Author: BTP

Nothing To You

“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me
in the day of His fierce anger” (Lamentations 1:12).

What does the work of Calvary really mean to you? There were those who passed by the cross to whom it meant nothing. Of them we read, “And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads” (Matthew 27:39). Of others we read, “And sitting down they watched Him there” (Matthew 27:36).

For those of us who know Christ as our Saviour the cross should mean everything. As we pass by the cross again today in our thoughts and hearts, considering what took place there, may it mean more to us than ever before. May we have a deepened sense of the depth of suffering, that we might have a deeper appreciation of the glorious results of that mighty work. Jeremiah asks a very serious question in the verse at the top of today’s page. How sad if we had to answer that it was nothing to us. Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).

 

The Biggest Fool

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God … So death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 3:23; 5:12).

A prize was once offered in a certain village for the biggest fool that could be found in it. A diligent and thorough search was made, and a sick man who refused to tell his doctor the truth as to the symptoms of his disease was discovered. The judges were unanimous in awarding him the prize. I’m sure that, had we been there on that occasion, we would have agreed wholeheartedly with their verdict.

Such a fool as this I have never met. As a rule people are ready enough to tell the whole truth to their doctor, if by so doing he can diagnose their sickness correctly and prescribe an effective remedy.

However, I have met people who have been guilty of foolishness of a far worse character. There are thousands of soul-sick sinners who refuse altogether to acknowledge the truth about themselves. I hope that nobody reading this calendar is like that! There is a cure … “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).

 

Stress

The other day I asked another believer how she was. Her reply was, “I’m too blessed to be stressed!”

We live in a world filled with stress, a world that is unstable in so many ways … socially, politically, economically, and so on. But the world is not where we are to look. As believers we need to refocus the eyes of our hearts on the only One that gives true and lasting stability.

David had a lot of stress in his life, both before and after he became king. Here are some of the statements he made regarding his dealings with daily stress:

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalm 18:2).

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5).

“Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock” (Psalm 28:1).

David had a trust and confidence in His God that carried him through those stressful times of life.

 

Godly Counsel

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:16).

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him” (2 Timothy 2:4).

A young Christian man had been nominated for a public office. Before accepting the nomination he wrote to a respected brother in the Lord seeking some godly counsel as to whether he should accept the nomination or not. The reply was simple and straightforward:

“A dead man does not vote, nor does he receive votes.”

Believers are pronounced dead:

To self…………………………. Galatians 5:24

To sin…………………………. Romans 6:2,11

To the Law………………………. Romans 7:4

To the world…………………. Galatians 6:14

To religion……………… Colossians 2:20-23

 

Bible Algebra

A/C+W/S=F

A biding in C hrist and W alking in the S pirit bearsF ruit in the life of a believer.

How much is this true in your life and mine? How close is our walk with the Lord? The Lord Himself said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4).

Every believer down deep in their heart desires to produce fruit for God. But there is only one way to accomplish this. “Walk in the Spirit … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).

Fruit is really the reproduction and expression of Christ in our lives. This can only be produced by nearness to Himself and by allowing the Spirit to have full control over us.

 

Complaining

“And when the people complained, it
displeased the Lord” (Numbers 11:1).

Yesterday we mentioned how we so often complain about the weather although we can do nothing about it. Another thing we often complain about is the government. This too comes directly from the hand of God, and like the weather, we can do nothing about it. “The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17). “The powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1).

Isn’t it wonderful to realize that this same God is our Father, that He’s in full control of everything in our lives as well? Are we willing to let Him have His way with us and direct as He sees best? Can we think that we know better than He? May we, like the Lord Jesus at a difficult time in His pathway, say, “Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight” (Luke 10:21). This is true happiness and Christian living! The next time you start to complain remember this verse: “That there be no complaining in our streets” (Psalm 144:14).

 

Dear Young Christian:

Did you ever notice how often we complain about the weather? It is either too hot or too cold; too wet or too dry; too humid, windy, stormy, or whatever … Thankfully, the weather, like many other things in life, is not in any way under our control. Our God is in full control, ordering everything according to His wisdom and knowing what is best. I like the verse that says, “The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3).

Some of us come from areas of the world where there is lots of snow this time of year. The next time you complain about having to shovel think of this verse: “He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth” (Job 37:6).

When you grumble about the weather, remember it’s all ordered and perfectly administered from the throne of heaven. And remember too, that no matter how dull and gloomy the weather may be, we can always walk in the sunshine of our Father’s love.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Love

Here are some of the things the Apostle John records about the love of God the Father and the Lord Jesus:

“God so loved” (John 3:16).

“He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1).

“I [have] loved you” (John 15:9).

“Greater love hath no man than this” (John 15:13).

“Behold, what manner of love” (1 John 3:1).

“God is love” (1 John 4:8).

“Herein is love” (1 John 4:10).

“He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

These short statements ought to stir our hearts’ affections as we consider the greatest love that mankind has ever known or ever will. If love like this doesn’t awaken your affections and cause a response from your heart today, then you need to examine your state of soul and occupy yourself with His divine, unchangeable love. Remember and meditate on the full display of that love at Calvary’s cross. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).

 

Michael Faraday — Part 3

Speculations

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

As we have noted this week, Michael Faraday was one of the most brilliant scientists of modern times. He was a pioneer in electrical discoveries, although he received practically no formal education.

Above all, he loved his Saviour and Lord. We are not surprised at the words he uttered with his dying breath: “I bow before Him who is Lord of all.”

He died on August 25, 1867. Just before his decease some journalists came to his bedside and questioned him as to his speculations for a life after death. “Speculations!” exclaimed Michael. “I know nothing of speculations. I’m resting on certainties. ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth,’ and because He lives, I shall live also.”

How wonderful it is for the believer to be able to rest on certainties. Like Paul, who said, “We know that … we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Do you have this certainty?

 

Michael Faraday — Part 2

The Prayer Meeting

“We went … where prayer was wont to be made”
(Acts 16:13).

A crowded gathering of distinguished scientists had been listening spellbound to the masterful expositions of Michael Faraday. For an hour he held his brilliant audience enthralled as he demonstrated the nature and properties of the magnet. He brought his lecture to a close with an experiment so novel, so bewildering and so triumphant that for some time after he resumed his seat, the house thundered with enthusiastic applause. The Prince of Wales — later known as King Edward VII — rose to propose a motion of congratulation. The resolution was seconded and carried with renewed applause. All grew quiet as the audience waited for Faraday’s reply.

However, he did not appear. Only his most intimate friends knew what had become of him. The hour at which he concluded his lecture was the hour of the weeknight prayer meeting at the place where he met with other believers. Even amidst the world’s accolades, Faraday recognized the importance of the prayer meeting.