Young People’s Blog

Dear Young Christian:

Here is a good verse and prayer to consider this week: “Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth” (Psalm 86:11). How good it is to submit to His way!

James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, is reputed to have said, “The greatest mission in the world is submission!”

This quote reminded me of the reply of George Washington’s mother to a distinguished French officer who at a banquet, asked her how she managed to raise such a splendid son. “Sir,” she replied, “I taught him to obey.”

Submission to the claims of Christ brings remission of sins, and admission into the family of God as His child. Submission throughout our Christian life brings happiness, fruit, and a good testimony. The Lord said to the disciples just before He left them, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17). In a world where we’re taught to demand our rights and to have our own way, let’s learn to obey!

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Joseph’s Coats

“Now Israel loved Joseph … and he made him a coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3).

“And he left his garment in her hand” (Genesis 39:12).

“Pharaoh … arrayed him in vestures of fine linen” (Genesis 41:42).

The story of Joseph is one of the most beautiful and complete types of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. In this connection there are three garments that are mentioned in Joseph’s life:

The first is the coat of many colors. It speaks of a father’s deep love for his son. “The Father loveth the Son” (John 3:35).

The second is the garment he left in the hands of Potiphar’s wife. It speaks of unjust suffering and humiliation. “Christ also suffered for us” (1 Peter 2:21).

The third is the fine linen that Pharaoh arrayed Him in, speaking of exaltation. “God also hath highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:9).

What a lovely picture when we trace the path of our Savior! From the place of love, to the place of humiliation, to the place of glory.

A Minute

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:14-15).

The latest research establishes that the iceberg, which was struck by the Titanic had been spotted when it was 2,000 feet away, almost a minute before the impact. The ship had held its course for around half of that time. Had the officer in charge reacted even 15 seconds sooner, the ship may have missed the iceberg, and the lives of 1,476 persons might well have been saved.

We know that individuals can pass away very quickly, much less than 30 seconds. At this moment, you have an opportunity to trust the Savior. Don’t wait another moment. Life is like the vapor from the teakettle, it is there for a moment and then gone. None of us know when we will take our last breath. We don’t have to be elderly or sick to pass into eternity without a moments notice. David said, “There is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3).

The guide to this calendar is found on the last page.

Rejoice

Have you been rejoicing this week? If we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior we have so much to make us rejoice. Here are some Scriptures to consider in this regard:

“Let us be glad and rejoice” (Revelation 19:7).

“For it is written, Rejoice” (Galatians 4:27).

“Rejoice in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:3).

“Rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

“And again He saith, Rejoice” (Romans 15:10).

“Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1).

Sometimes sorrows come into our lives, and often there are tears of real sadness. But through it all we can rejoice because we have a wise, loving, and compassionate Heavenly Father, who never causes us needless suffering or sorrow. The Apostle Paul could say, in the midst of many trials, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

Body Art — Part 3

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In what way would body-piercing or tattooing glorify God? Is it appropriate adornment of the temple of the Holy Spirit?

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). There are many things in life which are far easier to do than to undo. Piercing and tattooing are among the many things in life what are commonly recognized as having lasting and permanent consequences. Not everything advertised as reversible is as easily reversible as advertised.

“I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the marks on his body. If you bear marks on your body, for whom do they witness? Paul also said: “That in nothing I shall be ashamed … so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body” (Philippians 1:20).

Body – Art Part 2

“Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead … thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (Deuteronomy 14:1; 18:9). Obviously God cares what people do with their bodies.

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23). People commonly say, “It doesn’t matter,” or “It doesn’t mean anything.” But everything in the universe matters — everything has significance and meaning. Prominent practitioners of piercing and tattooing have commonly and casually admitted that they recognize such things as being associated with rebellion.

“They cried aloud, and cut themselves” (1 Kings 18:28). This behavior is an expression of desperation for attention. If we want attention there are better ways, as believers, to get it.

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2). Ask yourself, Why do it? Are my motives godly? Do I really want to please God?

(More tomorrow.)

Body Art — Part 1

Piercing and tattooing, once primarily associated with paganism have recently become much more popular and socially acceptable — even among professing Christians. Marks on the believer’s body are not necessarily sinful in themselves. Our Lord’s body bears marks of the nails and the spear. “He shewed unto them His hands and His side” (John 20:20). “He shewed them His hands and His feet” (Luke 24:40). He was pierced, and He is eternally marked as having been obedient, even unto death. But, besides growing evidence that such practices are distinctly and permanently harmful to the body, there are some Scriptural considerations on this subject for faithful followers of the Lord. If you are considering Body Art, please also consider carefully the following Bible passages, questions, and remarks:

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28). Piercing and marking the body have historically been associated with heathendom and slavery. From this verse we learn that it is not pleasing to God.

(More tomorrow.)

Dear Young Christian:

Have you ever felt misunderstood, perhaps even by a family member or someone close to you? David experienced misunderstanding from his own brothers, and especially Eliab, who even judged his motives for coming to the camp of Israel. “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle” (1 Samuel 17:28). However, David was simply doing the bidding of his father Jesse. Don’t be discouraged if you are misunderstood or misjudged this week. Seek to do the will of God your Father, and leave it to His approval and judgment. Remember what the Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians who misjudged him on many accounts: “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

The Feast

“Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season” (Numbers 9:2).

“Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast … ” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

The Old Testament sacrifices were feeble but beautiful pictures of the perfect and supreme sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross at Calvary. Just as the Jews kept their feast of the passover to remember their deliverance from bondage in Egypt, so we should keep the feast of remembrance that has been instituted for us as a reminder of our deliverance from the bondage of sin. Only, rather than it being an empty formality, it is an enjoyable, thrilling experience as we spend some time out of our busy week thinking about the death of our Sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ.

How often does it become simply a routine with little or no thought, and the heart’s affections unmoved? May we truly return in spirit to the cross today, that our affections may be stirred and that there would be true praise and worship to the One who accomplished the work to the glory and satisfaction of God His Father.

The Blood

Crossing through North India a Christian missionary met an old man. Overcome by the heat and the strain of travel, he sank down dying by the side of the road. The missionary saw him and, kneeling down at his side, whispered into his ear: “Brother, what is your hope?”

The dying man raised himself a little to reply, and with great effort succeeded in answering: “The blood of Jesus Christ.” A moment later he died.

The answer and the calm and peaceful assurance of the man astonished the missionary; he felt assured that the man had died in Christ. How, or when, he thought, could this man have obtained the knowledge of salvation? As he thought of it, he saw a piece of paper grasped tightly in the hand of the dead man. Surprised and delighted he found it was a single page of the Bible containing the first chapter of the first epistle of John. On that one page the man had found the Word of Life.

Most of us have Bibles of our own, but do you value the Word of God as this man did? Have you put your trust in the Lord and His shed blood on Calvary? “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:5).