Young People’s Blog

Feed on God’s Word — Part 2

The children of Israel, in Exodus 16, were instructed to gather the manna they needed every day. The manna they needed today was not the manna they needed tomorrow. They needed it fresh EVERY DAY! If they kept it over (except on the Sabbath) it went bad and could not be eaten. “Some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank” (Exodus 16:20).

The lesson we learn from this illustration is that we need a fresh portion of Scripture every day. Leftovers from the fridge may be good for a day or two, but it does not work that way when it comes to the Word of God. Not that we shouldn’t go back over what we have read and enjoyed in the past, but we also need fresh, daily, spiritual food. Job said, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

We take good care to eat two or three good meals a day, and often a snack in between, but do we take as good care of the spiritual man as we do of our natural, physical being?

 

Feed on God’s Word — Part 1

Do you ever just sit and read the Bible because you enjoy the Word of God? I don’t mean do you read it simply because you feel obligated to read a chapter or certain portion every day, but do you read it because it is your joy and delight, and because you have a hunger for the “Bread of heaven”?(Psalm 105:40). The Prophet Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).

Constant, consistent, and orderly reading of Scripture will create an appetite, and will feed the soul, so that the result will be growth and maturity in your spiritual life, and a greater understanding and appreciation for divine things. There is no other way to “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). When I was growing up we often sang the chorus:

Feed on God’s Word in the morning,
Feed on God’s Word at noon.
Feed on God’s Word in the evening,
To keep your heart in tune.

 

All Scripture

“All Scripture is…profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Not just some Scripture, and not just the New Testament, but “all Scripture.” Not just the portions we think we understand, but “all Scripture.” Not just our favorite chapters and the verses that we like the best, but “all Scripture.”

We need to read all the Word of God. Even those difficult passages. The rest of the verse tells us why. Most importantly it is “given by inspiration of God.” It is God speaking directly to us. Then too we learn what it is profitable for…“doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

The next verse tells us what the result will be. “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (Verse 17).

If you want to be instructed in the ways of the Lord and be a useful Christian, you must avail yourself of “all Scripture.” Read, study, meditate, and put into practice, “all Scripture,” and you will have much profit and blessing in your life.

 

Dear Young Christian:

Let me pass on something I read the other day, which was written by an older brother in Christ years ago, but still has value today.

“Nothing counts but CHRIST! All else is without value. All else will eventually perish. The knowledge of God revealed in His person and communion with Him is what will satisfy the soul here, and never pass away. True service to His name, and faithful following of Him will truly ‘count’ when we get to heaven.”

It makes me think of the statement penned by the Apostle Paul, who said, “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). He also said, “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

In light of this let’s really seek to have CHRIST much before us this week. That’s what really matters.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

The Cost

“Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27).

Here we see the manhood of the Lord Jesus. As a man Jesus would say, “Father, save Me.” As God He would say, “But that’s why I came. I must go through with this. I am the only one who can pay the immense cost for sin.” And so He did. He paid it all in full on Calvary’s cross. Our salvation cost Jesus EVERYTHING.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). The Lord Jesus was the Merchant Man. He sold all that He had in order that we might be eternally blessed.

The Psalmist asked, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12). He wants the return of our hearts in praise, worship and thanksgiving. Will you give Him that joy today?

 

Great

“So GREAT salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).

 The Source: “The GREAT God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

The Motive: “His GREAT love wherewith He loved us” (Ephesians 2:4).

The Cost: “One pearl of GREAT price” (Matthew 13:46).

The Power: “The exceeding GREATNESS of His power to us-ward who believe” (Ephesians 1:19).

The Result: “GREAT joy” (Luke 2:10).

The Blessing: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding GREAT and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4).

The Person: “That GREAT Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20).

 

The Book of Results

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1).

The Revelation may truly be called the book of results. In it, though Christ’s faithfulness to His own abides, declension characterizes the churches. Sin receives its eternal wages. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are seen in full bloom, and pass away forever. False religion is judged, its blazing glory extinguished, and the smoke of the torment of the unchaste woman rises up forever and ever. Man living in rebellion is crushed under the feet of Jesus, and the dead are banished from His presence forever. The Antichrist and his associates meet their just and most terrible abasement and misery. Satan is everlastingly consigned to the lake of fire. The created heavens and earth are cleared of evil, and Christ’s power fully known, His worth fully owned. The church is seen in glory, in uncreated light and beauty, and the new heavens and the new earth speak to us only of righteousness and blessing from God to man. It is emphatically a book of judgment on things on earth, although prophetic in its character.

 

Authority

Some time ago I was driving through the city of Chicago, Illinois when I noticed a bumper sticker on the car in front of me. It said:

“Abolish Authority!”

How shocking! Imagine if there were no authority. No laws, no government, no police, no order or discipline of any kind. The Bible says, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good” (Romans 13:3-4).

God has set up various levels of authority for the good and blessing of mankind here on planet Earth. We are responsible to recognize that authority and submit to it in the fear of the Lord, who, of course, is the supreme authority. In fact the only time we are justified in not submitting to earthly authority (which includes authority in the family circle) is when it violates the Lord’s authority and the authority of the Word of God. Then, and only then can we say, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

 

Three Testimonies

Psalm 19 reveals three ways God speaks to us.

1. Through the sky and its glittering array of celestial orbs. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Verses 1-3).

2. Through the Scriptures and its timeless truth. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure….The fear of the Lord is clean…the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Verses 7-9).

3. Through other believers and their godly testimony. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Verses 14).

This is a testimony of His grace! Each declaration gets more personal and intimate. The first two witnesses are faithful, consistent and constant — are YOU?

 

Rainy Day

“I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth” (Job 5:8-10).

I sat still, on a rainy day,
With extra time to read and pray;
And time to meditate awhile,
Within the sunshine of Christ’s smile:

And what a blessing — bright the day,
Although the sky was dark and grey,
And though the clouds were thick and black,
My heart was light, I did not lack

For joy and happiness all day,
Because I stopped to read and pray.
So don’t despise a rainy day,
Take extra time to read and pray!

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24