Young People’s Blog

Seated

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12).

In the Old Testament, both in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, and the Temple later built at Jerusalem, there was never a seat provided by God for the priests. This was because, typically speaking, their work was never finished. They had to offer again and again the same sacrifices. It was an endless round of sacrificing animals over and over again, often for the same sin or offence. The Old Testament priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of Israel understood this very clearly. When they brought a sacrifice it only atoned for that one sin, and then they had to bring another, and another, and another … .

 With the sacrifice of Christ it was offered once, and only once. “By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Our Priest is now seated, the work is complete, and He will never rise up again to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin.God is forever satisfied.

Two Viewpoints

At the end of his life, King David said, “I go the way of all the earth” (1 Kings 2:2). He was speaking of that which is common to all … death! His son Solomon said, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other” (Ecclesiastes 3:19). From a natural standpoint it is true, death, as a result of sin, affects all men, as well as every level of creation.

Paul looked at things from a different perspective when he wrote, “the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6). And also, “to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).

Both viewpoints are true. We need to realize that when we leave this world we do not leave it as an animal, but that we have a soul that lives on in one of two places. The Lord, when here on earth told a story of two men who lived and died. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:22, 23). Which would it be for you if you went “the way of all the earth” today?

Warmed Up

I recently read a biography on the life of Sadhu Sundar Singh, the Indian Christian Missionary who was born in 1889 and is believed to have died in the foothills of the Himalayas in 1929. There was an incident in his life that impressed me. It was a time when falling snow and bitter cold endangered the lives of Sadhu and his Tibetan companion as they crossed a Himalayan mountain pass. Fighting the “sleep of death” they stumbled over a man buried in snow who was half dead. The Tibetan refused to stop and help and passed on. The compassionate Sadhu shouldered the burden and, through his struggling, warmed up the unconscious man as well as himself. Sad to say, before reaching the village they found the Tibetan alone and frozen to death. In seeking to save his own life, he had lost it. The missionary’s sacrifice led to the saving of his own life and that of another.

The Bible tells us, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25). Don’t forget that whatever sacrifice we make for the Lord and on behalf of others, will always have a blessing for this life as well as an eternal consequence and reward.

Scraps

They are just useless scraps; little bits of glass, shards of broken tile and colored stones. By themselves you’d think they were only fit for the garbage. But in the hands of an expert artist you might see some intensely beautiful work. One artist I know uses scraps of junk to create very realistic portraits of animals, people, and beautiful seascapes and landscapes.

What scraps do we have in our lives? Not physical pieces of paper but those scraps of time — the drive or ride to school, the commute to work, the chores around the house and the break time. Do these bits of time go into bits of trivial waste, sports, news-surfing, gaming, gossip, fantasy? Or are they small and colorful gems of prayer, meditation, thanksgiving, thoughtfulness, loving expressions to others and gospel witness. In the hands of the Master they will be worked into the beautiful portrait of the Son of God and not swept into the trash pile of wood, hay and stubble. “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).

Mornings – Part 2

The Lord Himself rose early to spend time in prayer and communion with His Father before a busy day of service. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). This is what every believer needs to do if they are going to have power and fruit in their service for Christ.

Bible verses often refer to the traits of diligence, willingness, readiness, and obedience, traits that our Lord desires to find in each of His own. Here is a nice exercise expressed on the part of David: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up” (Psalm 5:3). He also said in Psalm 143:8, “Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee” (Psalm 143:8). Someone else has said, “Morning prayer leads to evening praise.”

Don’t waste your mornings! Make them times of spiritual edification and blessing. Spend them in company with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mornings – Part 1

“Joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Mornings may not be your best time of the day! However, early morning is a good opportunity for a Christian to spend some time alone with the Lord before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. If you don’t do it in the morning you are not likely to have time later on. And furthermore, the enemy, Satan, will do everything in his power to keep you so busy and occupied that you will not enjoy a quiet time with your Savior. Night will be upon you, and you will find yourself too physically and mentally weary.

There are many examples in the Bible of those who got up early in the morning for one reason or another. Abraham is one of them. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning … and went unto the place of which God had told him” (Genesis 22:3). Abraham is an example of one who rose up early to obey the instructions that the Lord had given him concerning the offering of his son Isaac. How good it is to wake up each day with a desire to obey and please the Lord, and with a yearning to follow His leading no matter what, knowing that His ways are best.

Dear Young Christian:

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

This morning I was thinking of how the Lord Jesus desires our fellowship far more than we desire His. He died to win our hearts’ affections, and so that He could enjoy our company, not only in a future day in the Father’s house, but here and now as well. Let’s cultivate a relationship of real companionship with Himself. Learn to talk to the Lord as you go throughout the day. Maybe you have no real need or request. But talk to Him, tell Him what is in your heart, and learn what is in His.

Moses knew what it was to talk to the Lord in this way. “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11). If Moses could enjoy such a relationship in the Old Testament, how much more you and I.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Asleep

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt. And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with Me one hour” (Matthew 26:36-40)?

The Lord Jesus was at the worst crisis of His life on earth, the forsaking of God while He was punished for sins that He did not commit — our sins. With the cross just hours away He asked His three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to watch with Him. Instead they fell asleep.

Let’s not be sleeping today as to the cross and the mighty work accomplished there by the Lord Jesus Christ. He says to us, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

It Is Time!

It was a cold January night in Flint, Michigan, and a young person by the name of Kim sat quietly waiting and praying for her mother to trust the Savior. The solemn preaching of the gospel had broken Kim’s mother down in genuine repentance. And then as the preacher explained the way of salvation, Kim’s mother put her trust in Christ. Both mother and daughter rejoiced together, as Kim exclaimed, “Mother, you are now saved like me!”

Eleven months later the hearts that rejoiced that evening were plunged into deep sorrow. As she was returning from Detroit, after being fitted for a dress to be worn as part of a wedding party, Kim was killed in a tragic automobile accident. Her parents were grief-stricken. However, in the strength of the Lord they were able to rise above the loss, comforted that their daughter was, “Absent from the body … present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Within a few weeks at least seven of her relatives were saved as a result of her testimony.

If you are not saved, perhaps reading this account will be used to convict you of your need and convince you of the fact that, “It is time to seek the Lord” (Hosea 10:12).

Temper

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31).

I read a statistic recently that I thought was very interesting and noteworthy:

“Ten minutes of unbridled temper can waste enough strength to do a complete day of wholesome work.”

Let’s remember that our physical energy is a gift from God, entrusted to us to be used in His service and for His glory. When preaching on Mars’ Hill, the Apostle Paul declared “He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25).Daniel had to remind King Belshazzar, “The God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified” (Daniel 5:23).

It is a sin to take God’s gift and squander it through evil and unbridled emotions. When I was a young person we used to sing the song:

Angry word, Oh let them never,

From the tongue, unbridled slip.

May the love of Jesus ever

Fill the heart and keep the lip.