Young People’s Blog

Not by Works

The story is told of a nobleman who was so convicted of his sinful life that he determined to become a monk. After making inquiry he was directed to seek admission to a certain monastery 1,500 miles away, where the penance was severe and the discipline exceedingly strict.

Under the scorching sun he made the journey on foot and came at last to the monastery. He rang the bell and an aged monk, bent with the weight of years, opened the gate. Learning his business the monk admitted him to shelter for the night.

In the morning the nobleman told the old monk his story and received the following counsel: “If you want to be saved, you have come to the wrong place. Christ has finished the work, and there is nothing left for you to do.”

The young nobleman believed the old man’s message, and returned home, a sinner saved by grace alone.

Salvation has nothing to do with what we can produce or work for. The Bible clearly states, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).

Companions

“I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts” (Psalm 119:63).

Several times this year we have spoken of the importance of having companions that are a help and encouragement to us in our Christian pathway. Here is another story that emphasizes the importance of godly friends:          

Sophronius had a fair daughter named Eulalia who asked permission to visit the frivolous Lucina. “I cannot allow it,” said the Greek father.

“Then you must think me exceedingly weak,” said the daughter indignantly.

Sophronius picked up a dead coal from the hearth and handed it to his daughter, but she hesitated to accept it. “Take it, my daughter, it will not burn you.”

Eulalia obeyed, and the milky whiteness of her hand was instantly gone. “Father, we cannot be too careful in handling coals,” said the vexed daughter.

“No,” said the father solemnly, “for even when they do not burn, they blacken.”

So it is with evil companions and communications.

Individual Faithfulness

“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me” (John 21:20-22).

Too many Christians are exercising curiosity in areas where they have no business. Why do we find such attraction in the lives of others? Is our life so dull and boring?

As in the past, so once again, Peter took his eyes off of the Lord. His interest in John can certainly be appreciated, yet the Lord gently rebuked Peter for his curiosity. The Lord’s admonition was given in order to emphasize that interest in one another must never be allowed to stand in the way of, or be a substitute for, faithfully and individually following the Lord Jesus Christ. Later on the Apostle Paul wrote, “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden” (Galatians 6:4-5).

He Knows

“For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth
that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).

How varied were the circumstances and the conditions of soul in which the disciples were found on the resurrection morning.

Peter was a backslider.

Thomas a doubter.

Mary Magdalene was desolate.

The two disciples, on the way to Emmaus, were disappointed.

All the disciples were afraid.

Moreover, it is blessed to see with what divine skill and perfect grace the Lord adapts Himself to those varying states of soul. He has a restoring word for backsliders, a reproving yet encouraging word for doubters, a comforting word for the desolate, an arousing word to touch the heart and reach the conscience of the disappointed, and a reassuring word for the fearful.

Maybe you fit into one of these categories today. The Lord knows, and can meet your every need.

Jesus

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Joy to follow Jesus, joy to live for Him;

Happiness in Jesus, earth can never dim!

Peace to walk with Jesus, nothing can disturb,

While rejoicing in Him, naught this peace can curb…

Peace and joy in Jesus,

Peace and joy divine;

While we live for Jesus,

Inwardly sublime.

Grace to follow Jesus, grace for every day;

All is found in Jesus, through life’s busy fray!

Hope and rest in Jesus, steadfast, firm, and sure,

Jesus Christ our Savior, all in Him secure.

Strength to follow Jesus, strength for every hour,

Everything that’s needed, by His mighty power!

All is found in Jesus, His sufficiency,

Nothing can be lacking, He our strength shall be.

Can be sung to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers.

Dear Young Christian:

It is going to take real faith to live for the Lord this week. But remember, YOU CAN’T OPERATE ON SOMEONE ELSE’S FAITH. You must exercise your own faith. Every step you take in lifemustbe a step of your own faith in the living God who gave you the faith to start with and now wants you to use it. Never do anything or go anywhere because someone else did. Do what the Lord directs you to do and do it because you have faith in Him.

This is a lesson we learn from the early life of David when he was preparing to fight Goliath. “And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him” (1 Samuel 17:38-39). Instead David took what he had proved in the strength of the Lord … his sling and five smooth stones.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Remembrance and Worship

“This do in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

“We will remember Thy love” (Song of Solomon 1:4).

When we stop and remember what Jesus did at Calvary — how He endured the hatefulness and reproach of others, how, in the hours of darkness, He bore the punishment for sins that He never committed, how He gave up His life, how He shed His precious blood, was buried and rose again — our hearts automatically are bowed in humble adoration and worship, especially when I remember that He did it all for me. Worship is very personal! If we all worship from our hearts individually, our collective worship will be really thrilling, and this is what the Father and the Son really desire, as the Lord Himself expressed to the woman at Sychar’s well, when He said: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:23).

Will you remember Jesus in His death today?

What Shall I Do?

“Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with
Jesus which is called Christ” (Matthew 27:22).

Pilate in making this inquiry, raised a question that has echoed down through the ages, and that everyone who hears the gospel must consider and act upon. Sad to say many, reject, and not a few neglect. Happily, there are those who consider this question seriously and accept. Are you a rejecter, a neglecter, or are you an accepter? Concerning the person and work of Christ the Bible states: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).

When it comes to salvation and our eternal destiny there is no neutrality. We are either saved or lost. We have either accepted Christ as our Savior or we have not. What we do with Christ really does matter, not just in this life but in the next life as well. I hope every reader is like those of whom we read, “Howbeit certain men … believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them” (Acts 17:34).

Great Value

Do you sometimes feel worthless and useless? Here is a story that may help you to understand your value to the Lord Jesus, and how He can use you in spite of weakness or past failure:

Many years ago it was announced in a summer gathering at Ocean Grove, USA, that a famous violinist would play on a violin that cost many thousands of dollars. Thousands of people gathered in the great auditorium. He rose and played so magnificently that the crowd broke into a storm of applause. Suddenly the violinist raised the instrument above his head and smashed it to bits. The audience was aghast, shocked into disbelief, until he explained that the violin was worth only a few dollars. He then took up the one that was worth thousands and played. He meant to show that violins do not make the music, it is the person that holds them.

Yes, God can use you, too. The Bible says: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).Let Him work in you and through you, and remember, you are of great value to Him.

Fear

David, who often experienced fear in his life, penned the following statement long ago: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

Overcoming fear is often quite hard to do. However, it is possible to be like David and find complete deliverance from all our fears. Full deliverance from fear is only possible with help from the Lord.

As Job experienced tests and trials in the school of God he had fear. He said, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25).

Jacob is another Bible character who often struggled with fears. As he was about to go into Egypt to see Joseph, he stopped at the border and offered a sacrifice. The Lord said to him, “Fear not to go down into Egypt” (Genesis 46:3).

Is there something in your life that you are afraid of? Tell it to Jesus. He’s interested in every detail of your life and wants you to trust in Him. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).