Young People’s Blog

Wolves And Lambs

I know there are a number of older folks who read this calendar. Today’s page is particularly for you.

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29).

A gentleman who was visiting a large sheepfold noticed that the owner seemed greatly discouraged. He asked him the reason. The shepherd answered: “The wolves entered the flock last night and caught sixty-five of my loveliest lambs.”

“And how many sheep were killed?” asked the visitor.

The shepherd looked at him with an air of astonishment: “Do you not know that a wolf will never take a sheep if he can seize a lamb?”

This is why we need to have a special prayerful concern and shepherding care for our young people, and why the Lord said to Peter, “Feed My lambs … Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-16). He could have just said “Feed My flock,” and that would have included the lambs and the sheep, but he knew there would be special needs and special attacks on the young. Do we who are older have a genuine desire to shepherd those who are younger?

No Worries

Staying in a home recently, I noticed this motto on the bathroom wall:

I WILL NOT WORRY!

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

It was a good reminder for me each morning as I got cleaned up and ready to face the day. I tend to be a worrier, and it reminded me of a hymn we used to sing when I was a young person:

Why worry when you can pray?

Trust Jesus. He is there always

Be careful then for nothing

God’s promise fully trusting

Why worry, worry, worry, when you can pray?

Why worry, when you can pray?

Trust Jesus, He’ll be your stay.

Don’t be a doubting Thomas,

Lean fully on His promise,

Why worry, worry, worry, worry when you can pray?

Dear Young Christian:

Do you know where your Bible is this morning, or would you have to go and search for it? Is your Bible well-worn from being well-read? A few days ago I was looking through an old cookbook (not that I do much cooking). And came upon a piece of paper with the following statement:

A Bible that’s falling apart

probably belongs to someone who isn’t!

I earnestly urge you to make Bible reading your daily habit. Let it be a fixed principle with you that you daily need the Word of God. Be like Job, who said, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). If you do not keep applying yourself to the daily reading of your Bible, your famished soul will readily eat of the world’s dainties. But if you are filled with the bread of heaven you will have no taste for what the world offers.

Your Christian Friend,

 Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments or questions to [email protected]

In Remembrance

“Put Me in remembrance” (Isaiah 43:26).

In the previous verse God is reminding His people that it was He that had blotted out their transgressions. “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa. 43:25).

Then He asks them to put Him in remembrance. But how easy it is to forget. Don’t we have to confess that we get so busy (I’m sure that’s what Satan wants) and so occupied with things in this world and this life that we often forget what God has done for us? And don’t we often forget what Christ accomplished when He went to the cross, bore the punishment for our sins, laid down His life, and shed His precious blood?

Today, on the first day of the week, as we go to remember the Lord in His death, let’s make a special effort to really and truly remember what it cost Him to redeem us; what He had to do in order to blot out our transgressions.

Then during the week to follow let’s not forget to always thank the Lord for what He did in order for us to be saved, to become the children of God, and to look forward to heaven when we leave this world.

Is There a Hell?

Many professed Christians question it. Skeptics scoff at it. Atheists deny it. Decidedly it is an unpopular doctrine today. Few preachers mention it; some openly reject it. In view of all this opposition, what shall we say? Simply, we turn to the unerring Word of God for confirmation.

“I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, l say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5).

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:13-15).

There is no need of comment upon these statements of God’s Word. God is too great, too holy to deceive any of His creatures. It is the “God who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2), that in love warns us lest we come into that place of torment.

“Till He Come”

Everything in Christianity is in view of the Lord’s return. Just before the Lord left His disciples to go to the cross and then return to heaven, He gave them this precious promise: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). The promise on the last page of the Bible is, “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20).

“Till He come” is the motto of every true watcher for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord said to Peter, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me” (John 21:22).

Again, to the rest in Thyatira, He says, “That which ye have hold fast till I come” (Revelation 2:25).

To all His servants He says, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13).

The Holy Spirit may well add, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come”(1 Corinthians 11:26).

Thus we are taught to follow, to hold fast, to serve, and to remember Him. For how long? “Till I come.”

Christian Fellowship

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-4).

Christian fellowship is truly one of the great joys of the Christian pathway. Because our relationships are based on our common bonds in the Lord Jesus, each one is special indeed! “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ … But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another” (1 John 1:3, 7).

It is a blessing when God brings a particular fellow-believer to remembrance. I hope that today you will take the opportunity to uphold some dear believers in prayer! Pray for strength and encouragement for them in their service and times of need. You will be blessed as an intercessor as in fellowship with the Father and the Son, and with one another, we meet in spirit at the “Throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Dusty Bibles

Several years ago my family and I were driving towards Grand Rapids Michigan on Interstate 96, when we noticed a large billboard with a picture of a Bible on it and the following caption:

DON’T BRUSH IT OFF,

DUST IT OFF!

It made me wonder how many dusty Bibles there are in the homes of Christian young people … and sad to say, some who are not so young! It also made me think of the godly reign of King Josiah, and how, when cleaning up the temple, they found a copy of the Word of God, which seemed to have been lost and forgotten. And how they dusted it off and read it, and there was great blessing as a result.

“And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. And Shaphan carried the book to the king … Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king” (2 Chronicles 34:15-16,18). Take time to read the whole context, and don’t let your Bible collect dust!

Shine

Shine for Jesus…

Shine today!

Shine for Him … 

In every way!

In your life…

Your words … And deeds!

Showing … Sowing Christ-like seeds!

You’re the Bible this world reads!

Live for Jesus…

Live today!

Live for Him…

In every way!

In your home…

In every place!

Loving … Showing Christ-like grace!

You’re the Bible others trace!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Dear Young Christian:

It seems everybody is trying to win something. Lotteries abound and tickets are available at every convenience store. Athletes are out to win sports events, politicians are bent on winning votes. Many are trying to win fame and fortune.

The Apostle Paul was out to win as well. He summed it up by saying, “That I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8). In other words, above all else he wanted Christ’s approval and the Lord’s “well done” (Matthew 25:21). Every other earthly gain or reward paled in comparison to what He had found in Christ. He goes on to say, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

There is something else that a believer should be trying to win. “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). To win souls for Christ through the gospel is the privilege of everyone who has been won for Christ.

What will you win this week? What will your spiritual score be, when it is all tallied for the Lord’s glory.

 Your Christian Friend,

         Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you.
Send your comments or questions to [email protected]