Young People’s Blog

Our Everything

“Christ is everything”
(Colossians 3:11 JND Translation).

“For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9).

When Jesus comes,

To fill the heart,

Then satisfaction,

Is our part;

He is our WELL,

Our JOY, our SPRING,

CONTENTMENT, FOOD,

Our EVERYTHING!!!!

When Jesus comes,

Our souls He fills,

His sweetness taste,

His goodness thrills;

No want, no lack —

We praise, we sing;

Christ is our ALL…

Our EVERYTHING!!!!

Dear Young Christian:

How much value do you place on the Bible? When Samuel was a young person, the Word of God was scarce. We read: “The word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” (1 Samuel 3:1).

Some time ago, at a large airport, a dirty small box, of considerable weight, was kicked around on the floor, being used as a door stop when needed. It had been there for some time, and no one seemed to know where it came from. Finally, someone became curious and it was pried open. It contained a gold brick! It had been part of a cargo shipped by air through a carefully guarded route, and in such crude looking boxes as a security disguise. One box had dropped off the cart! It was returned to the government authorities. So it is with the precious Bible, the Word of God contained in a book. Collecting dust perhaps, ignored, and used as an ornament, or to keep things in, or just kicked around! But it is priceless! Value it!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Our Desire

“The desire of our soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee” (Isaiah 26:8).

In some measure every believer, deep down in their soul, has a desire towards the Lord Jesus. Why? Because He gave Himself for us at Calvary’s cross. He suffered for our sin. He died, and shed His blood to wash us clean and make us fit for heaven. As a result we can with confidence and joy echo with the Apostle Paul, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This should cause our affection to go out to Him. And not just to be identified with the name of Jesus, but to remember Him and the cost of our salvation. That’s what’s so special about today. We can remember Him. Here are some things in connection with His person and work that we should remember today:

“We will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

“Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness” (Psalm 30:4).

“Remember His marvellous works that He hath done” (Psalm 105:5).

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

A Heap of Dust

Years ago a travelling Russian bought a very large pearl from an Arab trader. Neither had any idea of its value. When he reached St. Petersburg he showed it to a man who offered him a substantial profit on his purchase. It’s new owner had indeed secured a prize, and kept it in a strong box on a marble table. People came from all over to see it including the Tsar who offered him wealth and rank in exchange, but he refused.

Then came trouble. He was accused of being involved in a plot and fled to Paris with his treasure. There he declined to show the pearl to anyone. At length yielding to urgent requests, he fixed a day for exhibiting it to a select company of bankers and traders of gems. When he opened the box his face turned deathly pale. The pearl was found to be badly diseased, and soon it crumbled to powder. His immense fortune was a heap of dust.

The Bibles warns, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mark 8:36)? What are you resting your eternity on? Is there something keeping you from coming to Christ? It will not be worth it. The treasures of this world are just a heap of dust.

Monthly Question Page

Q. What’s the difference between the soul and the spirit?

A. Humans are tripartite beings, or made of three parts. This is different than the animal and lower creation. “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness … .  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 1:26, 2:7).

The body is the physical part of our being, and the soul is the seat of emotions, affections, and appetites, which the animal and lower creation have in that sense as well. It is the spirit of man that sets him apart from the animals. That which God breathed into him is the highest part of our being and sets us in relationship with God. It is the intelligent, God-conscious part of man. This makes us responsible to our Creator. “For we are also His offspring” (Acts 17:28). When animals die they cease to exist, but when man dies he must meet God. That is why it is important to be ready for the next life, by knowing Him as our Savior.

 “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Do you have a question? Email us at [email protected]

Another Way

“And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay” (Matthew 9:2-3).

When I stand by a grave and see men lower the coffin into its resting place, the scene is not unlike that where four men from the roof of a house in Capernaum let their friend down out of their sight, but into the immediate presence of Jesus. They cover up the roof, assured that their friend is all right, and will walk out another way, healed, liberated, and with new life. Gone will be the poor, palsied life.

So we cover up the grave. Our dear one is “absent from the body, and … present with the Lord” (2 Corinthian 5:8), and by the word of His mighty power they will come out another way, with changed and glorified bodies. “We shall all be changed … For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality … Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Monthly Scripture Reading

Numbers 10

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.

5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.

6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.

8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

A Son of God

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God” (1 John 3:2).

It is recounted that when the great Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was sad because of some disaster or trouble in the empire, he was in the habit of saying, “Think that thou art Caesar!” This would cheer him up and put him in a more joyous mood.

Are you sad or discouraged because of something that has happened in your life? Stop and say to yourself, “Think that thou art a son of God!” Remember too, as such, we are “then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

This should make us the happiest people on earth, in spite of our circumstances, to think that we are a child of God, and that we are on our way to the Father’s house, which we will share with the Lord Jesus for all eternity! The rest of the above verse, in 1 John, tells us, “and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” Let this truth lift your spirit today, and put a happy spring in your step, and a song in your heart.

Dear Young Christian:

Here is one of my favorite verses of Scripture: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee” (Isaiah 43:2).

What trials or difficulties are you facing today? Often we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or even discouraged. Remember that as one of the Lord’s own, you are not alone. The Lord Jesus said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The last recorded words of the Lord to the disciples in Matthew’s gospel are, “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

Reflect upon the truth of this promise and note that Isaiah points out that we are merely passing through. Maybe this week the waters will become a little shallower for you and the shore will draw nearer, but should they deepen further, He’ll still be with you and will never leave you. Eventually you will pass through!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Alone

“He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we esteemed Him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

Humanly speaking we all seek the comfort of companionship. This support was absent as the Lord Jesus Christ went on trial and then to the cross.

Peter “denied Him” (Luke 22:57). Judas betrayed Him, as it had been prophesied, “Yea, Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up his heel against Me” (Psalm 41:9). The gospel writers record that “all the disciples forsook Him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56). Others who followed Him stood “afar off” (Matt. 27:55). Looking ahead to this scene, the psalmist prophesied, “I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none” (Psalm 69:20). Our Savior, the Man of Sorrows went to the cross alone. This is described in the most touching language by the Psalmist who also wrote, “I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top” (Psalm 102:7).