Young People’s Blog

Let Your Light Shine — Part 2

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth
the Word of life” (Philippians 1:15-16).

Letting our light shine for the Lord is not necessarily by speaking, although, as our verse indicates, we are to hold “forth the Word of life.” In other words, we are to speak for the Lord as He gives us opportunity.

But remember, light shines without making any noise. It just illuminates the darkness, and gives comfort, guidance and warmth. This is what we who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour are to do in this morally and spiritually dark world. We are to let our light shine by what we do perhaps even more than by what we say.

When the Lord walked on earth He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). However, the Lord is no longer here in this world the way He was back then. Now the word to us is, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

 

Let Your Light Shine — Part 1

A missionary many years ago told of a time when a simple act on his part unconsciously saved another’s life. He was on board a ship when one night in his berth, he heard that cry — so awful to hear at sea — “Man overboard!” He arose at once from his bunk, took the swinging lamp from its bracket and held it to the window of his cabin. He could see nothing, but the next morning, he was told that the flash of his lamp through the port revealed to those on deck the missing man clinging to a rope. He could hardly have held on another minute. The light of the lamp shone just in time to save the man’s life.

Have we let our light shine today? Here are the words of the Lord Jesus: “Ye are the light of the world .… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16). As Christians we have the privilege and responsibility to shine for Christ. Who can tell what a blessing this will be to others or how many floundering souls will be saved from perishing on the sea of life … just because you let your light shine!

 

Dear Young Christian:

In a shop selling electronic gadgets in Trinidad, I saw the following advertising slogan:

EAR TRAFFIC CONTROL

While I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to what they were advertising, I am assuming it was head phones and equipment for blocking out sounds we don’t want, or need to hear. Anyway, it made me think of what the Lord said when he was here on earth: “Take heed what ye hear” (Mark 4:24). Are we careful to listen to those things that encourage and edify us in the Lord? There’s lots of noise in the world today and lots that the Devil wants to pour into our ears. Let’s be careful what we listen to this week. Let’s maintain Ear Traffic Control!

Above all, lets have ears tuned to the voice of the Lord. Let’s be like Samuel who said, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10).

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

A New Song

Our God loves to hear us sing, and we have a song to sing that is only for those who are redeemed. Today, we can lift up our voices in song — individually, first of all …

“Sing unto Him a new song” (Psalm 33:3).

“He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God” (Psalm 40:3).

“I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God” (Psalm 144:9).

We can also lift up our voices and sing collectively with others who are redeemed as well … 

“Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints” (Psalm 149:1).

Then we can anticipate that time when we will sing together with all the redeemed around the Lamb in the Father’s house … 

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy … for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Let’s learn to sing the new song here on earth, while waiting for the time when we will sing it perfectly in heaven.

 

Three R’s

Here are three things that begin with the letter R that are important elements of salvation:

Repent:“Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

“Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

Rejoice:Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

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

Rest:“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Repentance is simply a change of mind. It is to realize that I am indeed a sinner as God has stated in His Word, and to turn from those sins. This will then bring about rejoicing when I realize that those sins are gone forever as a result of the work of Calvary, and in the end there will be complete rest of soul and peace of heart and mind.

 

Jesus In Prayer — Part 2

As we noted yesterday, Luke portrays the dependence of the Lord Jesus as a man in the path of faith and service. Here are three more times we have Him in prayer in Luke’s Gospel:

At His Transfiguration:

“And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray” (9:28).

To encourage His disciples to learn to pray:

“And it came to pass, that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (11:1).

As the hour of His greatest trial (the cross) approached:

“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed” (22:41).

If the Lord Jesus as the perfect man could feel the need of prayer, how much for you and me. I am reminded of the verse, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

 

Jesus In Prayer — Part 1

In Luke’s Gospel we have the Lord Jesus presented as the perfect, dependent man. In keeping with the character of the gospel, we find Him in prayer seven times.

At His baptism:

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened” (3:21).

During His busy service:

“And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (5:16).

Before He chose His disciples:

“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (6:12).

In the presence of His disciples:

“And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him; and He asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?” (9:18).

What a wonderful example and encouragement for us to pray in every circumstance of life. We will notice three further instances tomorrow.

 

Bible Algebra

D+D-F=D

When our hearts are filled with Doubt and Disappointment there is going to be a lack of Faith, and if unchecked will quickly add up to Discouragement.

When Peter was walking on the water he got his eyes off the Lord. We read, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). When we look around and only see the work of the enemy and the circumstances of life we too are going to be filled with doubt and disappointment. However, in the next verse we read, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). What a gentle, kind yet firm rebuke this must have been to Peter.

Let’s not bring doubt and disappointment into the equations of life. Doubt and disappointment always bring into question the wisdom and goodness of God our Father, while shaking our faith in the one who truly loves us.

 

Today’s World

A look at the world we live in today is frightening! Politically there is unrest and tension, with wars and feuds on every hand. Religiously there is confusion, as false teachers seem to increase and abound. Economically there is uncertainty, and talk of prosperity is offset by the reality of unemployment and decreased spending. Physically there is much suffering in spite of improved medical skills and medication. Mentally there is a rapid decline. Crime and lawlessness are on the increase every day.

The combination of all these things is more than the human body, mind and heart can bear. However, there is a bright lining to this seemingly dark cloud. It is just this: “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8). This is the happy hope — and should be the daily expectation — of every believer in Christ. It makes it possible for the child of God to live victoriously in these difficult times, and brings joy and comfort in the midst of sorrow and trial. We are told to be “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Are we?

 

Dear Young Christian:

As I write this Monday letter, I am sitting at a desk at Bible Truth Publishers, with a large map of the world on the wall in front of me. It reminds me of the words of the Lord after He rose from the dead, and before He ascended back to heaven. He said to the disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The world is a big place, and we can’t all travel far and wide and be missionaries in foreign countries and remote areas of the planet. But we can all be missionaries and evangelists in the part of the world where God has placed us. If you are a faithful missionary on your own street and neighborhood, who knows? The Lord might even send you farther afield with the message of the gospel. Remember, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).

There are so many ways to get the gospel out! Be exercised and concerned for souls, and take heed to the Lord’s command … “Go.”

Your Christian friend,

Jim Hyland

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