Young People’s Blog

Little Things

Do you ever get frustrated with the little things that seem to pop up and delay or deter you from what you hoped to accomplish? Yesterday we mentioned the tragic events of September 11, 2001. While many lost their lives as a result of what happened that day, there were many who survived because of what seemed like coincidence and happenstance. Here are just a few examples:

The head of a company survived because his son started kindergarten.

One is alive because it was his turn to bring donuts to the office that day.

A woman was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off.

One was late because he was involved in a minor accident on the New Jersey Turnpike.

One lady spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

The next time you are annoyed at some little inconvenience, remember this verse. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself” (Psalm 37:7). If the Lord has caused a delay, it is for a good reason!

Dear Young Christian:

September 11, 2001 will be forever planted in the minds of those who were old enough to remember what happened on that fateful day when the Twin Towers in New York City were brought crashing down by a terrorist attack. Even years later, many will stop to reflect on the tragic happenings of that day.

I realize that many of my readers today were not old enough to remember 9/11, and some of you where not even born. But as many pause today to reflect and remember, let’s also think about the day when the Lord Jesus was convicted, sentenced to death, and led outside the walls of Jerusalem to be crucified. What a result there has been for the blessing of man, our personal salvation, and a future blessing for unnumbered multitudes who will experience earthly blessings, and eventually for all of creation, when the fullness of redemption is felt at every level. The verse that stands out in my mind today is, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Humbled Himself

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

We cannot possibly know what it meant for the Son of God to step down from His high throne, to leave His place in glory, and then to pass through the heavens and the myriad of galaxies. Then having done all that to place His foot on the dust of this microscopic planet, stained with sin. To become a man was humbling indeed! The Inhabiter of Eternity submitted to the process of time. The Creator of all became the carpenter in Nazareth. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Why this infinite stoop? For “the death of the cross.” Only thus could Divine justice and man’s great need be met. What kind of love is this? As we consider all this, let us bow in His presence, like the Apostle Thomas, and say, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

He came to earth, the Son of God,

The dusty streets He humbly trod;

Then went to Calvary and died,

So sinners could be justified.

Now What?

William Saroyan (1908-1981), the great story writer, was an internationally known literary person. He won a Pulitzer prize for his writing, but refused to accept it. At the age of 15 he quit school to follow his career, and at 26 was well established as a genius in creative writing. Finally, at the age of 72, cancer brought an end to life in this world. Five days before he died, he left a statement to be printed in the newspaper after his death.

Here is what it said: “Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case … Now what?”

Anyone acquainted with the message of the Bible would have been able to give this famous man an answer. The Word of God plainly states: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The Lord Himself said: “Whither I go, ye cannot come … If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:21, 24).

William Saroyan hoped an exception would be made in his case. But as he neared the time of his departure he realized that it was an unrealistic hope!

From the Heart — Part 3

Is our first thought in everything we do, to do it for His glory? And not to do it just, “from the heart,” but, in singleness of heart.” No other motive, no other object but HIMSELF!

Here is a similar quotation to the verse we have been considering in Ephesians 6, from the book of Colossians:

“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God” (Colossians 3:22).

Now carefully notice the next verse:

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (verse 23).

The result is in the following verse:

“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (verse 24).

Let’s ask ourselves, how much is this really true in our day-to-day life? What really motivates us? The Apostle Paul expressed his motive in following the Lord when he said, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

From the Heart — Part 2

It is the smallest things done for the Lord and for God our Father in secret that will receive the greatest rewards when believers stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is because the motive must be right if we do it without recognition from our fellow-Christians. Someone has well said: “When the motive is right, everything is right.” It is possible to do right things, but with the wrong motive.

Here is what the Lord Jesus said on the subject: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:1-4).

From the Heart — Part 1

“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6).

Why do you follow the Lord?

It is not to be, “with eyeservice, as menpleasers.”

It is to be, “as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

There are many things that motivate us to live like Christians, and give the appearance that we really want to follow the Lord. But it is good to examine our hearts as to WHY! Is it because we like a pat on the back and a word of commendation for some service we have performed for the Lord or His people? Is it so others will say, “There goes a good Christian young person?” Or is it because we want HIS approval and to please the One who has done so much for us? What is our real motive? Is it love for HIMSELF? Are we doing it from the heart, and not because others will see? Let’s ask ourselves, are we truly, “doing the will of God from the heart?” Remember, this is what truly pleases our Lord.

The Lord Is Good

The Lord is good,

A stronghold firm,

Through this world’s darkest day;

He lifts me up above the storm,

And brings me through the fray.

The Lord is good,

So merciful,

So gracious, and so kind;

His Word endures through every age,

In Him, my all I find.

The Lord is good,

I wait on Him,

And waiting, sing His praise;

I know that He will see me through,

I’ll trust Him all my days.

“The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

Dear Young Christian:

Someone has said that our life is like a clock. The hands of God pass over us again and again. The short hand is the hand of discipline; the long hand is the hand of mercy. Slowly and surely the hand of discipline moves over us; but the hand of mercy, which moves over it, moves twelve times as swiftly. Thankfully, both hands are fastened to one secure pivot — the unchanging heart of a loving God.

Both the Old Testament, and the New Testament, tell us of the Lord’s love in His corrective ways with us.

“For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Psalm 3:12).

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6).

Whatever He allows in your life this week, be assured that it is for your good and benefit and that it is all ordered according to His love and mercy. Accept it as such, learn from it, and as a result you will receive the intended blessing.

Your Christian friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Sacrifice

As the following verses confirm, the Lord Jesus gave Himself as the supreme sacrifice at the cross.

“Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2).

“Once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:6).

“This man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

What a sacrifice! What a gift! Himself! This was the sacrifice that all the sacrifices in the Old Testament pointed to. The offerings under the Jewish order were simply pale reflections and feeble foreshadows of what was really in the mind and heart of God … the sacrifice of His Son, the “Lamb of God” (John 1:36).

This ought to draw out a sacrifice from our hearts today. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).