Young People’s Blog

Soaring and Serving

“Four living creatures…and they had the hands of a man under their wings” (Ezekiel 1:5,8).

The living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision had “hands…under their wings.” What an ideal for the Christian. Hymn-writers and singers have written and sung about both wings and hands. For example: “Give me the wings of faith.” And also: “Take my hands and let them move, at the impulse of Thy love.”

Here we see the necessity of combining heavenly aspirations with earthly duties. The wings of faith carry us into the place of holy contemplation and communion, when the things of earth grow dim and the glories of heaven shine brightly. But while we remain here on earth we have to serve, and hands are essential for this. There is no doubt that they who exercise their wings daily will know better how to use their hands in service for Christ and others.

If through constant use of our wings we have learned the secret of communion with God, we shall be the better equipped for communication to our fellow men through our hands.

 

Speak

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice”
(1 Kings 19:12).

The loudest speaker is not always the most effective. It is possible to rant and rave and make a tremendous din, yet make little or no impression on the hearers.

Leaves and flowers unfold silently, and the most profound thoughts may be expressed in quiet utterances. The whisper of God is more powerful that the shouting of men.

Elijah on Mount Horeb had an ear that was tuned to catch the whisper of God, while he had remained unmoved by the crashing and flashing of that which preceded it.

Lovers have secrets between themselves, and they whisper to one another of their love.

We can expect that He whom we know as the Lover of our souls will from time to time whisper in our ear.

Pray for such sensitivity to His voice that we shall hear His whisper, and distinguish His voice amid the reverberation of the world around us, and say, like Samuel, “Speak; for Thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10).

 

Monthly Scripture Reading

Psalm 119:1-11

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.

3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways.

4 Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently.

5 O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes!

6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy commandments.

7 I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments.

8 I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

 

Ashamed

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16).

“I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12).

Today you may be called upon to make a stand, to show whose you are and to whom you belong. Are you prepared to do this? Are you prepared to say, and show by word and act, that your trust is in Jesus Christ, and that He is your Lord?

There is a cowardly streak in most of us which may cause us to be silent when we ought to speak, and hide when we should be on the front line.

When we talk about suffering and shame, let’s remember that Christ endured the one, and despised the other. Of the Apostles it is written: “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Act 5:41).

Peter wrote: “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16).

Let’s ask for grace to never be ashamed of Jesus!

 

Dear Young Christian:

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”
(Isaiah 40:30-31).

If you try to go on your own this week you are going to stumble and fall in the path of faith. Natural strength, even of youth, isn’t enough to meet the situations and temptations that you will face in a cold hostile world, that hates Christ, and of which Satan is the “god” and “prince.” No it takes more than natural fortitude and ability.

However, if you go forth this week in the strength of the Lord, whether soaring like an eagle, running like an athlete or just walking like the hiker, you will find a resource for every mile of the way, and you will not faint. Don’t count on yourself, count on the Lord.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Lord’s Day

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10).

“And upon the first day of the week…the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7).

Here it is, another Lord’s Day, another first day of the week! The Apostle John was “in the Spirit,” and as a result had a wonderful revelation of the person and work of Christ. He also breaks forth in praise and worship. “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6).

The early believers in the Apostle Paul’s time gathered together to remember the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread, in response to the Lord’s request, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

What wonderful and instructive examples these are for us today. Let’s take them to heart and “worship…in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23).

 

Destiny

People talk a lot about destiny and fate, but whether they want to recognize it or not, there are two destinies when we leave this world. For those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour the destiny is HEAVEN. There they will live eternally with the one who loved them enough to die for them on the cross of Calvary. The Lord said of His own, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

For those who reject or neglect God’s offer of pardon through His Son and the blood that He shed to cleanse us from sin, the destiny is HELL. What an awful place of eternal separation from God that will be! The Lord stated plainly that for those who are not saved when they leave this world, “Whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:21).

Salvation is being offered now. But there is no guarantee that it will be offered at a later time. When we leave this world it is too late to make a decision for Christ. At that point our final destiny is fixed forever. Which destination are you headed for?

 

Quietness

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

“Pray much and speak little! ‘Study to be quiet’ (1 Thessalonians 4:11).” So advised an older brother to some young people years ago.

He went on to say, “We can edify one another more by a holy walk than by a great multitude of words. Walk not talk is what is often most important. God dwells in peaceful souls, and the tongue must be at peace also. Behold the fruit of sacred silence! It gives time for, strength collectiveness, prayer, liberty, wisdom, the company of God and a happy state of mind.”

“It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:26).

There is an old expression that says, Silence is golden. No wonder some of us are so poor.

 

The Twelve Apostles – Part 10

James – The Son of Zebedee

Sometimes referred to as James the Elder, he was the brother of John and according to Matthew 2:21, was mending his nets when the Lord called him to follow Him. As we noticed with the call of Matthew, busy collecting taxes, so this reminds us again of the scripture, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). The Lord often calls busy people, who are diligent in secular life.

James was privileged along with Peter and John to witness events that the other disciples did not, such as being with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration.

His name never appears apart from that of his brother John. They seem inseparable, which is a wonderful testimony and example for natural brothers today.

James was killed by Herod Agrippa I, about A.D. 43. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2). He was the first of the Apostles to be martyred, and though little is told us about him in the Bible, we see him as a man of real faith. “Whose faith follow” (Hebrew 13:7).

 

Unexplained

“Jesus…said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter” (John 13:7).

We have been noticing the past couple of days, that often the Lord allows the unexpected in our lives. But sometimes there is the unexplained as well.

We like answers! We want to know why this and that has happened. We want the reason for the unexpected, and an explanation from the Lord. But we don’t always get everything explained or see the reason why right away, or even in this life. However, the time is coming, when in heaven, He will make it all plain. That’s why we are told, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Someday we will understand fully all His ways and purposes with us during our lifetime. It takes faith to just leave it all to His wisdom and love, even though we don’t understand it ourselves. Do we really believe that He knows best?