Young People’s Blog

Dear Young Christian:

Did you have a song in your heart and on your lips yesterday, as a result of the scriptures we noted? I hope so; and if so, let it continue all week long. The Lord doesn’t want us to just sing and praise Him one day of the week, no He is worthy of our praise every day.

Here is a verse to keep in mind as you face what is ahead this week: “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). Notice, it is continually. All the time! Not just when things are bright and sunny or everything is running smoothly…all the time!

There may be some difficulties, and even sorrows in the days ahead, but we can always sing. Paul had many trials, but through it all he said: “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). We have a lot to sing about, and the Lord enjoys and values our songs of praise.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

A New Song

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

This is the first of seven times we have the expression, “a new song” in the Old Testament. (Psalm 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10).

We also have it twice in the New Testament,

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: 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).

“And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3).

The Lord has already put “a new song” in our hearts and on our lips now, as the Old Testament verses indicate. When we get to heaven we will sing “a new song” forever, as the verses in Revelation show.

 

Love

A computer virus known as “The Love Bug” spanned the globe by e-mail, infecting millions of computers. It seems that even wary people like top software engineers couldn’t resist opening a message titled simply, “I Love You.”

Some analysts said that the success of the destructive computer virus reveals as much about the human heart as it does about the vulnerability of computers. Down deep, everyone on earth, young or old, is looking for love. It’s no accident that the best known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The love we long for the most is God’s love. The love of Jesus Christ is what we really desire more than anything else. If so, then accepting God’s love in Christ could change our lives in remarkable ways. Hope, peace and a zest for living — they all spring from having the love of Jesus in our heart. God has told us He loves us. It is a message we’ve all been looking for. The death of Christ is the measure of God’s love for you! How will you respond to Him today?

 

The Lord’s Will – Part 4

A few more questions…

    Does it have the appearance of evil?

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22

    Is it captivating and enslaving?

“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).

    Am I in a hurry about it?

“He that hasteth with his feet sinneth” (Proverbs 19:2).

    Have I counselled godly Christians about it?

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).

If you want to know the Lord’s will, He wants to show you. “If any man will do His will, he shall know…” (John 7:17).

 

The Lord’s Will – Part 3

Still more questions…

    Am I at peace about it, or am I uneasy?

“Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

    Do I find myself justifying it to others?

“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me” (Job 9:20).

    If it involves spending money, could it be better spent?

“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9).

    If it involves time, could the time be better spent?

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

    What effect will my conduct have on others?

“Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9).

Continued…

 

The Lord’s Will – Part 2

More questions….

Will it make Christ more precious to my soul?

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious” (1 Peter 2:7).

Will it promote godliness in me?

“Godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (1 Timothy 1:4).

Would I feel right to bring the Lord there if He was physically with me?

“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Would the Lord have done it?

“For even hereunto are ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Would I like to be doing it when the Lord comes?

“Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He comethshall find so doing” (Matthew 24:46).

Continued…

 

The Lord’s Will – Part 1

“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).

Here are questions we can ask ourselves that will help us in discerning whether we have the Lord’s will or not, when there is no definite scripture.

Is it for Christ?

“Them that honor Me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30).

Will it bring glory to God?

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What is the source of such a desire; is it the flesh or the Spirit?

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Which nature does it feed?

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).

Continued…

 

Dear Young Christian:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

As I sit at a desk at Bible Truth Publishers and write this Monday letter, I have on the wall in front of me a large map of the world. A few minutes ago as I leaned back in my chair and viewed this map I was reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus to the disciples after He rose from the dead: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel” (Mark 6:15).

Every one of us need to hear these words. We may not be called to go to the foreign mission field or to faraway places, but being in this world, we are called to preach the gospel. It may be by our words, it may be by our actions. It may be to large crowds, it may be to individuals. It may be next door, down the street, across the country, or around the world. However, wherever, and whenever, it doesn’t matter…we are told…“GO”.

How will you preach the gospel this week?

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

The Lord

“Worship the Lord.” Psalm 96:9

“Praise the Lord.” Romans 15:11

“Thank the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 16:7

“Sing unto the Lord.” Exodus 15:1

“Love the Lord.” Deuteronomy 6:5

“Honor the Lord.” Proverbs 3:9

“Please the Lord.” Proverbs 16:7

Worship Him today because of who He is…Praise him for all that He has done to the glory of God…Thank Him for all that He has done for you…Sing because of what He has done…Learn to love Him more…Honor Him because He is so worthy…Live to please Him and you will be a happy, rejoicing Christian. Above all, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

 

What’s New

One of our favourite greetings here in North America is, “What’s new?” How amazingly attractive that the best news never changes. NEVER! The Gospel message weathers all time, endures every social and economic change, supersedes governments and regimes, invasions and defeats, and outlasts everything that’s “built to last.”

It is wiser than the world’s wisdom, potent and compelling beyond all power, simple and straightforward enough for even me to embrace, and strong enough to never let me go.

The hymn-writer, George Matheson, penned the following words:

“O love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe,

That in Thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

“I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning” (1 John 2:7).