Young People’s Blog

Crowned

The last glimpse this world had of the Lord Jesus was hanging on a Roman cross, crowned with a crown of thorns.

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:29).

The next glimpse this world will have of the Lord Jesus, is coming in power and glory, crowned with many crowns.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself” (Revelation 19:11-12).

In the meantime, we as believers, look up by faith and see Him crowned with glory and honor.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9).

Suicide

“And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father” (2 Samuel 17:23).

For Ahithophel, to have his counsel rejected was more than he could bear — so he committed suicide. This is a terrible thing and one which a believer in Jesus should NEVER consider. For every discouragement you feel, the Lord Jesus understands. There is nothing in your life that the Lord isn’t familiar with and that He can’t comfort you and help you in. Instead of taking your life, submit your life to Christ and let Him work out the details. He knows what to do. He knows the end from the beginning and knows how to work out your particular problem. Cast yourself totally on the Lord. He’ll help you through this great trouble in your life.

When the jailor in Philippi was about to take his life, “Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here” (Acts 16:28). The Lord had what seemed like a hopeless situation under full control, and there was blessing for the jailor and his household in the end.

Monthly Question Page

Q. Was the city of Dothan in Israel, and if so why wasn’t it guarded in 2 Kings 6?

A. Dothan was in Israel and within the boundary of the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh. It was the pasture-ground where Joseph found his brethren watching their flocks, and where, at the suggestion of his brother Judah, they sold him to the merchants. (Genesis 37:17, 26-27).

It was also the residence of Elisha, and the scene of a remarkable vision of chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain on which the city stood. (2 Kings 6:13-18).

As to why it wasn’t better guarded and protected, we can only say that there was much weakness and many things spiritually lacking among God’s people at the time. However, God in His amazing grace and mercy caused a great deliverance and victory, and proved that He, as the Lord of Hosts, was greater than the enemy. Elisha encouraged his frightened servant by saying: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” The result was, “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).

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Distress

“God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went” (Genesis 35:3).

Jacob’s life had been full of difficulty, a lot of which he had brought on himself. But he had experienced a wonderful thing. That was that God answered his call for help when he had been in trouble. And in addition, the Lord had stayed with him as he travelled through life. Jacob knew it and appreciated it. What a lesson for us: that in distress, persecution, trouble, loneliness, or sorrow, Jesus is there waiting for your cry for help, and He too will stay with you as you go through life. His promise is, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

When the couple on the road to Emmaus were feeling really downcast and discouraged, who was it that walked along beside them? Jesus! “And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them” (Luke 24:14).

Trust Him today and every day. He’s there.

Monthly Scripture Reading

James 1

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

God’s Will

“Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it … Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water” (John 2:5-6).

Sometimes the Lord may direct us to do something that, humanly speaking, does not make too much sense — like filling the water pots with water when wine was what was needed! However, we learn from this story and many other accounts in the Bible, that obedience to the Lord is always the way to blessing and happiness.

But, you ask, how can we know the Lord’s will for us? Here are simple principles to keep in mind:

The Bible reveals God’s thoughts for man’s life. It gives general instructions for our conduct.

The Spirit of God gives us guidance concerning the daily decisions of life; we can go to the Lord in prayer asking for help and guidance in our decisions.

Remember, the Spirit of God will NEVER guide us contrary to the Word of God.

Once you have a sense of the Lord’s will regarding an issue or step to be taken – “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.”

Dear Young Christian:

We are all prone to be critical. We need to remember that the Lord is listening. Miriam and Aaron forgot that the Lord could hear their bitter conversation! When they complained about their brother Moses. “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses … And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it” (Numbers 12:1-2). As a result of their criticism, judgment fell upon them.

To gossip or complain about another person or to say anything disparaging of someone should never be part of a believer’s conversation. The writer James has some very strong words to say on the matter. “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge” (James 4:11).

What will the Lord hear us say about others this week? Will it be words of kindness and love?

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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Send your comments or questions to [email protected]

A Finished Work

“The cup which My Father hath given Me,
shall I not drink it” (John 18:11)?

Jesus asked Peter this question. Peter had tried to stop the band of soldiers from arresting the Lord Jesus, but the Lord had been given the work of the cross to do and do it He must. Early in His pathway He had stated, “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 6:38).

He was truly “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Nothing could stop the work on Calvary, and Peter had to put his sword away and watch in helpless disbelief as his Lord was taken to trial, and eventually to Calvary’s cross.

Today we look back to a work that has been completed to the eternal glory and satisfaction of God. The Lord Himself could affirm in His High Priestly Prayer, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). Never will God require another sacrifice for sin, “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).

What Are You Trusting?

“There was a certain rich man … And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-20).

Read the account of these two men in Luke 16:19-31, and you will see that the rich man lived well, ate fine food and had the best of clothing and circumstances. In contrast the beggar was sick and hungry. They lived within close proximity of each other, but the rich man ignored the poor man. The rich man had plenty of good food to eat; the beggar wanted to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.

In the course of time the rich man died and was buried; the beggar also died and went to heaven. What was the difference? Faith. Actually they both had faith. The beggar had faith in God and lived for eternity. The rich man had faith in himself and his riches, lived for time, and lost everything.

Which one are you? What are you trusting in? The Lord said on another occasion, “How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24)! Rather than trust in material goods, we need to “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

Overwhelmed — Part 4

Let’s conclude our meditation on this subject, by saying that instead of being overwhelmed, we can be overcomers. Here is what the Apostle John had to say of the matter to the youth of his day: “I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one … I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13-14).

In our own strength and with our own resources we are going to be overwhelmed, but with the reading and enjoyment of the Word of God, the Spirit indwelling us, and the Lord Jesus living to intercede for us as our High Priest and Advocate, we can be overcomers in every situation. When John wrote to the seven Churches in Asia Minor, in each case, no matter what the circumstances, there was a word of encouragement to the overcomer. (Notice Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26 & 3:5, 12, 21). There is then one final encouragement at the end of the Inspired Word: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7).

Why be overwhelmed, when we can overcome?