Young People’s Blog

Problems

“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).

Problems! Life seems to be filled with them. We are called to face them in every area of our life — physical, financial, moral, spiritual, personal, and family. Some problems, when squarely faced, are realized to be rather small and insignificant, having been enlarged out of proportion by fear of one sort or another. But others, undoubtedly, are important, solved only by much prayer and dependance on God our Father. Still others are incomprehensible and unexplainable, for the present at least. These problems must be committed in their entirety to the One who knows all about it. Then we need to learn to wait patiently in faith for His time and His solution.

King David had many problems in every sphere of his life, but he could write: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself … ” (Psalm 37:7). Is there a problem in your life today? The hymn-writer, Joseph Scriven, tells us: “Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Monthly Scripture Reading

1 John

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, 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.

3 And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.

Love One Another

“This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7).

These verses are a test as to whether we are a true child of God, and as to whether we are walking in the enjoyment of the love of God. If we are real, and if we are really living in the sunshine of His love, there will be, practically displayed in our interactions with other of God’s children, that same divine love that has been showered upon us.

Notice too, that we are to love with the very same love with which the Lord loves us. There is no less standard for loving our brothers and sisters in Christ than the love of God and the love of the Lord Jesus for us.

Go through the New Testament, and trace the number of times we are told to love one another. In John’s writings alone the exhortation appears quite a number of times.

Dear Young Christian:

I want to encourage you to go forth this week with a sense of God’s deep, eternal, unchanging love. God’s love compels us to love God and others. The Apostle John, who delighted to speak of Himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 20:2), also wrote, “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Here we see love’s practical effect in John, and the same should be true of all who know the love of God.

Our hearts tend to grow dull and cold as we go through a world that has no love for God or for His Son. That’s why we need the exhortation, “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21). One of Paul’s prayers for the believers at Thessalonica was, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

An appreciation of this great love will cause us to walk in obedience to His Word, and keep us on the path of faith as well. “But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected” (1 John 2:5).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Consider

“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

If it cost a single penny to travel a thousand miles, a cruise to the moon would be only $2.38. But if you wanted to go to the sun, the one-way ticket would cost $930.00. A trip to the nearest star would be a whopping $260 million. Yet a place in the very heart of the One who made this vast universe is free, based on the priceless sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Today, more than just considering the work of His fingers in creation we need to stop and consider the mighty work of the cross, and the One who accomplished that work. “For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself” (Hebrews 12:3). We are just specks in His great creation. Yet, He came to planet earth and died for us, because He loved us, and could say of Himself, “My delights were with the sons of men” (Proverbs 8:31). What worship the realization of this will produce in our souls!

What Persuasion?

A visitor said, to a wounded soldier who lay dying in an army hospital, “What church are you a member of?”

“Of the Church of Jesus Christ,” was the reply.

“I mean, of what persuasion are you of?” returned the visitor.

“What persuasion?” asked the dying man, as he looked heavenward, his face beaming with the love of his Savior.” He then continued, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Of what persuasion are you? It matters not what your religious affiliation or family background might be. It matters not what your social standing is, or your education level.

It matters whether you are of the same persuasion as the dying soldier and the Apostle Paul, who, on another occasion said: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Success

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:18).

The world measures success in different ways, but I was struck by a quote from the American financier and philanthropist, John D Rockefeller Jr. He said: “The secret to success is to do common things uncommonly well.”

There is no doubt a lesson to be learned from this, not only in our daily routine of secular life, but in our spiritual life as well. As our verse today indicates, “success” in our pathway of faith for the Lord is achieved by:

1. Taking in the Word of God.

2. Meditating on the Word of God.

3. Observing (obeying/doing) the Word of God.

These three things are essential to a fruitful Christian life. (Not necessarily in a financial way, but with eternal value.) To do the most mundane tasks “heartily, as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23), is what will bring “good success.”

Gates of Nehemiah — The Dung Gate

“The dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem” (Nehemiah 3:14).

 Repairing the Dung Gate must have been humbling for a ruler like Malchiah, but it was very necessary.

This gate reminds us of the need for self-judgment. The Dung Gate was the port from which they carried forth the filth, so that the city would not be defiled. So we read: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). As believers we are called, not to uncleanness but to practical holiness. We are to cleanse ourselves, that is, to judge ourselves in the presence of God, and turn away from all sinfulness and that which defiles and dulls our souls. “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). This is a needful exhortation in a world where people are following their own lusts and sinful appetites. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). However, this should not be what characterizes a believer. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

12 Ways to Serve the Lord — Part 2

7. With humility:

“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind” (Acts 20:19).

8. Intelligently:

“Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable(intelligent) service” (Romans 12:1).

9. In Truth:

“Serve Him in truth” (1 Samuel 12:24).

10. Sincerely:

“Serve Him in sincerity” (Joshua 24:14).

11. Exclusively:

“And serve Him only” (1 Samuel 7:3).

12. Unto the Lord:

“Doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:7).

These are no doubt just a few suggestions from the Bible regarding our service and ministry for the Lord. Each of us has something to do, and His desire is that it be done in such a way that He can commend and reward us for it in the end.

12 Ways to Serve the Lord — Part 1

Do you want to have effective service for Christ? Then our service must be in accord with the truth of God’s Word, and carried out with the proper spirit and attitude.

1. With all our heart:

“Serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Deuteronomy 10:12).

2. Without fear:

“Serve Him without fear” (Luke 1:74).

3. With gladness:

“Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2).

4. With a willingness:

“Serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

5. With a pure conscience:

“God, whom I serve … with pure conscience” (2 Timothy 1:3).

6. Acceptably with reverence:

“Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).