Young People’s Blog

Tell Someone — Part 1

“And ye shall be witnesses unto Me” (Acts 1:8).

After you have been saved, it’s important to tell someone. In the Bible we read about Andrew, a man who later became one of Jesus’ disciples. When he came to know the Lord, he took an important first step. He told someone, his brother. “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias” (John 1:41).His explanation was not very long and not very detailed. Andrew was an unlearned fisherman and he simply told his brother what he had found.

No one expects you to have all the answers just after you’re saved. God doesn’t expect it of you. All you need to do is to tell someone what has happened. Tell that person that Jesus has become real to you, that He has saved you. This doesn’t make you a missionary, but it does make you a witness. Jesus wants us to be His witnesses. Talking about your salvation may not be easy, and you may not comprehend everything that happened to you when you were saved. But sharing your new life in Christ with others will help you in a number of ways.

Live For Jesus

“For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

Life without Jesus,

How empty and void;

Pointless, frustrating,

Of hope so devoid:

Many a wreck on the highway of strife,

Stalled without Jesus, the purpose for life.

Life lived for Jesus,

How happy it be,

Meaningful, joyful,

Contented and free:

Many are walking this highway today,

With Jesus as guide and strength for the way.

Live then for Jesus,

Make this your quest;

Live for Him always,

For this is the best.

Dear Young Christian:

Has someone recently broken a promise or let you down in some way? Maybe last week you were disappointed in a friend because they didn’t follow through on something they said they would do.

As you begin this week don’t forget that our God has made promises that cannot fail.

Solomon declared at the dedication of the temple: “According to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised by the hand of Moses His servant” (1 Kings 8:56).

Paul said: “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (1 Corinthians 1:20). So, the next time someone breaks a promise, remember, there are promises that will never be broken. Peter tells us, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4). What wonderful confidence this gives us in trusting our God for every circumstance of life.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

The Cross

How real and precious the Cross of Calvary should be to every believer. Can we truly echo the words of the Apostle Paul when he wrote the Galatian believers? He said: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14).

Here are three aspects of the cross that are good for us to consider as we remember that great work of atonement today:

His Death:

“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).

The Blood:

“And, having made peace throughthe blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20).

The Preaching:

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

“Remember Now”

I was asked one evening to visit a lady in the hospital who was dying. I carefully, slowly, and as simply as possible, explained the way of salvation to her. She looked at me and said, “I know all that. I heard it from my parents and others when I was young. I have six months to live and I will go to hell.” She died a few months later and to my knowledge never trusted Christ. How tragic when she could have come to Him as a young woman and lived her life for Him. If you are considering trusting Christ, don’t put it off. Accept His offer of salvation today. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

The time to be saved is right now! “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Tomorrow may be too late. He may not be found and He may not be near. The “day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2), may not extend past today. Don’t wait until you are older to be saved. Life has no guarantees. The urgency of the message is “Come now” (Isaiah 1:18).

Monthly Question Page

Q. When we have had disappointment in life how do we understand that all things that happen are good? Some things don’t seem very good.

A. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Notice, it doesn’t say that all things are good, but that all things work together for good. Our Father mixes the good with the bad, the bitter with the sweet, the fiery trials with the joyful experiences, and in the end it all works out for good and blessing. Like the baker who mixes just the right amount of ingredients, stirs and beats it just right, and bakes it the correct amount of time at the right temperature. The result is that the bitter as well as the sweet ingredients, exposed to the heat of the oven, turn out a delicious cake or pastry. If we are willing to submit, and realize that He loves us and desires our best, in the end we shall see that everything, whether it seemed good or bad was really for our blessing. We may not always understand this now, but when our life is reviewed in heaven we will praise Him for all His ways with us. Let’s learn to trust His goodness!

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

Misunderstood — Part 2

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

We often say, We can’t judge motives, and then turn around and do that very thing. We decide in our own minds why someone said or did this or that. The Apostle Paul was misunderstood, and misjudged by the Christians at Corinth. They questioned his authority as an apostle, they questioned his ministry, they even questioned his ability to present his ministry. However, Paul said, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self” (1 Corinthians 4:3). He also said, “Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). He was living for the Lord and the Lord’s approval. He was willing to leave the misunderstandings and criticisms with the Lord, knowing that there was a time coming when “the counsels of the hearts” would be brought to light and the Lord’s stamp of approval given.

Misunderstood — Part 1

Have you ever been falsely accused? Have your motives been wrongly judged or your actions misconstrued? When Mary of Bethany poured out her ointment on the Lord, she was misunderstood and misjudged by those who observed. “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made” (Mark 14:4)? It is interesting to notice in each of the gospels where you have this account, Mary never speaks up in her own defence. No, she leaves it to the Lord to vindicate and set the record straight. “And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me” (Mark 14:6).

The next time someone says something against you or your actions are wrongly judged, remember, the Lord knows your heart. Remember too, that no one was misunderstood as much as He was. “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). What an example!

Answered Prayer

During a discussion on the subject of prayer a young person expressed genuine surprise about receiving an answer to their prayer even before verbalizing it to God the Father. It reminds us of the verse that says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

I suppose most answers to prayer do come from spoken petitions, but there are many times when we cannot even put into words what we are trying to express. In that regard I find what we have in the book of Romans a great comfort. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). The hymn writer, James Montgomery (1771- 1854), expressed it this way:

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Uttered or unexpressed;

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

Some deep needs seem inexpressible. But if the heart’s sincere desire rises silently in prayer God hears and answers.

Dear Young Christian:

Today I am in Saint Kitts, which is part of what is known as the Eastern Caribbean. This morning, with two of my fellow-workers in Christ, one from the USA, and one from the island of Saint Vincent, we visited a government school. It had been prearranged for us to have some time to speak to the students as they were gathered in the courtyard during their morning assembly. It is amazing to be in countries where they still welcome and encourage missionaries to come and present the gospel to the boys and girls and young people. This morning as the students filed back to their classrooms they played the well known hymn, “Jesus Loves Me” over the loudspeaker. Coming from North America where, in most areas, it is forbidden to even mention God or Christ in the schools, two of us shook our heads in wonder, and I thought of the Scripture that says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). How thankful we are that there are still corners of the world where God and His Son are at least outwardly owned and reverenced.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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