcoming, loving heart of God. The sparrow doesn’t really sing and is not at all beautiful. The Lord said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing” (Matthew 10:29)? In Bible times the sparrow had very little worth but found great significance in God’s presence. In fact, they were so worthless in the Jewish economy that, when a person bought two pairs, they threw in an extra one for free. So, we read, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings” (Luke 12:6). Then there is the swallow. He is a restless bird, yet the swallow found tranquillity and rest in the temple. Like these common birds, all believers were once spiritually worthless and restless, but now we have found spiritual significance and peace with God in the refuge of Christ. We are of great value to the one who gave His life to save us from our sins. He assures us, “Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7).