Young People’s Blog

Reflect and React — Part 1

“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” (Philippians 2:15).

We are here in this world to shine as lights for Christ. And remember we are studied every day by those around us as an “Epistle…known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). As such, the believer is to reflect Christ in their life at all times: by what we say, what we do, and by our spirit and attitude.

Often it is our reaction to others and to circumstances that displays our true state of soul. How often have we reacted to something someone has said, or lashed back over something someone has done, and then realized that it was not the spirit of Christ? We are exhorted, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who…humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:5-6,8). How much is that really true in your life? What will the world see and read of Christ in your life today, as you step out your door and take up the daily routine of school or work?

 

Monthly Scripture Reading

Revelation 20

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Judge Not

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned” (Luke 6:37).

Sergeant Broome looked critically at the rusty rifle, and then at the “rookie” private who carried it.

“Private Darling, has all my talking been in vain?” demanded the sergeant. “Clean that gun, and be quick about it, or else there will be consequences.”

In a few minutes Darling returned from his quarters with a shiny rifle ready for inspection.

“Do you mean to tell me that you have that filthy rifle clean already?” challenged Sergeant Broome. “Impossible!”

“No sir, I had picked up the wrong one by mistake, this one is mine.”

“And who owns the other one?” persisted the sergeant.

“You sir,” was the meek reply.

This incident, illustrates a spiritual truth that is sometimes lost sight of. It is often the case that people overlook their own sins and shortcomings, but they are quick to see and condemn others, often for the same things.

 

Dear Young Christian:

As we start another week of school, work, or whatever we have to do, let’s remember that while it is true that we arein this world (and we can’t get out of it), yet we are not of this world, and that there is a way that we can live in separation from the world. The Lord in praying for His disciples, in anticipation of leaving them in a wicked hostile world, said twice, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14; John 17:16). However, in between He also prayed that they would be preserved while they were in the world. “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).

So today, the Lord can help us to walk through this world in a path of separation that will honor and please Him, give us peace and joy, and cause us to bear fruit and testimony to those around us who do not know Him as Saviour. Then too, maybe this will be the day or the week when we are finally calledout of this world to live with Him in heaven.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Be Ready

“And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount” (Exodus 34:2).
“And none shall appear before me empty”
(Exodus 34:20).

How’s our readiness? The Lord wanted Moses to be ready the very next morning. And not just any old ready — but ready to stand before God. Anyone who has ever done any job hunting or sent out a résumé knows that there are three cardinal rules to follow when going for a job interview:

1. Be prepared.

2. Be there on or before the appointed time.

3. Dress like you really want to impress.

How much more dedicated we should be when summoned to present ourselves before the Lord Jesus, the King of Kings. Are we ready this morning to present ourselves where He has promised to be in the midst? It is His delight to invite us there, is it our delight to respond with a ready and willing mind and heart? Let’s appear before the Lord, ready and prepared to worship Him.

 

Obituary

“And he died” (Genesis 5:5).

Suppose the following was a summary of your life…how sad it would!

****

Obituary of _________________

Born: ______________________

Died: ______________________

Raised in a Christian home.

Had godly parents.

Lived a godless life.

Took no thought for eternity.

Felt an empty void in heart.

Was never satisfied with circumstances.

Blamed God for their troubles.

Rejected Christ till their last breath.

Died prematurely due to their lifestyle.

Will stand at the Great White Throne.

Will spend eternity in Hell.

****

The best thing in this life is to be ready for the next life!

 

All Thy Heart

“Seek Him with all thy heart” (Deuteronomy 4:29).
“Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart” (Deuteronomy. 6:5).
“Serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Deuteronomy 10:12).

These three statements are words given to us from the Lord to direct us into an intimate relationship with Himself. To carry out these exhortations we must have the heart engaged…and not just part of our heart, but ourwhole heart. Half-heartedness just doesn’t work when seeking, loving, or serving the Lord. If we try to keep some of our heart for the world and some for the Lord it will only end in worldly disaster, coldness of soul, and dullness of affection.

If you have slipped into half-heartedness, today is a good day to start over, and follow the Lord with all your heart. King Solomon gives us some timely advice on this subject in the book of Proverbs. He says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

Minor Prophets — Nahum

“The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum…Nineveh is laid waste” (Nahum 1:1; 3:7).

Nahum prophesies the final doom and destruction of wicked Ninevah which took place somewhere between 120 and 150 years after the preaching of Jonah, the repentance of the whole city, and the judgment spared at that time.

Though God spared a generation in the days of Jonah, yet we learn that when judgment is pronounced, God is serious, and while He may delay it for a time in His mercy and grace, yet it will fall eventually according to His timetable. This is a solemn warning to any scoffer who would dare to say, “Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (1 Peter 3:4).

Although Nahum’s prophecy initially had its fulfillment in the invasion of Sennacherib, yet there is a future aspect when the King of the North will be finally judged, never to rise in rebellion against the Lord and His people again. In the meantime we can enjoy the verse that says, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

 

Confidence

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Maybe you are feeling like you are sinking on the sea of life, and that the circumstances and the flood of things you have to face and deal with are just too great. Our God assures us, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee” (Isaiah 43:2).

One hot summer afternoon I watched a mother in a swimming pool with her young child. She held her arms underneath the child to support him and keep his head above the water. The child was completely secure and confident in the strength and ability of his parent. That’s really the way it is with God and His children. He keeps His arms underneath us in the waters of this life and keeps us afloat. Remember as you go about today that God’s arms are underneath you, and no matter how low or how down you may feel, you can never get below those arms of everlasting power.

 

More

“That I may know HIM” (Philippians 3:10).

The more we read the Bible
the more we learn of Christ;

The more we learn of Christ
the more we love Him;

The more we love Him
the less we are occupied with self;

The less we are occupied with self
the happier we are;

The happier we are
the more of a testimony we will be;

The more of a testimony we are
the more fruit there is;

The more fruit there is
the more glory we bring to Christ.

Isn’t that what really counts?