Young People’s Blog

Daily – Part 3

“Lord, I have called daily upon thee” (Psalm 88:9).

Do you know what it is to call upon the Lord daily…to pray and make request? Do you commit your way to Him every day, and cast your cares and burdens on the one who delights to hear from us and have us express daily dependence? Whether we know it or not we can’t make it through a single day without Him.

Do you have some struggle or difficulty today? Our divine Friend says: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). He is always available and always able for the situation. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

He wants us to call. He is waiting to hear our voice. Don’t let a day go by without prayer, without speaking to the Lord. David said: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). Let’s be like Daniel who prayed three times a day — every day!

Continued…

 

Daily – Part 2

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Act 17:11).

The Christians at Berea received a special commendation above their brethren in Thessalonica, because they not only listened to the ministry of the Apostle Paul, but they searched through whatever parts of the Word of God they would have had available to them at that time, to confirm what he had told them.

Let’s learn to search the scriptures on a daily basis. This is not just casual reading of the Bible, but diligent study and comparing scripture with scripture. It is following subjects through from beginning to end. It involves doing word studies, as well as making sure what you hear ministered by God’s servants orally is really based on the Bible…and so on.

We need the Holy Scriptures, and we need them every day! Don’t neglect your Bible. Job said: “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

Continued…

 

Daily – Part 1

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

To see a man carrying a cross in Bible times was to recognize that the person was under the sentence of death. To truly and wholeheartedly follow the Lord Jesus we must set aside our own will…in other words, die to self and live for Christ. The Lord said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35). We may never be called on to lay down our lives as martyrs in a physical sense, but each of us are called upon to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

Are we willing to give up the world and self and take up our cross? In the measure in which we do this, we will be despised by the world, just as it hated the Lord. It takes constant, daily spiritual exercise to practically deny ourselves and take up our cross, and follow our blessed Master.

Continued…

 

Dear Young Christian:

This week I want to take up some scriptures that bring before us the subject of things that should occupy a Christian on a daily basis. Christianity isn’t just a once-a-week or a once-in-awhile thing. It is something that we should live out in a practical way every day of our life.

In connection with this subject I have enjoyed what it says of the Lord Jesus regarding His relationship with God His Father. We read, “I was daily His delight” (Proverbs 8:30). From a past eternity He was the daily delight and joy of His Father, and the heavens could open up while He was here on earth, and the voice of the Father confirm, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

We too should find our daily delight in the one who delights the Father. David expressed it when he said, “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). Make sure you enjoy something of the person of Christ everyday this week.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

His Poverty

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

When was He rich? Certainly not in this world. In fact we never read of the Lord handling a piece of money during His pathway in this world. On one occasion He had to say, “Show me a penny” (Luke 20:24).

He was not rich in this world but rather poor. In a past eternity dwelling with the Father, He was indeed rich, and yet, “He became poor.” The Son of God, “took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7, 8).

Now, as a result of His becoming poor and going to the cross, we are rich; rich in spiritual blessings, “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Don’t forget to thank Him today!

 

Happiness

“Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord”
(Psalm 144:15).

God wants us to be happy!

In the United States’ Deceleration of Independence it speaks of the “pursuit of happiness.” In reality, mankind has been searching for happiness and joy since the beginning of time through every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not.

When Satan came to tempt Eve in the Garden of Eden he gave her the impression that God was withholding something that was for the good and pleasure of her and her husband Adam. But in reality they found out that it was not so. To this day, as the result of sin, the world is filled with grief and sorrow, and heartaches and tears abound on every hand. Indeed, there is no one that escapes very long without some sadness in their life.

But there is a source of real and lasting happiness. It is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. Proverbs 16:20 affirms, “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” True happiness is the result of confidence in Christ.

 

Use Opportunities – Part 2

“Preach good tidings” (Isaiah 61:1).

Yesterday we related an incident that illustrates the way God often works in the spread of the gospel. A similar instance is recorded of another well-known preacher, who also preached the gospel to an audience consisting of a single individual, who ventured out through a storm to hear him speak. The sermon was as faithfully delivered as though the room was full. It led to the conversion of the hearer, and he then became a preacher, and was greatly used in the salvation of a number of others.

This has the complete sanction of the Saviour’s most holy example as seen in His long conversation with the woman of Samaria, resulting in her conversion, and the carrying of the good news to her people. We read of her testimony: “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ” (John 4:28-29).

These instances show that anywhere and everywhere Christ may be preached and good accomplished.

 

Use Opportunities – Part 1

“And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
(Romans 10:14).

Even the slightest opportunities for conveying the gospel message should not be neglected. An appropriately spoken word, even under the most insignificant circumstances, may, with the Lord’s blessing upon it, result in untold good.

A number of years ago, a preacher related an interesting instance of his having preached the gospel to an Indian woman, who came fifteen miles one day to hear him. Seeing her disappointment and knowing her purpose, he did not hesitate to approach her as she sat on the stump of a tree, and with the required help of two interpreters, gave her the message of salvation, and told her “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). It resulted in her conversion, and through her, in the conversion of many of her tribe.

Paul reminded Timothy, a young man, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). This is a good reminder for all of us.

Continued…

 

Sudden Stops

An injured skydiver was asked, “Did you break your leg jumping from a plane?”

“No, landing on the ground,” was the reply.

In life, it is the sudden stops that often hurt more than the pace and grind of daily life. Often the Lord brings us to an abrupt halt. This may be for any number of reasons. It may be just to get us to pause and consider His glory and goodness. It may be to keep us from going in a wrong course, or to preserve us from some harm that is lurking just ahead in the pathway. Maybe it is so we can stop and help someone else who needs a hand in their Christian pathway, and we would have missed the opportunity otherwise. There may be some testimony we are to render to the world that would have otherwise been missed.

Whatever it is, there is a purpose in it, and although it may seem to hurt and be inconvenient at the time, remember there is a plan of blessing behind it. “For who knoweth what is good for man in this life?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12). Don’t let the bumps in life discourage you! See them as opportunities for blessing, both for yourself and for
others around you.

 

Circumspect

“And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect” (Exodus 23:13).

A careful, prayerful Christian

Is a Christian who is wise,

Considering each step He takes,

The truth of God applies.

He knows there is a consequence

To each decision made,

And seeks his Father’s mind and will,

And trusts Him for His aid.

He circumspectly walks through life;

Each step he takes with care;

His steps are daily governed by

The Word of God and prayer.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).