Young People’s Blog

Glorified

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him” (John 13:31-32).

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify…I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:1,4).

To be glorified is to have every quality, beauty, and attribute that makes up a person’s being brought into full display. The Lord Jesus, both in His perfect pathway and in the mighty work of Calvary, completely glorified God His Father. In other words, every quality, beauty and attribute of God shone out in unquestionable excellence, and in the end the Lord could say with confidence, “I have glorified Thee.”

As we think of this the response of our hearts will be like John who wrote, “To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6)

 

The Blood of Jesus

An evangelist was speaking from the text, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Suddenly without warning he was interrupted by a young man who professed to be an atheist. The young person stood up and asked, “How can blood cleanse sin?”

At first the preacher was rather taken aback, and for a moment remained silent. Then picking up a glass of water on the lectern in front of him, he countered with a question of his own. “How can this water quench thirst?

Now it was the young man’s turn to be stymied. After hesitating awhile he finally answered, “I don’t know, but I know it does.”

“Neither do I know how the blood of Jesus cleanses sin,” answered the preacher, “but I know it does.”

Someone else once raised the question, “Is there anything that God cannot see?”

The answer was, “My sins when they are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.” “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

 

Angelic Ministry

“There appeared an angel…strengthening Him”
(Luke 22:43).

When the Saviour agonized in Gethsemane, He received angelic help. Later He said, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).

In our times of weakness and loneliness we tend to forget the myriads of living creatures who at a word from our God and Father can appear for our relief and help.

Daniel, while pleading before God, testified, “the man Gabriel…being caused to fly swiftly, touched me” (Daniel 9:21).

Reflect upon the title, “Lord of Hosts,” and believe that these hosts are all under Divine control. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).

The believer is not a lost, lone wanderer in a desolate world. He is surrounded by the mercy and the messengers of God. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).

 

The Twelve Apostles – Part 8

Philip

“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:43-45).

These verses give us an insight into Philip’s call to discipleship and his desire for others to meet the Lord Jesus.

He seems to have taken a prominent place amongst the disciples. He is the one who spoke of how much it would cost to feed the multitude (John 6:5-7). Certain Greeks questioned him as to seeing Jesus (John 12:20-22). He asks the Lord concerning showing them the Father (John 14:8-9). He is listed with those that were in the upper room waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit (Act 1:13).

From these scriptures we learn that Philip had a warm, loving heart with a desire to help others, although not always sure how it could be done. In spite of what often seemed like a lack of faith the Lord used him in blessing to many.

 

I Can’t Help It

“I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

Temperament is often an excuse for inexcusable conduct. How often have we heard it said, “I can’t help it, I am made that way.” The dictionary defines temperament as “the physical and mental constitution peculiar to an individual.”

So we recognise the fact of differences in people. Every one of us is different, consequently our reactions greatly vary.

If, however, we are Christians we must never forget that while conversion does not change the temperament, it reveals the possibility that grace can control the temperament and the temper. While we may be quick to notice and resent the un-Christ-like outbursts of others, we must ask ourselves whether we always reveal a Christ-like spirit.

Let’s be as ready to make excuses for others as we are for ourselves, and take heart from the fact that Christ is able to provide grace to subdue what needs to be subdued. He has assured us, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

 

Included

“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

There is an old story of a ship passenger who lived on crackers and cheese all the way across the Atlantic Ocean only to learn that his meals were included in his ticket.

Our salvation includes far more than pardon from sin, deliverance from hell, and a ticket to heaven. It also includes all that we need on our journey through this world. Sin has been dealt with at Calvary, but the Lord Jesus is not only our Saviour, He is our full resource and sustenance for our spiritual life. We are not to subsist on our own “crackers and cheese.” We have everything we need in Christ. “For all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21).

What an all-inclusive ticket to heaven we have! The cost was God giving His Son for our sins. Now as a result of that great sacrifice we have “all things.” Throw away your “crackers and cheese!” You have a right to eat in the main dining room.

 

Dear Young Christian:

Are you starting the week as a happy Christian? It is a healthy thing all the way around. The Bible states, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

It’s really surprising how a happy person’s happiness rubs off on others. Life is hard. For many, life is cruel with no laughter or joy. Paul said of his experiences, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). He wasn’t thick-skinned or callous when it came to the things he went through, but he had a happiness and joy in the Lord through it all; a happiness that we can all have, and that overcomes any circumstance no matter how tough.

What a witness it is for the Lord when we are happy, and when our happiness overflows to those around. This is one medication that doesn’t cost anything to make or to get. Let the enjoyment of the Lord in your life show on the outside, by being happy. Give out some doses of happy medicine this week.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

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

Our Sins

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We cannot really understand the Lord’s hatred of sin. He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).

Yet God heaped all our sins on His Son in those three hours of darkness and punished Him for them just as if He had committed them all Himself. He had no sins of His own personally — far be the thought, but He took our sins and confessed them as if they were His own — what a Saviour!

He who was, and is, perfect was made sin for us. Why? So that we might, through faith, be made righteous. This should make us bow our hearts in worship and adoration today as we remember the Lord’s sufferings and death.

He bore my sins as if they were His own,

He took my punishment from God,

No greater work is known.

 

Snakes and Sins

“If ye believe not…ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

“He that believeth in Me, thought he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

Some years ago there lived in France a celebrated snake-charmer by the name of Pamela. It is almost unimaginable, but she was in the habit of taking her venomous pets to bed and letting them sleep with her during the night.

One morning she never woke up. Her lifeless body, swollen into a shapeless blue mass, almost beyond recognition, was found by her friends several hours after her untimely demise. The snakes, so long tolerated and toyed with, had bitten her to death. Constant usage and familiarity had caused her to regard them as harmless. But she had trifled with, and trusted them, once too often.

Our sins are not unlike Pamela’s snakes, if we are not saved. While our eyes are closed in spiritual sleep they surround us. One of these days, unless they are gotten rid of through the work of Calvary and the blood of Christ, they will be our ruin.

 

“Ups” And “Downs”

Recently I had the privilege of being at the wedding of a young couple, and it was a very happy occasion as it was a marriage “in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:39). However, in less that a week I attended the funeral of a young lady, just 23 years of age, who had been killed in a car accident. Although she knew the Lord as her Saviour, and we know that she is “absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), yet it was quite a shock to her family and all that knew her.

These circumstances are a stark reminder of the “ups” and “downs” and uncertainties of life. How good it is to have God as our Father, and the Lord as our guide, comfort, and friend, through all these things. What would we do without this constant resource? David valued what he had in his God. He said, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” (Psalm 62:5-7).

He is with us, and He is able for whatever happens!